1065 replies to this topic

[Kam]

Ok, I've done as much as I can now this end, just need to work out a spec for the guy building the engine and go from there, in the meantime I've the put the red dot donuts on all round, I imagine the car will be sitting silly high at first but as I'm not lowering it it shouldn't look to much out of place, hopefully just look factory

I picked up some bump stop packing washers aswell



My old suspension never had these on the bump stops so I never knew they existed, these are ideal to limit the movement enough to stop my tyre on full lock at maximum droop touching the underside of the new frame

I also decided to change my fuel filter



Was running one from a laguna 3.0 V6 which is rated to 200hp, which I know is more than enough but got one for an audi RS6 just for peace of mind!

Surprisingly its a centimeter smaller than the laguna one! audi one on the right



I also forgot I still had 3/4 of fuel in the tank! After my last trackday I filled up towards the end of the day to get some more laps in and get me along my way when I head home, when the clutch blew up an hour from the end that was the last time I drove it and just forgot all about it since! So whilst moving the tank to get to the filter I did wonder why it was so dam heavy!

The fuels just over 4 months old but should be fine, theres enough there to keep my bike going for about 3 weeks - sorted!

Then started to take the B20 block apart, only took me a couple of hours which I thought was good for me! and found a nice drinks holder aswell



I'm unsure on the mileage of this bottom end, guy was a bit vague which always helps! it did have a new water pump and cambelt though, the water pump for the B20 is alot smaller and has only 19 teeth hence the 19T stamped on it, B16 and B18 have 22



If your gonna vtec the B20 you need the 22T, 19 won't cut it

The main bearings did look good though





When I took the crank out the first thing that hit me was the weight! I know its gonna be heavier than the B16 one but this was ALOT heavier than the B16 one I previously handled, it is a lump



I decided to weigh it using my trusty fishing scales that I weigh everything with! Came in around 14 kilos!!!!! (or 30 lbs for our friends across the pond) I can't imagine this thing spinning when the revs are near 8k, thats insane

Everything is out and apart now and at the moment just sitting there looking pretty



So I need to work out a spec and have a chat with the engine builder to get the ball rolling now, everyday wasted is another day not driving a mini!

[Kam]

Kam i have to say your insane i knew that a VTEC mini would be fast but i just bought myself a honda civic coupe 1.6 vtec vti and it flys! so in a mini it will be brown pants time all the time!

I ran the 1.6 in this for about 2000 miles and they are fun - pure and simple

Turbo is the way forward but to do it the way you want to by keeping it looking standard would be hard. There is a lad on turbo mini forum who lives near me who has a 1.8 vtec turbo which is 250bhp at 10psi, but his intercooler is on the outside aswell as the turbo sticking through the grill which doesnt really make it a sleeper like you have. Have a look at it on his website http://www.jamesfawcett.co/

Yeah we know about James over on 16v, He was the first one to cut and flip the gearbox end of his allspeed frame to enable a better fit for a rad under a standard nose after some advice from a fellow 16v'er

Then Gingermonkey done it and another fellow 16v'er, I did it a bit different but thats me

I just want to re-iterate though the "Mini fab" cut and flip trick for the frame is a good solution and everything but as soon as you cut into the frame then your on your own, any warranty/receipt with Allspeed is finished, just something to think about when you take your next corner out on the busy public road

As for the turbo, my last car was a turbo (non mini) and yes they are alot of fun but I just prefer NA thats all, it goes well with my plans, it'll all make sense, trust me

[minidream94]

maybe you lot should mention it to alspeed and see if they will redesign there frame if its a good mod to aid clearance for the rad and stuff.

[Kam]

The only problem I see with the "cut n flip" is no one so far has taken there engine out or put one in since cutting it, the gearbox casing does sit VERY close once cut, there probably won't be any issues getting the engine in/out but with the Allspeed frame on the hondas you have to drop the gearbox side in first and the "cut n flip" tapers the top part of the bar backwards which to me gets in the way

There probably isn't any issues with it like that, it just might take a little bit more swearing to get it in/out but I like to create worry thats all

And I wouldn't want to be the one telling Rob (Allspeed) how to do his job! I'm just someone who has an angle grinder at hand and is prepared to use it! Rob is over on 16v and I'm sure he's seen whats been going on.......

[Kam]

Ok, this is isn't really an update to what I've done on the build but more of why I'm not doing anything at the moment, I had a bike accident the other day on my work bike in London where I got caught between a bus and a lorry and got knocked off and managed to scramble out the way when I hit the ground when the articulated ran over my bike! How I walked away with just bruises/scratches I don't know but did count my lucky stars.......









I've still got my other bike but its not very comfortable riding it as it a sports bike, but I did go out on it the following day just to get my confidence back. Apart from being very lucky I'm still mobile so thats the main thing, insurance is all going through so no issues there but I'm putting the project on hold at the moment as I can't really lift much and definitely can't get myself under the car to do anything

Will try and do other small jobs in the meantime

[danrock101]

bloody hell! not read this for a while just seen it so I thought I'd have a look and find this!!! lucky you managed to get out the way in time. Can't belive you're going for 2L too haha, it was already my favourite sleeper as it was now it's just gone to a whole new level

[paul190181]

That realy looks nasty mate hope you get sorted soon ,

[Burnard]

bloody hell kam. lucky escape there.

Glad your ok, and your a brave man yo get straight back on a bike after an incident like that

[Willy_sa]

Man, except for the scooter, your build is great!

You have good ideas.

[mike174]

Bloody hell glad your ok mate

[Burnard]

[GreaseMonkey]

After an accident like that I wouldn't expect updates for a bit?

[mini_mad69]

Yeah he did have a nasty bump!


From looking at another thread it seems he's pretty sore at the moment, and hasn't recovered.

[Kam]

Thanks for the words guys, and Burnard

Ok, well the update is, after a couple of weeks after the accident I was waiting for the bruises all over to go down, my knee was quite bad from day one, anyway all my bruises had gone but I found when I bend my knee now there is what appears to be something sticking out? quite freaky, it was bruised so none the wiser, it might be some broken or chipped bone or might just be a blood clot, either way it aint right and normal comparing with my other knee, I can bend my knee now but still got major pain there, I didn't got to A&E at the time as I'm not a fan of hospitals (woke up mid operation when I was a kid etc etc) but got an x-ray done now and just waiting on results

Just gotta wait now, if they have to 'break' my knee I won't be a happy bunny! anyway thats all hearsay, so in the meantime I have been out on my other bike cheering myself up and getting confidence back etc



Normal service has resumed......on the bikefront anyway

Right, as for the build, things have been moving slowly, I haven't done that much on the car as I would have liked, in all honesty I've actually tried to stay away from it but that turned out to be a fruitless mission

I have taken my 2.0 block upto the engine builders, he's working on that, he's got the head aswell as he's getting Rob Walker (mini man) to port match my inlet manifold to the head and give it a decoke etc, they will build up my bottom end I'm gonna build up the head myself as I want my mark on it somewhere....

To help him out (which might help!) I also dropped off my pistons which came through at last, RS machines 84.5mm ITR domed jobbies



They got the coating on the sides aswell



And unfortunately on the top aswell!



Don't like, want rid of, he's gonna smooth the top surface off aswell

These pistons should net me the standard integra type-r CR of 11:1, 84mm is standard B20 bore, getting 0.5 as thats what sensible people do, don't they?

Now, the next thing is still bugging me, for some strange reason while the car was up on axles I decided to check the rear radius arm play? why? I haven't got a scooby??? Its just one of those random things I do.........

there was a bit of play, apart from hi-los and the back box the back underside of the car is completely factory, I've never touched it and never had a reason to since I bought it, so I decided to be brave and take the radius arms out



I was quite pleased with myself as I still have trouble kneeling/squatting down so was quite proud I managed to it, but, there was a problem, factory radius arms don't come out with some inevitable shearing of bolts from what I read, and yep its the same here



A bugger situation! What to do? I only wanted to change the arms!

Checking the underside seeing the way I fed my fuel pipes behind the frame back in the day pretty much told me what was on the cards next



Not what I wanted right now but here we go again!

Now, I don't know how to remove the rear subframe? I've never done it! Theres so much caked on waxoil down there I can't see squat of what goes where! Luckily I got a good book here (not the haynes!) which helped ALOT

Got some support down



And my first rear subframe removal! Dear diary moment this, was pleased with myself



The problematic shearing



Loadsa hassle so not bad really getting this off and out, peace of mind and all that, expect this frame is now shot, tried drilling out the sheared bolts but that was a no go, so had to get a replacement genuine one from Minispares

Started off with getting some tigerseal in all the nooks and crannies, every holes a goal and all that



Will probably run some waxoil spray on it aswell, but as usual my plans changed somewhat, decided to holdfire on the waxoil and get myself a KAD rear anti roll bar



and some KAD adjustable camber brackets



you know, the usual kinda stuff you buy when changing just the radius arms!!!!!!!!

Yes I know this aint a trackday car and yes I know I'm being stubborn and refusing to lower the car so no point in ARB's and cambers, but who cares? look how shiny they are

Moral of the post - checking rear radius arm play and bikes can be hazardous to your wallet

Next job - trial fit the subframe and position the ARB and drill away, I'll worry about the exhaust back box later, should clear though, trust me

[Burnard]

Sounds like a good idea to sort out the tracking and fitting an anti roll bar, even if your not lowering it, it will still make a HUGE difference.

I hope the knee isnt serious, and everything else heals up ok.

Was getting a bit worried since you used to update ALL the time, then after the accident post you just stopped


Chris