310 replies to this topic

[Alan Carruthers]

im worried that the amount of money invested in mine will mean im too scared to use it once its finished!
do you have a completion date in mind for yours?
im really hoping i can get mine 95% done before winter then get it MOT'd, suspension set-up, on the rollers, then on the road for spring

I know what you mean, but hopefully once you get to drive it it will be too much fun for any holding back! I think mine's going to be so compromised in terms of getting in/out, reverse, ride, speed bumps etc etc that it's not going to get used too much on the road, or in any remotely dodgy weather, so I'm sure it will be driven with some enthusiasm when I get the chance! But hey, I wanted it to look a certain way so I'm happy and all will be fine.

Al

[Alan Carruthers]

In response to the other comments, really appreciated. Makes it all worthwhile and hopefully have given some people a few ideas and something nice to look at! The boys are getting on with the prep and paint now so very exciting times. I'm trying to sort out the diffuser but only working a few evenings a week means it's taken forever to sort the plug; hopefully it will work out.

Al

[Alan Carruthers]

Ps for more cage excitement and endless braces, crosses and triangulations check this out:

http://engineeredtos.../ets-drift-ute/

Big fan

A

[Tupers]

I've been following that Ute on SpeedHunters. It's given me lots of ideas for my future spaceframe.

[Alan Carruthers]

Indeed, you led me there after I read your article in mini mag. Top stuff mate, looking good.

A

[Alan Carruthers]

Went down to Devon to see the car on Saturday.  Bodywork really coming on, underside finished and the inside's complete as well.  Outside looks really straight and should be finished this week, looking good and v happy with it.  All been taken back to bare metal and  zinc primered, inside took a long time with so much surface area/ holes/tricky junctions etc.

 

Front brace bar, connects to suspension top mounts

 

 

 

 

Underside in colour, can see various fixings for diffuser... once I finish it

 

 

Exterior in primer

 

 

 

The boys are going to try to get these areas fully frenched in

 

 

 

 

 

Jason (bodywork magician) has done an amazing job on the seams on the grp front, they were pretty bad

 

 

 

Going to get all of the grp front end filled in the usual places as well

 

 

 

Steel front end seams brazed, had some grp bridging added to the seams too as it's going to flex a fair bit, lower mounts filled and in body colour on the inside, will be fixed through no. plate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doors being prepped

 

 

And... inside just to be lacquered!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the best,

 

A

 

 

 

 

 

[racerlike]

Looking ace. Love the cage it's pretty impressive

[jonny f]

Any updates Alan? surely its done?!

[Baldspeed Racing]

proper loves this build so so tidy :)

[DugganC17]

read this from the beginning and how did see this sooner amazing build and is there any updates cant wait to see them

[Alan Carruthers]

Guys, many thanks for the comments.

 

So, it's finally home, very long story.  Will try to take some more pictures soon and post up the progress made since my last update.  Sadly still not finished but closer.  Wiring is main hurdle still to resolve along with rear lights, diffuser and arches.  Think I can sort the other small things myself.

 

All the best,

 

Al

 

 

[kjwithers]

Mate your mini is awesome! Whats the story? Why isnt the flip front painted?

[DugganC17]

 

 

is it me or is that harness bar not level ?

 

it probably is and just how the camera is angled but ill say it again cracking car ill give ya £20 for it

[jonny f]

Tell us more Alan! Need some more pictures to, looks awesome

[Alan Carruthers]

Mr Duggan, many thanks, it does look a little wonky there!  After two sleepless nights I've just got back to the garage and got the level out, not spot on but seems ok, and that's with absolutely no suspension set up/tyre pressure checks so hopefully will be fine!  At times I would have taken 20 notes for it mate believe me, these projects are an absolute roller coaster and certainly not out of the woods yet.

 

I suppose there's not actually too much of a story.  Been taking a long time because I couldn't really afford to go much faster but, that said, I was promised it would be finished last summer, it wasn't.  I was then assured it would be done this summer.  It wasn't.  So, really just for the sake of my own sanity I went down to Exeter with a flat bed transit a couple of weeks back and now it's in the garage as you see.  I feel good about that, now I'm in control, but god knows what I'm going to do next!  Might have to start asking more questions!

 

Looking at it, at times I'm absoluetly distraught at defects and things which haven't been done, which should have been done, and then I look again and think about how much stuff is one off, completely untried or tested and how difficult that sort of work is - the suspension for example is amazing, and that's great, but then some of the zinc plating on the u/s of one of the new rear arms is totally corroded and I'm just like, what's going on here?  Why?  And that sort of thing happens throughout sadly. 

 

Will be fine, just need to get it finished now.  It is close.  Will try to get some pictures up soon but (and this is somehting that really pisses me off) it's absolutely filthy so needs a good clean first which might be Subday's job.

 

Cheers,

 

Al

 

 

 

My new best friend, bloody love this place, great products, great service - one of the things I've been trying to sort is matching all the nuts and bolts - picking off some of the easier stuff first!