517 replies to this topic

[Artful Dodger]

wheels are on.

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

it looks awsome, even though its dragging its arse on the floor!

[benjy_18]

little more progress this weekend,

i got the steering arm problem solved, they needed shaving down which has now meant i can actually tighten up the hub nuts!
brakes have been spaced so they are central to the discs, nothing catches or grinds which is good, new track rod ends will go on in final build to save the rubber boots from just sitting around perishing like most peoples have done.

made a start on my brace bars today, just need a length of 15mm CDS and i will get them finished
O/S

N/S

close up of the bracket


the N/S bar will be made straight to start with, with the final aim of using a front mounted rad, but should i revert back to a standard position radiator i will also be making a kinked bar as shown a few pages back


comments welcome
Ben

[benjy_18]

well progress will be pretty much on a hold now as i crashed my daily in the rain yesterday, fortunatly nobody else was involved and nobody hurt.

main problem i have i that i will loose my NCB and therefore the mini is effectively uninsurable for me now because theres no way im not mentioning all the mods to the insurers. so this may take a bit longer to get on the road than i hoped.

Ben

[benjy_18]

Will be getting back onto this in the next few weeks!
I've got myself a new daily drive (mk2 golf gti) which has got me well and truly back into the car scene now!
I've also been travelling through Europe with a few friends for the last couple of weeks, hopefully I'll be back home feeling fresh and with some new inspiration to carry this on once I have some money!
Look out for a fully rolling shell in around a months time!

Ben

Edited by benjy_18, 14 August 2012 - 05:29 PM.

[ScudY23]

Ive just spent near on two hours reading this thread and gotta say you have done a cracking job there and put some very interesting mods into it.
Ive just picked up my first mini and think im gonna struggle due to very little mechanical skills lol.

Quick question tho, where do you get so much much from ?

Well done and keep up the good work.

Scud.

[benjy_18]

just jump in scud, although i had a little mechanical knowledge when i started its nowehre near what i have no and thats mostly thank to this project. if you get stuck just ask around on here!

i think there may be a few more modifications to follow aswell bnut i will try and keep them secret for now.

after buying the mk2 golf ive got my enthusiasm back now so will be back onto this beggining of next month (waiting for pay day) first off is to finish the brace bars and then finally finish the welding on the car and get the rear subframe sorted for good.

keep watching guys
Ben

[benjy_18]

small update today, nursing a bit of a hangover so i wasnt up for doing anything too stressful

finished off my front brace bars and cleaned some pieces up to stop too much crap building up inside the car

the subframe looks a bit mismatched but this is only a dry build, everything will be taken back apart for a final clean and paint before it goes back on the car





tomorrow may see an old engine dropped onto the subframe so i can make up a strut brace and mess with my internal gear linkage aswell

Ben

[grahama]

Hi Ben,

will look nice when all painted but at least you know it all goes together nicely. One question, what are the brackets that go from the bottom of the shocks to the top arms, shiny black colour ???

Graham

[benjy_18]

Hi graham,

They are jut some brackets for the coilovers. Because they mount ontop of the ball joints as opposed to where standard shocks mount on the arms the brackets just add a little more strength. Although I will be remaking them as when lowered a lot they can actually catch on the subframe.

Ben

[benjy_18]

some more for you today,

short engine dropped in to sort out some clearances etc


will drop an old head on when i find some studs and then i can start messing with a strut brace and exhaust/inlet fitment ideas
i also have a plan for an internal gear linkage but i will keep that secret until its sorted

valance clamped on ready for welding (de-bumpering)


and the holesaws came out to play yet again :)

some more to cut and then im hoping to get the outer skin off so i can clean and paint the inside of the frame

Ben

[Adzz1992]

Benn! Been while I've seen ur build got some work done :)) shame you smashed the fiesta :-/ when I get mini Im going to b stealing u n ur welder ;))
Getting there mate!!

[benjy_18]

started to modify my rear valance today, hopefully i can get the valance boot floor and hinge panel welded together in the next few days then start the debumpering, then prime it all





consists of 2 valances cut up and the opposite ends joined together

10 points to whoever quesses whats going in between ;)

Ben

[Tupers]

Ooooo I know I know.

[benjy_18]

Will be in the making sometime this week hopefully

[Tupers]

Sounds good, are you using alloy?


I'll be making one for my Hornet eventually.