103 replies to this topic

[ed4ran]

Well if thats your only problem then i think your doing pretty good!
What was the cause of the rear arms being loose?

[v8mini]

I don’t really know what the problem was, I reinforced the brackets where the rear locking tie bars/arms bolted to the subframe and there was still a similar amount of play, also added some more subframe bracing to the rear as some of the movement seemed to come from subframe flexing slightly. When I questioned any remaining play it was said to be ok for a bit of play from the bushes, and the arms were actually loose, and it wasn’t play it failed on (although all was tight when removing to modify). Same for ball joint had play but could not find it myself, not touched but was ok next time round.

Hand brake was bad, I must admit. Fitted some new shoes today and it seems a lot better. old shoes were just glazed over, think as a result of towing the car back from MITP the other year with the A frame, and leaving the hand brake on, I must of baked the shoes and hardened them of something. Basically they were shagged.

will try and get it in this week, if i can find time

Si

[v8mini]

dropped car in for MOT today (again), and a 4.45pm it had passed, so misses pick me up from work with paper work, rushed to post office, fist one was shut, so back into banbury town in rush hour traffic, got there for 5.25, qued up and in checking documents the cashier found the reg on my insurance was wrong, numbers read 256 instead of 526. so now have to wait for new cover note before i can tax it

so basically the V8 mini is on the road at last

[jameswildcooper]

awsome cant wait to see this at some shows make sure get some videos of it on the road as i love V8s especially in a mini

[ed4ran]

COOOL
Now you have to get lots of videos
see if you can mount the camera in the car then you can get peoples reactions when you speed past them!!

[bert998]

are you takin it to Malvern?

[v8mini]

Now you have to get lots of videos
see if you can mount the camera in the car then you can get peoples reactions when you speed past them!!

i've got two problems there,

1st is my camcorder is broken, so needs to get sent off for fixing (known fault so FOC)

2nd is today is the first time its been over 40 under its own power, and at crusing at about 60 is not a good feeling :'( . front seems too light and wants to wander about a bit. really quite scarry, so i think a bit of fiddling with suspention settings will be going on over the next few weeks.

not too sure about malvern show. i think its a bit early to drive that far, especially with the handling issues.

also engine cover is not finished, so its a bit hot and noisey

[fikus01]

loving the project!! if nothing else it will sound awesome!! my brother was intereste in doing the same but he didnt realise how much work was involved!!

are you running coilovers?? mite pay to talk to chris allinson at z-cars for some info on what poundage springs they use on the civic engined monster!! i know that engine weighs loads so it cant be far off what you've got!!

[v8mini]

new cover note turned up today, so now taxed and fully legal for road use
have been using it for work the last couple of days anyway, and seems quite driveable in traffic, because its really toquey you can have it in a high gear on tickover, (although tickover is a bit high at the moment) and if you need to pick the pace up a bit, just give a bit more throttle and it pulls nicely in any gear, obviously a lot quicker in the lower gears. pulled out on a roundabout coming home today, booted it in second a was supprise how quick i pulled away from the cars i pulled out in front of

also had a few odd looks, and a couple of thumbs up from the few who realize what it is

starting to get familiar with how it drives, but still needs handling sort out for when the speed increases.
should of got this going years ago

[weeman]

ya mini is the ******** mate sounds the tits 2, just outa interest what gearbox and drive linkage has it got ?

[v8mini]

i've actually manage to keep out of the loft conversion this weekend, so have been able to have some mini time.

spent a bit of time making the rear cover for the engine, panel behind seat is in place, and top cover is roughly in place but needs finishing.

also fitted some 12v 120mm fans in the boot lid vents to draw the heat and fumes out.

hopfully now i can drive to work and not be coughing up exhaust fumes for first 1/2 hour when i get there

not have time to look and handling issues as yet, but will be ok for now for the drive to work.

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[Dog]

I just love the way it looks standard!!

[ed4ran]

Reminds me i have that to do

But yours looks good,
Have you taken it all the way to the edge,
and have you just attached it to the cage, or the rear quater as well?

Do you rekon the light front end is just a result of alot of power is the rear and possibly stiffer springs needed in the rear?

[Jordie]

bag of sand under the bonnet, like they do with the hillman imps

[v8mini]

i have put some strips around the edges about 3-4" wide from the body where the rear windows are, and then dropped the sides down from the same point into the space at the rear quarter panel. These are held in place with some 1" box section. also strip across the floor about 3-4" high. Bottom of panel sits in some slots at the bottom, and help in place with some magnets near the top.
top cover is only partially made and held in with duc tape for now.

realy not sure what needs doing for the suspension, front is still a bit high, so dropping that a bit might shift some weight forward, also seems a bit bouncy up front, so might wind the dampers up abit, or just go for adding a load of ballast up front. has got a full tank of fuel at the mo, and it does seem to help a little, just not enough.