920 replies to this topic

[Skortchio]

I hate those days, when you spend all day and look at the pics and there's 3. Always moving forwards is the point, keep at it dude.

I've considered the 16v route several times myself, if you have the car off the road and the front end removed then there's really little reason not too.
Base line 1.4's are about 100bhp stock and they have a ton of tuning potential, the HG issue that people bang on about is easily rectified with... A better HG! and some tougher dowls as Rover used plastic because... Dunno

And it'll fit under a roundnose just fine. Even a D series will fit under there with some patience.
If mine wasn't already painted and (supposedly) on the road I'd have gone 16v in a second. As it stands the turbo is a better route because I can drop it in and go.

Do it! 1.8 out of a ZF or 75 is 150bhp stock and £50 gets you the ECU unlocked to the original 200!

[Minidarren83]

UPDATE!!!

got a couple of hours in the garage today so fitted the passengers a panel on pleased with the results



good even door gaps all the way round not bad considering i replaced the door post







then i made up two of these little stiffeners



they are for the a panel to stop it flexing around with the flip front like this



i should get them welded on over the weekend. and what took most of the time was sorting out the man cave i should have enough room for the k series when i hopefully pick it up this weekend



as usual not much but all a step in the righ direction

cheers darren

[Carlos W]

2 things Darren, that's the drivers door!

And, do you want to come and fit my a panels?

[Minidarren83]

2 things Darren, that's the drivers door!

And, do you want to come and fit my a panels?

well spotted sir

its not that bad they all push pull and squeeze on in the end lol but seriously your not too far from me i could always lend a hand when im not at work lol

[Carlos W]

The gaps look excellent!

I'm having major no free time issues at the moment

[Minidarren83]

The gaps look excellent!

I'm having major no free time issues at the moment

me too working all weekend and only got out tonight because the wifes away for the night lol

[Minidarren83]

UPDATE TIME!!

been fairly busy over the last couple of days on the mini after beeing let down on the engine by a member on here so got a good few hours in the garage. im still on trying to get the front end all finished up so the only things left were weld up the one piece make some brackets and supporting bits for the flappy front so here is what ive been up too

fully welded the one piece and this is the gaps i am left with (picture heavy as always)







very very happy with the bonnet to front panel gap it follows almost perfectly



then i needed to make up something that would attach the hinge to the one piece and also rienforce the wings so i came up with this and thought this was the best way to do it

after marking out the hole locations it was drilled and the back cut off and nuts welded inside



then welded the back bit back on



and then welded up both ends





it was at this point when welding on the ends i managed to zap myself with the welder, my torch hand slipped and the hot stick out went into my thumb that was holding the end on when it hit the bone it sent the welding current through me and to the earth whick was nice and all i was left with is a little hole in the end of my thumb bloody sore though



and fitted to the hinge



next it was on to securing the flappy hinges to the car so front back on lots of measuring folding and welding and this is what i came up with





there is not much rrom behind this nut with the wiper motor bulge so i had to weld it in the bracket as apposed to on it gave me the clearence i needed



and the hinges as they will operate



and the last thing of the day was to weld on this little supporting thing



pretty pleased with this weeks work just the other side to go and the front is done ready to chop it all up for the new engine which i am picking up tomorrow in the form of a full mg zr 160 so should have everything needed to make the swap

as always comments welcome cheers Darren

Edited by Minidarren83, 06 April 2013 - 02:22 AM.

[rally515]

Wow a very late update is that
still, a great one , love the a-panel idea saw it on a orange race mini with a flip front & wanted to do it exactly like that.

[Minidarren83]

Yeah it was a late one god damn insomnia lol I also saw the a panel thing on another car although they just used a round bar so thought I could do it better lol

[Skortchio]

Fantastic work as always, dude! Flip front is going to be awesome, not to mention very helpful in the conversion / any engine work department ... Might have to consider one of them myself Nice weather this weekend, room for some more progress?

[splitpin]

Great project

[Minidarren83]

Fantastic work as always, dude! Flip front is going to be awesome, not to mention very helpful in the conversion / any engine work department ... Might have to consider one of them myself Nice weather this weekend, room for some more progress?

Oh I wish progress in this nice weather but family time this weekend it's my first one off for weeks lol

In working nights next week again so should see some more done and be able to get over to yours fingers crossed

[Minidarren83]

Great project

Cheers mate and welcome to my project

[Minidarren83]

not an update but a step in the right direction picked this up today the zr 160 and bar the headgasket on its way out it manages to pull this fat old lump about so should go well in the mini



and the money shot nice and standard



seems such a shame to pull it apart but it was cheeeeaaap so the build is on

[Club man]

The seats out of these look pretty awesome in minis as well