212 replies to this topic

[Alburglar]

I should be working on my Zcars Minus, but I got fed up of boring eurobox daily drivers and vvc metros that aren't worth any more money when they're finished (even if they are 185bhp!). So when I got an offer I couldn't refuse on the latest VVC metro, I sold it and bought...

...a ropey (but registered!) Phoenix Estate. For those who don't know, a Phoenix Estate is a fibreglass Clubman Estate style shell, with an ugly Robin Rialto/Reliant hatchback and rear lights (the trailer lights in this pic a no longer in it)...Reliant Robin rear lights are standard, which are also Ford p100 sierra pickup lights too, 1987 to 93. (Apparently P100 fans say the Mk3 and Mk4 escort van has the same bulb holder.The rear lenses are slighly different but are interchangeable.)

...which I will sort out buy making and grafting on a grp clubman estate rear valance and shaving off the square box section at the bottom of the hatch door. I may possible add mini rear lights too.

I am going to try and do a 'quick' Watson's style DIY conversion to an MGF subframe, because I already have two along with LSD pg1 gearboxes, driveshafts etc.
Just gathering some more parts, but work should start soon.
...the shell really is ropey tho. The paint is peeling off the door steps and other places where they weren't sanded at all. Crazing in the gel coat had been fillered over and not sorted properly so that's falling off in clumps too! Gonna need a lot of sanding and repair...

Edited by Alburglar, 18 August 2023 - 04:09 PM.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Very nice mate. I have seen your GTA on MetroPower over time, it was a very nice car!

 

Where did you get this one from? Theres been a Phoenix estate for sale a little while ago on Ebay, I think they were asking £1500, it was abandoned and the guy had a minus and a couple of others... yours looks a little to good to be that one though.

[Alburglar]

I can't claim credit for the Gta. The last owner put that one together, but it needed a clutch or rather a pg1 conversion to get a bigger clutch on it, a custom exhaust, an uprated FPR then z&f remap, welding in an inner wing, welding to door steps, a rear quarter repair and the gti trim rub strips and skirts all fit terrible.
It would have been a wicked car once it's all done but that's a lot of money on a car that will only ever be worth £1500. The lad who built it, loved it and wanted it back so I sold it back to him, which was nice.

This is the phoenix from the field. It was on ebay for £1500, then £1300. I paid a lot less in the end. It really is in quite a sorry state. The rear end pic is from years ago just after it got sprayed. It is far worse now, two layers of paint (orange and blue under it) need to be sanded off along with all the filler, in order to get to the gelcoat. Then sort the crazing out. It needs the grp equivalent of a bare metal respray. Ill post some pics up.

[ChrisCityE]

Cool, like the sounds of this project

[Alburglar]

Phoenix Estate Vvc Diy Mgf Frame Conversion - Watson's Style.

...err or perhaps not...

 

 

 

It don't fit

I haven't cut the steering rack moulding off the phoenix shell yet, (as watsons instruct you to on a normal mini) because I never intended to. They are moulded as part of the shell and I don't want to hack it off as retro fitting will be a pain if I change my mind. I was gonna cut the mgf frame to fit round it, then weld in a strengening bar if needed. But it doesn't touch that yet, it is up against the bulkhead and sticks out a mile at the front? Must be something to do with the shell shape at the front bulkhead.

So It will need cutting at the front and at the back to fit the phoenix, so I think sod it I might as well

a) cut the mgf frame about- front and back to suit.

pros: probably still the easiest route

cons: metro suspension and spacers at the rear.

but if I'm cutting and welding frames I might as well:

 

b) make a k frame out of a mini subframe and use pg1 bits or

c) get some money (from tooth fairy?) and buy the alspeed frame, use r65 gearbox

 

pros: I get to use proper mini suspension

Cons: I have to make driveshafts.

decisions, decisions

Edited by Alburglar, 12 July 2013 - 05:33 PM.

[Alburglar]

So I removed the windows and stripped the headlining out. It was manky but it all came out in one piece which will be good if I need a copy made up.

The paint is flaking off really badly where it wasn't sanded properly and where the crazing in the gel coat undernearth hasn't been repaired properly:

[Alburglar]

So I gave the front quarter a quick go with a DA sander with 150grit pads. Its come up pretty good, but I think I'll be sanding the remaining orange paint and it's primer completely off the whole shell, just to be safe.

[Alburglar]

...too scared to cut the front end off the shell at the moment also

Edited by Alburglar, 12 July 2013 - 05:35 PM.

[Minidarren83]

I would go with making your own frame from a mini subby mile cheaper and that's only how allspeed make them but many people cut the front if the mgf frame off and shorten it using a removable front bar to clear the exhaust. I'm going with my own mini frame and it should only cost me £80 fit the box and sheet steel. Good luck ill be watching

[Alburglar]

I have a pipe bender so Might get some 32mm/38mm CDS tube.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Are you going to have to cut the front off? It's a shame on such an original fiberglass shell. There is a fair bit of room left with the PG1 gearbox, can you not shorten the subframe a tad? 

 

Something more compact would be ideal for this, there are a few simple designs I have seen that I think would fit really nicely. Is the track of a K-Series subframe not a bit to wide, and then there is the wheel offset issue. 

 

[domdee]

think you should convert the back end to a standard estate!

[Tomf]

Looks like a good project buddy, you should have it done in no time. What we saying deadline in about 8 years or is that a bit soon haha.

Come on get your minus done!

[Alburglar]

I do pretty much agree Tomf me old mucker, but I couldn't pass the car up as it is exactly what I want as a daily driver.

[Tomf]

When I did a k-series in my clubby estate i used a mini frame. Wasn't that hard to make to be honest.

Ill have to pull my finger out and get my rear engines k-series done.