212 replies to this topic

[Alburglar]

Should probably get the title of this thread changed really. If any mods are watching could you please change it to:
"Phoenix Estate VVC K-Series DIY Frame Conversion"

[Minidarren83]

Not sure if you have tried the engine in there yet or lined it up next to it but you may struggle getting it in there as the front bar is not far forward enough or your bottom link alarms might not clear the sump but you never know lol

[Alburglar]

Work in progress...I've got to bend a bar that will replace the majority of the front. should create a 'bulge' in between the front mount holes. The Phoenix front end has a lot of space there.
Cheers for the 'heads up' tho Darren, any other foresight from folks who've done one is appreciated.

...so front bar next, trial fit in bay, remove and offer engine up...

Edited by Alburglar, 01 August 2013 - 10:36 PM.

[scaffers]

you have some skills on tap my friend.

[Alburglar]

LOL. Thanks

....

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Very nice work mate. Are you going to be using K-Series running gear hence 95.25pcd or do you have another trick up your sleeve? 

[Alburglar]

It will be mini running gear (hubs, suspension arms, tie bar) with diy drive shafts. Probably coil overs up front.

[Alburglar]

[Alburglar]

Bent Front bar added to help with exhaust manifold clearance.

[Alburglar]

Not an overly productive day.
416 engine side mount, needs shorter bolts than mgf mount, and i didnt want to cut up the mgf mount (incase i change my mind and use it) so needed 54mm spacers made up. I will weld a fillet between them at some point.


I used the crap style mini ball joint remover to get the pg1 driveshafts out. It worked a treat.

The engine needs tipping up engine mount side to get the gearbox past the subframe bar, so every te you do it all the oil comes out the empty drive shaft holes -doh! So I've welded some extensions on and spaced the subframe arms out.


Oil filter housing sender fouls the frame too, so I made up a tempory blanking plate. I can either fit a remote filter housing or mod the frame a bit more.


Also one bolt on gearbox hits the frame and so does the sump mount bracket. I have a plan but ran out of time. I might just mod the sump bracket rather than cut the frame.

Edited by Alburglar, 16 August 2013 - 09:36 PM.

[Alburglar]

Had an afternoon free today.
Still a work in progress, but This is how it looks for now:


I have left the tube off the gearbox mount side for the time being. I'll leave it till the last minute When I know exactly how it sits.
The gearbox bottom bolt still hits the frame here so I need to sort that.


And sump mount fouls the frame here, on the opposite side. I'll probably extend the sump mount bracket to move it over a bit



I had to cut quite a lot of the frame away here to clear the gearbox and linkage so I've added some bars for support:


But it needs some triangulation

Edited by Alburglar, 16 August 2013 - 09:44 PM.

[MrBounce]

Am fascinated by this

 

And it's nice to see someone else whose fibreglass bodyshell is in a bit of a crap condition!!

[[email protected]]

top build! 

[Alburglar]

Not a lot done, but I've made the gearbox leg removeable as it will make clutch changes much simpler. Plus I wanted that done before I started to cut the frame to clear the gearbox bolts.

Edited by Alburglar, 24 August 2013 - 03:24 PM.

[Peskett]

Have you tried your engine in the frame yet? Do your two lower side bars clear the sump? I've had to go around my sump and ground clearance between sump and floor is minimal as it is. You may be able to mount your engine a bit higher than me being a clubby front.