165 replies to this topic

[al_reidy]

Hi All,

 

I thought i would share my current project.

I did have a full on 1380cc A-series which was great but i just didn't like the power and cam'd nature of its performance. So i sold it.

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Then i bought a micra :

 

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My thoughts next went to making a cable clutch pedal. Rather than weld anything i thought i would just look at what i could do with the standard pedal.

Most people pull down on the cable from the firewall above. i thought i would try using the existing pedal to pull up from under the bulkhead.

To do this i experimented with cutting off the anchor pivot thing on the end of the cable. which i then regretted !

but in this picture you see the seatbelt eyelet mount i used to hold the cable in its normal way:

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Then i drilled a small hole and with a new cable attached it to the pedal, i also added a cable guide using the orig pivot whole and 2 washers.

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I used a large washer either side to spread the load on the mounting.

 

Then the allspeed frame Arrives!

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which when fitted just clears the new cable mount... jammy git that i am.

 

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Next was trial fitting the engine in the frame, in the car.

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With the clearances i then moved the engine around on the mounts, which have the ability to slide in all directions, to best fit the gear linkages and the alternator space.

Speaking of the alternator, i didn't want to just do the norm which seems to be mounting it up high over the inlet side of the engine. so i bought a small denso alternator from a Daihatsu charade which has the same pulley as the internal belt on the micra engine.

I decided i could just fit this to the front of the engine kinda in the grill.

 

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To make the belt fit i bought a deflection pulley from a VW engine (i don't know what) timing belt, this has an off centre hole which i use to allow ,without doing anything special, to bolt into an existing threaded mount on the side of the block.

as you can see with the alternator mount and the small size of the thing it actually works really well ! i hope when the engine actually runs it still does its job though!

 

 

Next is the drive shafts, i assembled the suspension the best i could and cut the micra and mini shafts to the best mid point in the inner pot joint travel.

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They are currently away at an engineering shop to make some sleeves, i will report back with dimensions and lengths.

 

 

Then for fun i looked at what a supercharger might look like...

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but thats not for now...

 

Simple mount for the rad:

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With the Engine out i started looking at what could be done with the standard inlet manifold :

This is next to one from a Corolla, it looked like it could work but i just couldn't cut it in a way that would fit the without fouling the bulkhead.

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but i scrapped that to make my own:

 

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this is stage one, i will need to add on a plenum where i intend to add the standard throttle body on the side of the plenum.

 

I followed a wiring guide another user on here posted, but it turns out my micra had completely different colours. so i had to refer to the exploded diagram and make my own version. still it was a great help. 

http://www.theminifo...e-wiring-guide/

 

Water pipes are simple and setup is very similar to an SPI mini.

 

 IMG_1666.jpg   69.6K   115 downloads

 

 

As for the exhaust manifold, this is stock at the moment without the cat, i just made a simple and horrible flat plate to convert to a normal single exhaust. i will get around to making a proper manifold, might be a turbo one though

 

 

i will update as and when i get on further.

Attached Files

•  Micra_Mini09.jpg   81.3K   42 downloads

Edited by al_reidy, 01 August 2014 - 04:09 PM.

[l_jonez]

Nice to see another build, also that all speed now do a 1.3 frame.


I originally did the same with the throttle cable but moved it as I wasn't happy with the location. You will probably find that even with the big washers the bulkhead will flex.

I had to mod the corrola manifold a bit but it did fit.

Keep up the good work I'd love to see that super charger on there!

[al_reidy]

lets see, the clutch operation does seem to work, but without the engine running and something to power the wheels i can't tell.

Interesting that you did the same, i couldn't find any pictures of people doing it.

 

The supercharger looks like a nightmare to fabricate up an inlet manifold to match it, if i was to go forced induction i would go for a very small turbo like on the new 3cyl turbo engines ford do.

although its probably perfectly fine for me as standard to be honest.

[rids]

I've had no bother with this cable clutch set up

[al_reidy]

I however can't weld, I have to borrow friends who can. So I tried to make something knowing my skill limit. Plus I wanted a normal center speedo and thought that the cable would cross the dash.

[evansisgreat]

In looking at the pictures, have you removed the inner wings? I'm just curious if you have to remove the inner wings to fit the allspeed frame.

[al_reidy]

Yes the inner wings foul the frame :-(

[StewartB]

Following this closely as this is the road im away to go down, reliable motor with decent enough power output to keep me satisfied, and easily modifiable ;)

[smudger068]

I will be following this too

[Jones s13]

great thread! how would you rate the allspeed frame? I want a cg13 in my mini, but still weighing up my options as regards the frame, obviously I could home make a lot a cheaper, but then again the frame from allspeed looks very good quality and the idea of just bolting straight in is appealing

[al_reidy]

The frame is very good quality, there are some issues i would like to mention:

- You really have to use allspeed bottom arms as the mounts are for rose joints, i did find a forum thread that said apparently minispares's rose joint kit will fit but they were out of stock.

 - The rear engine mount fouls the pot joint once you put a boot on it.

 - The rear engine mount replaces the Nissan one, which is fine apart from the nissan one did a vital role of also being the mount for the gear lever steady bar. So i had to weld on an extra strip of metal and bend it to as closer position as the original as i could, this could have been so much simpler  and very quick for them to do if it was already on the rear mount.

- As mentioned earlier up the thread, the inner arches. it seemingly would have been achievable to narrow the side braces in just 1cm or so to make it clear the inner arches. but you could always weld on some sheet metal back as an inner arch in as i will no doubt do.

- the brake pipe mounting tabs for the flexible's seem flimsy as they bend with little effort, also very high compared to standard. I've not seen an issue with it yet but it might be a little tight on full lock.

- it would have been nice to have a factory painted option like the other frames.

[malynch27]

Awesome thread so far.  Now following as this is deffo an avenue I want to go down. 

[al_reidy]

More work on attempting to get an inlet manifold to fit.

3" alloy pipe...

 

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i got some 1cm thick plate that i drilled and cut to match the gasket of the throttle body.

 

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I'm going to get it TIG welded up. i'll be back...

[BradleyRogerson]

looking good there matey :) your build is pretty much the exact same as mine except iv made my own frame although an allspeed one would have gone a treat, im on to the wiring with mine now, iv got it to turn over and power to the alternator but dont think my ecu is getting a live feed and now im just stuck :L keep us updated!  

[lawrence]

This is all coming together nicely isn't it :) nice to see another Micra build although I am slightly jealous of your all speed frame

I also put my clutch cable through the top of the bulkhead

It works fine this way just need a bit of a file on the piece bolted to the bulkhead

Keep up the good work tho
Lawrence