221 replies to this topic

[podifold]

So, I've had a bit of a nightmare with the suspension set-up the last few days. I'd said previously that I've lost track of where the wheels were going to end up with all the changes I'd done. Optimistically I had hoped they were going to stay under the arches and everything would be fine.

 

It wasn't.

 

The bulge that sticks out around the base of the Protech shocks rubbed on the tyre and on full droop it pretty much bound up solid against it. Obviously this was no good and I had to very quickly redesign my shock mounts.

 

This is what I ended up with:

 

 

The shock is now outside of the mounts rather than inside them and I'm waiting on some other parts from a local engineering place to make them more safe/suitable.

 

I still needed some extra distance between the shock and tyre though so I also changed the KAD brakes from non-vented to vented discs by fitting their spacer piece between the two halves of the caliper. This, along with a pair of Metro drive flanges and a 7mm spacer, gave me an extra 11mm of track width either side. As it is now nothing rubs on full droop or rebound from left to right lock so I'm happy. 

 

All the extra width meant I had to fit some arches though.

 

 

I went for the OEM Mini Special plastic arches, in keeping with the standard look of the car. Of course, I had to match up the rears, so I changed out the studs for longer ones and fitted a pair of spaced Super Minifins.

 

I hadn't planned for any of this but overall I'm really happy with how it turned out. It still looks totally bog standard on the outside, but somehow a little meaner!

 

[Mini Manannán]

Looking good Jon!  I love this build, some really cool innovations going on.  I'm loving the sleeper look.  Did you ever get any performance figures for the Podifold set-up?

[skoughi]

Lovely job there sir, this will be such a good Mini to drive I feel.

[podifold]

I'm loving the sleeper look.  Did you ever get any performance figures for the Podifold set-up?

 
No, just because I wanted to be 100% happy with it before I started quoting any kind of power figures.

[podifold]

Everything was going well today as I tried to get all the piping connected up in the engine bay.

 

Unfortunately as soon as I connected up my Eezibleed to the clutch system I could hear a faint hissing sound. Luckily almost straight away I noticed some bubbling coming from one of the casting imperfections on the Powertune remote servo as the Eezibleed pushed all the air out.

 

The air soon turned to fluid and I had to stop everything and remove the knackered servo along with half the piping I'd just installed.

 

I phoned Moss and they're happy to replace it but won't have another until Friday.

 

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

Everything was going well today as I tried to get all the piping connected up in the engine bay.

 

Unfortunately as soon as I connected up my Eezibleed to the clutch system I could hear a faint hissing sound. Luckily almost straight away I noticed some bubbling coming from one of the casting imperfections on the Powertune remote servo as the Eezibleed pushed all the air out.

 

The air soon turned to fluid and I had to stop everything and remove the knackered servo along with half the piping I'd just installed.

 

I phoned Moss and they're happy to replace it but won't have another until Friday.

 

Can't get over the state of that casting, they should use your man!

[Deathrow]

I know you were keen on staying archless but I really do think that the Mini Special arches when filled out properly do give a great appearance. They're cost effective too.

Have you got anything between the arches and the body?

[podifold]

I totally agree. Like I said, this wasn't my original plan but I really like how it's ended up.

 

Because these wheel arches are injection moulded, and I've got to assume from the original tooling, the fit is absolutely spot on. The only issue is right at the front where they follow a slight curve on the round nose that just isn't there on the clubman.

 

At the moment they're just temporarily bolted on until I figure out the best way to deal with this. It's not massively obvious, but you know what my OCD's like.

 

When they go on permanently I might look at some kind of rubber to protect the bodywork.

[GraemeC]

I use this one - bit of a faff to get looking right, but does the job:
http://www.minispare...|Back to search

[podifold]

Yeah, that's the one I was looking at too.

[James_eaton_thewholething]

Do you go to moss that is on Stockport road near to the morrisons ?

Edited by James_eaton_thewholething, 29 July 2016 - 03:38 PM.

[podifold]

Yes. A lot these last 2 weeks!

[Mini Manannán]

Don't know if you are aware of Pheonix Trim: http://www.phoenixtrim.co.uk/   They should have something to satisfy the OCD

[James_eaton_thewholething]

Yeah I'm usually in there a lot but haven't been for a while. Hopefully will see you around once mine is finished. I only live in altrincham

[podifold]

So, after 2 long, hard weeks I've finally got everything fitted and plumbed in. Some things really fought me towards the end. I had to redo all the engine bay brake lines due to clearance issues and the servo had to be replaced TWICE amongst other things.

 

There's a few small jobs left to sort and I'm waiting on some parts for that but basically all that's left to do is some ECU and fuel pump wiring and I can see if it runs.
 






As I don't need a choke cable any more I took the switch panel out and fitted a 12v cigarette lighter socket there instead. While it was out I sprayed it with some wrinkle finish paint and replaced all the switches too.