457 replies to this topic

[alchall]

I had the same problem and started off with them the way up you have them but have since switched at the front, the rear seems ok as it is, I had to use timber along with my axel stands to get it high enough though to start with.

 

I also have the disc at the front, you might find it better to do the same as it's probably easier to get to to lock it if you want to hold it at an angle.

 

I have to say I've been very pleased with my jig, it's not cheap but I don't know how I would have got on without it.....

[Ben_O]

I had the same problem and started off with them the way up you have them but have since switched at the front, the rear seems ok as it is, I had to use timber along with my axel stands to get it high enough though to start with.

 

I also have the disc at the front, you might find it better to do the same as it's probably easier to get to to lock it if you want to hold it at an angle.

 

I have to say I've been very pleased with my jig, it's not cheap but I don't know how I would have got on without it.....

I don't suppose you could show me a picture of the locking pin and the locking disc please? There is a substantial gap between the part that the pin slides through on the a frame and the disc and it really strains the pin.

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[alchall]

 

I had the same problem and started off with them the way up you have them but have since switched at the front, the rear seems ok as it is, I had to use timber along with my axel stands to get it high enough though to start with.

 

I also have the disc at the front, you might find it better to do the same as it's probably easier to get to to lock it if you want to hold it at an angle.

 

I have to say I've been very pleased with my jig, it's not cheap but I don't know how I would have got on without it.....

I don't suppose you could show me a picture of the locking pin and the locking disc please? There is a substantial gap between the part that the pin slides through on the a frame and the disc and it really strains the pin.

 

Cheers

 

Ben

 

 

Here you go, a few angles....

 

 

Excuse the terrible paint job, was a quick fix to keep things clean! 

 

I also could have fitted the disc straighter, not sure how I managed to end up fitting it at a strange angle leaving me with less points to hold it at different angles, I guess I was in too much of a hurry to get it together but it hasn't hampered me really.

 

Anyway, I find there is no strain at all on the pin when the car is upright or upside down, the car sits there happily on it's own, there is some strain when I hold it at an angle but I guess that is to be expected and it's never left that way for any length of time.

[Ben_O]

Thanks Alchall, that helps alot.

 

This one is the same as yours so at least i know it's how it's supposed to be.

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[alchall]

You're more than welcome, I'm going to be clearing the garage out over the next couple of weeks as I'm moving house, if I happen to come across the instructions I'll post them up, may be too late for you though if I do find them...

[Ben_O]

Back to the Mini today and the first thing i wanted to get finished was the drivers door alignment.

 

As you can see from the last set of photos, the gaps were all over the place in typical Mini fashion.

 

A quick reminder

 

 

And after spending far too long (all morning   ) i managed to get them much better.

 

 

 

 

 

Colin had been doing some more prep over the weekend too

 

 

 

With the doors removed again, i finished the A panel welding

 

 

 

And i welded the top of the skin to the window frame either end

 

 

So with the doors and A panels complete, i wanted to get the roll cage mocked up so i can drill the mounting points and weld in the reinforcing plates.

 

So first, in went the rear cage

 

 

Then the front cage

 

 

 

Then the harness bar

 

 

Nothing is bolted in tight yet as i need to square up everything first.

 

And Darren, if you are viewing, here is the height of the door bar. I know you was worried about it being too high.

 

 

 

I can lower the front more but the back is as low as it can go. I think this would be the best position for it to go personally.

 

Both door bars need cutting to length but i want to get everything bolted down first so there is no risk of error. I don't want to cut it too short!

 

I think the cage looks really good in there

 

 

And just before i left, the front panel arrived finally so i had to give it a quick mock up

 

 

I hope to get that fitted tomorrow.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Ben

[JDImini]

Hi Ben, it's looking great and the door bars look good

 

Thanks Darren

[JDImini]

regarding the roof colour, Jack would like black and bonnet badge will be a shield something like this 

 

 

 badge.jpg   8.43K   2 downloads

[Ben_O]

regarding the roof colour, Jack would like black and bonnet badge will be a shield something like this 

 

 

badge.jpg

Cheers Darren.

 

Thanks for letting me know about the roof colour and badge.

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[Ben_O]

Today has been frustrating.

 

The plan was to get the cage mounted and the reinforcers welded in and then move onto the front panel.

 

I only managed to get the cage mounted as it took far longer than i imagined it would.

 

It's quite difficult to strike a balance between getting the cage bolted together square and getting the cage square to the shell. Then there is the problem of getting the feet in symmetrical positions without putting the cage out of square....

 

Anyone that has ever done one of these cages will know.

 

I had to use a portapower, to push the legs apart in places and truck straps to pull them together in other places. Various pieces of wood and a scissor jack were used to position the cage properly.

 

Finally once it was in and square, i drilled the mounting holes and bolted it in.

 

 

In order to mount the front legs of the rear cage, i decided to cut a piece from the companion bins to allow better access. I'm not sure how else i could have done it.

 

 

 

They will be welded back in once the reinforcing plates are fully welded.

 

This allowed me to finish bolting it down fully.

 

 

 

 

I couldn't get in to drill the other holes in within the companion bin with the cage in so i relied on the 3 bolts to hold the reinforcing plate in the correct position so i can drill them once the cage is back out.

Once the cage was all bolted down the door bars needed to be cut to size and bolted in.

 

 

 

And then everything was fully tightened together and checked again for square and also that all mounting points and joining points fitted together properly.

 

Then back out with the cage.

 

I then bolted the reinforcing plates to the mounting points and tacked them in

 

 

 

No need for pics of all the mounting points, i'm sure you get the idea.

 

And an example of them seam welded

 

 

And once the welds were tidied up a bit, a splash of zinc was applied to cover it until paint time

 

 

Now the mounting point welding is complete, ill be finishing up the inside and finally getting the front panel on which will complete the welding for the whole job.

 

More tomorrow.

 

Ben

[Carlos W]

What's the microwave for?

[Ben_O]

What's the microwave for?

That's the box for our new one at home, i brought it in to put the parts removed from the front subframe in 

[minimissions]

Every time I click on a build from you I no it's going to be such clean and tidy work, nice one mate it looks great

[JDImini]

Hi Ben, I had no idea the roll cage would be such a headache 

[Ben_O]

Hi Ben, I had no idea the roll cage would be such a headache 

Neither did I,

 

It's the first one i have done  and i assumed it would be a case of assemble it and bolt it down.

 

Oh well, it's done now and it's going to look great so well worth it.

 

Cheers

 

Ben