20 replies to this topic

[IvorBiota]

This is my Biota Mk2, 

 

 

 

 

 

It featured a Mini Magazine article in 1996 http://biota.jouwweb.nl/articles/mm and was resprayed blue in 2014.

 

Current Spec:

 

Engine - Modified 1275 (no engine number) with 11 stud 12G940 head. 731 cam. Weber 45DCOE. LCB exhaust with VW silencers.

Gearbox - Elf/Hornet early remote casing, ratios unknown, 3.44 Final Drive. Custom extended remote gearchange.

Brakes - Single circuit, Front - Cooper S 7.5 inch discs. Rear - Standard drums. No servo.

Suspension - Front - Standard rubber cone, Negative camber bottom arms. Rear - De Dion type axle with trailing links, anti-rollbar and coilovers.

Wheels: 5x12 Compomotive alloys fitted with Yokohama A539 165/60 R12

 

Work done to date:

 

New clutch slave cylinder.

New alternator.

Reconfigured the cooling system.

New combined water temp and oil pressure gauge.

Reconnected the rev counter.

 

Work needed:

 

New primary gear oil seal, new driveshaft oil seal - (expanding pool of oil on the garage floor!)

 

Things to do:

 

New seats or refurbish the original "clam" ones.

Reinstate the dashmounted gearchange.

Update the dashboard.

New steering wheel.

Replace rear coilovers with adjustables. (and softer springs!)

Tidy up drivers compartment.

Fit sender to fuel tank.

Check engine capacity and wear. Possibly get it on a rolling road. (Runs very well at the moment)

13" wheels?

 

More to follow.

Edited by IvorBiota, 02 April 2017 - 09:59 AM.

[megamini_jb]

 that is cool!

[minifreek1]

Thats a lovely little motor and a refreshing change too....

[pdaykin]

Very nice.

[Vic Price]

Hi Ivorbiota, You mention rear shocks, I remember my first Biota had shocks from a Greaves trial bike, Which sounds about right as where the cars where made at the time there where many British motor cycle part suppliers especially down the road in Darnall.and Attercliffe.

[pdaykin]

So was the kit made in Derbyshire/Yorkishire ?

If so, never knew that there were any local kit makers

[Vic Price]

pdaykin, they where made In Dinnington  Sheffield,

[IvorBiota]

Hi Ivorbiota, You mention rear shocks, I remember my first Biota had shocks from a Greaves trial bike, Which sounds about right as where the cars where made at the time there where many British motor cycle part suppliers especially down the road in Darnall.and Attercliffe.

The ones on my first Biota were Girling units intended for a BSA A50 or A65!

 

Not sure yet what is fitted to my current one, definitely a higher spring rate as it hardly moves when you get in, unlike the first one.

Edited by IvorBiota, 08 January 2017 - 03:20 PM.

[Vic Price]

Interesting, my first one was quite solid on rear suspension, and was super on grip and cornering, not soft at all, But good handling. What reg was your first . and does it still exist?.

[IvorBiota]

I'm just thinking this one is too solid. Just as yours the handling, roadholding of my first one was brilliant. Never once did the rear end step out of line despite my best efforts. Haven't had chance to try anything with the current one yet, it will have to wait till I get it on a circuit.

 

My first one was DFD697K and it is currently roadgoing. http://biota.jouwweb.nl/articles/ckc

[IvorBiota]

My reconfigured cooling system with purpose made thermostat housing and swirlpot header tank.

 

 

The thermostat housing was designed to fit under the bonnet profile. My first Biota had a triangular plate with right-angled pipe sprouting from it pointing backwards - no thermostat. I wanted to go one better.

 

 

 

 

[IvorBiota]

Update time.

 

I have now replaced the primary gear oil seal to stop this from happening again.

 

 

I also replaced both driveshaft oil seals and the rubber UJs with Minispares Quinton Hazel roller type. Still getting oil on the garage floor though!

 

It was now ready for its MOT, which it passed. Big thank you to the guys at Southwell Autocentre Ltd.

 

Next stop the MK1 Action Day at Blyton Park

 

However MrsBiota wasn't happy with the state of the seats..

 

 

..and decided some custom seat covers were needed. We had visited Europa Specialist Spares to look at some Intratrim seats but they wouldn't be delivered in time.

 

So out came some old curtains we had been using as dust sheets and:

 

 

Trouble is the important one is missing!

 

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Here it is undergoing some stringent quality control testing by the mistress of the house.

 

 

All was well and here we are on track at Blyton

 

 

 

 

[tiger99]

That is another car that I wanted when I was a young and impoverished student. I remember sending off for the manufacturers literature, and was seriously impressed. There can't be many of those still around.

Have lots of fun!

[IvorBiota]

Thanks Tiger99, as far as I am aware,besides mine, there is one other roadgoing one in the UK but there are a few undergoing restoration so hopefully more soon.

 

Latest development here is the purchase of another engine. This one Is an A+ block bored out to 1330 and came with a CAM 6581 crankshaft. 

 

 

 

I will be using the head and Weber currently fitted as the former has been nicely ported etc. Camshaft will be a RE13OT.

 

Just need to put it together!

[Guess-Works.com]

Doing research