28 replies to this topic

[Surf Blue]

So I thought I'd do a project thread even though it's a finished car now. Owned this mini for 16 years now, was my first car and looked very different to what it does now.


Don't actually have many pictures other than the feature in Miniworld!

It ends up like this

[johnR]

Is that all we're getting?

[Surf Blue]

I'll upload more when I get home and get better internet!
There is lots more to come

[megamini_jb]

Looks awesome! A real sleeper

[Surf Blue]

So engine came out to start the rebuild


I had one goal
To build a car reliable to drive trackdays all day long, then drive the car home.
Working in Motorsport I've been to circuits all over the world, but never get to drive myself.

So after talking to a few friends, a Honda ek4 was found, low mileage and had been written off. Perfect donor!!

[Surf Blue]

I wanted to keep the car looking as a mini should, which for me meant no fibreglass flipfronts or even a clubman front end. I wanted to keep the roundnose steel front end.
So started by offering the engine in the bay, then working where the subframe would fit, and started bending tubes.

[Surf Blue]

Inner wing reshaped to fit around the cam cover

Bulkhead box made, I wanted to keep the manifold as honda intended, not cut and angled.

Next challenge was getting a 4-1 exhaust manifold to fit. I bought a cheap one off eBay and set about cutting 3 of the 4 headers off and re-positioning them so they are all inline not crossing over each other, which reduced the front space allowing the front panel to clear. Then tig welded it all back together!

Edited by Surf Blue, 11 August 2017 - 05:57 AM.

[Surf Blue]

Radiator positioned


Next up was finding the best location for the alternator. This took some working out to get aligned and a correct belt length.
Access is limited but actually works quite nice being behind the headlight. I kept the original Honda alternator but I'm now looking for something more compact and lighter.

[minimissions]

Its good that you started with a nice solid shell to, makes life way easier when doing the conversion. Nice work. Keep some more pics coming

[Steve220]

How's the tension of the belt going to work with the movement of the engine?

[Surf Blue]

How's the tension of the belt going to work with the movement of the engine?

Engine is mounted in such a way there is very little movement. I've done over 600miles on track and never lost a belt or had any problems.

[998kid]

Just about to start this conversion
Following for some help along the way!

The more pics the better lol

[Surf Blue]

New front end fitting

[Surf Blue]

Allspeed HD driveshafts ready to go

[Surf Blue]

Into the booth, the colour was always going to be surf blue with old English white roof.