One Carb Or Two?
Posted 23 October 2020 - 01:13 PM
Hello,
I'm in the process of making a custom roof rack for my Mini. I put this thread in Styling section because I admit it's more for styling than usefulness.
I started with old 80's Mercedes-Benz roof bars that I've been given. The clamps fit on the roof gutters perfectly, but the bars are obviously too long, and they are a good base for the style I want.
Edited by dasupersprint, 23 October 2020 - 01:16 PM.
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 23 October 2020 - 01:15 PM
They have a locking system but I removed that to have a cleaner styling and I'm not scared of it being stolen anyway.
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 23 October 2020 - 01:16 PM
So that's how the clamps fixes on the gutter. I removed the middle section of the bars
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 23 October 2020 - 01:18 PM
So I will base the outside shape on 7/16'' bars. I started by putting the lower one inside the two clamp bases
Edited by dasupersprint, 23 October 2020 - 01:18 PM.
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 23 October 2020 - 01:19 PM
I put temporary angles to keep the dimensions straight
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 23 October 2020 - 01:20 PM
This is the basic shape I want on each side, with 7/16'' rod
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 23 October 2020 - 01:21 PM
I removed the rivets holding the bars on the bases
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 23 October 2020 - 01:22 PM
And add my own bars, with 1 1/4'' flat bar that I curved
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 23 October 2020 - 01:23 PM
Then cut the excess of the bases
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 23 October 2020 - 01:24 PM
Then welded the side rods that make the main shape. Starting to look as I wanted it!
Edited by dasupersprint, 23 October 2020 - 01:24 PM.
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 23 October 2020 - 01:26 PM
Then I added a horizontal bar at the top front, and the wood bars that I found are 1/4'' x 1 1/2''. It's now ready for a first test drive on the car before I go further on the finishing touches.
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 23 October 2020 - 04:21 PM
Following with interest. Great work so far.
Is the round bar stainless or mild?
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 23 October 2020 - 05:15 PM
Following with interest. Great work so far.
Is the round bar stainless or mild?
It's mild steel but zinc plated. I just took what was on the shelf at my local hardware store. I will strip it back and paint it over the winter. Or have it chrome plated? If not too expensive
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 23 October 2020 - 06:30 PM
I dont think its too expensive to chrome, with that wood it will look amazing.
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 26 October 2020 - 12:53 PM
So I went for a test drive and it went perfectly well, no noise and no vibration felt. And it really looks how I wanted. The Mini will soon be stored for winter so I will have all time to perfect the roof rack.
The front is nice and solid, but the rear is a bit flimsy for my taste. A flatbar is obviously less strong than a box section, so I will have to find solution for that.
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