90 replies to this topic

[sreeve8]

this project looks awesome mate, good luck with it, i will be following closely, i hope i will one day build a mini like this.
simon

[Howzter]

Ive made a start on mounting the gearbox! think im on a roll now, hearing the engine has spurred me on (but dont quote me on this in 3 months time).

I made a prototype adaptor flange out of nylon just to see if the idea worked.....................

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Had to make it fairly thick to allow enough thread to bite on the ford flywheel bolts, this is not ideal because the actual teeth on the flywheel sit about 30mm further away from the engine than the chevy flexplate......so i made the diameter of the adaptor up, to kind of act as a harmonic balancer this end of the engine (sounds good!)

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Went on nice, but had to make the bolts aswell! does nowhere on earth make 7/16" UNF cap heads!!
Think im going to use countersunk bolts on the real deal, this means i wont need to dowel it anywhere.

Ford Dual mass flywheel in position.............

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Now ive started to make templates for the bellhousing adaptor plate....................

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Heres the good bit. The thickness of the bellhousing adaptor has got to be 1 1/4", anyone got a spare ofcut of aluminium plate measuring 500 x 500 x 32!!! Think im going to have to make it in two halfs, like the mockup shows. Gearbox should be mocked up at the end of play this weekend, need driveshafts now........will it never end!

[Piddling Kid]

just found this mini project and what a read its been, this is going to look sooo BADASS

[chairchild]

I'd be tempted, instead of using HUGE chunks of alloy (which will end up weighing a ton!) To use a method like spags, and just space it out, using some decent box-section!

3mm steel sheet, bolted onto the outside mounting edge of the engine, same for the bellhousing, then have sections of box-section welded direct to each plate, at an angle, to fill the space.

Would also mean lots of lovely cool air getting to the clutch!

[Howzter]

Managed to finally get the box onto the block using the MDF adaptor plates, bit of a struggle!

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Think i will just go for direct replacements out of 15mm aluminium plate, i hear what your saying chairchild, but to be honest the profiles are not really all that big, so the weight isnt an issue (plus ive found some 15mm plate at work...he he)

Will it fit??

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Im a happy man today, after seeing it in position, it all made sense. Its definatly a far cry from what i was trying to achieve before.

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Unfortunatly, the engine stand i made holds the engine too high in the car. Yes i could jack the car up to meet the levels needed, but i have an idea to make a stand that doesnt pickup on any engine mounts, thus leaving the mounts free to pickup when building the rear end of the mini.

Need driveshafts and hubs now, bit of tube, bit of box and bobs your bruva's auntie

[Ro8bieg]

i take it your custom making wheel arches then?

[R1mini]

Looking great Howzter,
What sort of suspension are you going for now on the rear?

Cheers
David

[v8mini]

looks great, didn't realize you was mounting transverse in the rear. i will keep i eye on its progress

[Howzter]

Looking great Howzter,
What sort of suspension are you going for now on the rear?

Cheers
David

Well.....my brother had some leda suspension units, that he sold unbeknown to me. They were quite long and had helper springs......i thought they would be just the ticket. My theory being that, if i want to get power to the ground quickly, initially i want them to be softish, so it bites (on the helpers) and then stiffens over a long coil. Im not really up on suspension units, this is me just trying to sus it out with a practical head on!!......if you know any different, please let me know

[R1mini]

[/quote]

Well.....my brother had some leda suspension units, that he sold unbeknown to me. They were quite long and had helper springs......i thought they would be just the ticket. My theory being that, if i want to get power to the ground quickly, initially i want them to be softish, so it bites (on the helpers) and then stiffens over a long coil. Im not really up on suspension units, this is me just trying to sus it out with a practical head on!!......if you know any different, please let me know
[/quote]

I was thinking of the type of suspension, ie strut, trailing arm, de dion, etc

The helper springs are to keep the suspension under some tension when they are unloaded, stop the coil springs coming out of there seats, they completly compress under the weight of the car

Cheers
David

[alexcrosse]

i take it your custom making wheel arches then?

hehe, dont think he could get away with a dogmatix styley setup =p

how far is the centre of the engine from the rear axle? And how much power has that lump got? not worried about the front lifting? v8 mini couldnt steer over 60mph til he got the very well engineered zcars frame in the front...

Edited by alexcrosse, 18 March 2008 - 09:01 PM.

[Howzter]

Rear trailing arms is my initial thought, and if i have room to tie them together round the back of the engine, i will think about that...some weird hybrid De Dion setup! I like the idea of linking them, it all depends on space really, Its all a bit of a problem, trying to work out whats best.......but.......as in the rest of the car, im gonna have to suck it and see. ive been recommended to get the car on 4 wheels and driveable......then take it somewhere where i can see how it reacts.......sounds sensible, even tho i will not be able to push it, i spose i will be able to tell if its gonna work or not.
From driveshaft to center of engine is about 300mm, i even rotated the gearbox a couple of degrees to push the centers apart and make the engine sit lower, its still worrying close though!! If it wheelies, it wheelies (which it probably will), gives the car charactor!! lol...nothing some automated wheelie bars, lowering from the boot on a hydrolics, being run from the spare pulley that used to run the power steering wont fix........but i havnt really thought about it yet!! he he
Engine puts out a guesstimated 280bhp........and sounds like the end of the world! Is it worrying that i listen to alot of Rage Against the Machine when building this car!!

[welshy]

I keep hearing about Rage Againast the Machine i might have to go watch them when i go to The Leeds Festival

YES I HAVE A TICKET WOOOHOO!!!!!

[Baldspeed Racing]

looking good mate gonna defo be a wide ol mini

[Howzter]

WOW! I saw The Rage at Reading 2000, didnt think they were ever coming back to the UK to peform, you wont be dissapointed, they are superb! I opted for Le Mans this year rather than a festival, twas very good.

So, progress on the V8............

I had to find room for the starter motor, the only place was where the oil filter goes, because the driveshafts take up all the room on other side. A remote oil filter was put in place to make some room, and also had to mod the sump (ahum.................3 times, but less said about that the better)

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I know it looks C**p, but a grinder and a lick of paint will have to do, it doesnt leak which is nice.
I created enough room for the starter to fit, so next i took a big chunk out of the bellhousing, and positioned it in place.........

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Then re-built the housing accordingly..................

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Ive also made the adapter plates for the gearbox, and the flywheel flange out of metal now, so its all but ready to go back together and fire again to see if its all in the right place, just need to mock up some sort of hydrolics for the clutch, probably use a brake master cylinder.

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Try and get the engine running a bit better aswell, if i get the water plumbed back in, can anyone suggest a decent electric water pump?