251 replies to this topic

[chairchild]

and heres a quickly bodged photochop, of how I'm hoping to get the rear end looking like



arches from possibly a beetle, or something similar, with the rear valance being converted to vertical


but I'm really not fond of the look of the mini's lamps on the arches, so I'll more than likely try to get some smaller units - and saying which, the early beetle ones are quite close to the style I'm after!

[chairchild]

and as a rather humerous side-note......



I've now actually finished paying off the loan I took out for the mini over 4 years ago!!




£3500...... sheeesh!

[Dog]

You fail Dan!



But, Why arch it Run it archless

[chairchild]

because without arches - it'll never pass an MOT, or be allowed to pass a police car, without them pulling me over, and fining me £30

[onefastmoke]

How about using mini pick up lights? just to keep it tied in with the mini theme.
just read through the project and I am looking forward to when you complete, jag v12's make a beautiful noise
and good luck too

[chairchild]

And today, I randomly found another bloke making a turbo Jag V12!

http://s509.photobuc...s334/nickt_v12/

http://uk.youtube.co...feature=related

http://home.btconnec...ntruman/v12.htm

He does however, seem do be making it in a "hit or miss" kinda fashion going by the comments on his website

[Bungle]

less words more action

[chairchild]

Lol, if I had some cash, there would indeed be more action!


But... quite glad I didn't just jump into building the chassis, as I'm now starting to learn about suspension angles - it's actually quite a simple subject to get your head around once you read a well-written explanation!

http://www.rqriley.com/suspensn.htm

So, I need my bottom arm to be almost horizontal, if not slightly downwards-pointing (for my needs anyway) the upper arm needs to be pointing upwards - this is from the chassis by the way, this can give me a roll centre halfway between the chassis and the ground.



The upper-arm needs to have the balljoint slightly rearwards in comparison to the bottom arm (for castor)





Slightly tilting the upper-arm will give me anti-dive control under braking conditions (and with the sheer weight of the engine and suspension, I'm going to need all the help I can get!)




Also, I've decided to have the entire front suspension assembely IN FRONT of the grille, like Jay Leno's Tank car


The two main reasons for this are:

1) I don't have to try to minimize it, to suit a certain "look" that most people think of when they think of a hot-rod
2) this car is more about function over form!
3) I like the mechanical bits on show!!



To accommodate the suspension within the minis' normal width (I want the front wheels' track to be similar to a standard minis') The chassis rails will be brought to within a few inches of each other straight after the grille, but still kept parallel. I'm still considering exactly how to deal with the front suspension - wether it be a single coilover through the centre of the arms, a coilover setup either side of the arms (like the rear suspension) or something different, like the Z-cars front subframe setup, with bell-cranks to allow me to use horizontal coilovers (gas units of course, as hydraulic ones would be useless at anything more than 45 degrees!)

So, until I know exactly what type os suspension units I can use, I'm going to have to leave the front suspension as it is atm!


Oh yeah, decided, 100% going twin engined, and deffo converting the auto 'box, to run as a manual (solonoids to control oil flow to where I want it, ran from switches, including a paddle-shift style setup)

[Git]

Robert Riley is a God... that's where the Tri-Magnum threewheeler is that I've got the plans for... I've also got the plans for the Centurion and the jet-ski type boaty thingy

[chairchild]

Also tempted to improve the standard intake, by making the runners parallel, and fitting trumpets to the inside edge, then doing something a bit exotic..........

Basing it on the style of intakes as seen on the bottom of this page:
http://www.bufkineng...e manifolds.htm
http://www.jasperint...ion-plenum.html

but, instead of using a cone (which would a PITA to make!) I'm going to do the cheaper, yet slightly less efficient, sheet metal version:

[chairchild]

once again, nothing *physical* has happened (boo!) but I have been designing lots of bits


For instance, I'm gonna give home aluminium casting another shot - then just remake the intake to exactly how I want it!
Then all the runners will be the exact shape, length, and design I need/want

If that works out ok, I may even just end up making my own grille, instead of trying to find one on ebay thats suitable!

[chairchild]

Now a question on the fuelling side of things....


Does anyone know of any calculations/etc, as to how much boost you need for a specific engine size (and VE) you would need to produce, to get a rough figure for Bhp, and then what size injectors you would need?

Need to know if it would work out better to use TWO injectors per cylinder, or one huge injector? It's not so much an urgent thing, as the injectors will be mounted facing directly into the ports, on a seperate cover - which can be changed around easily....


But a rough idea would help...lots!

[666junky]

less of the planning.. start chopping and get that thing started!

[Steve W]

less of the planning.. start chopping and get that thing started!

seconded.

. . . i cant believe we're at over 200 posts and still no mini based progress!!!!

[chairchild]

lol, and as I keep saying - until I get more of that mystical stuff called "money", I'm still stuck with just planning - but some progress may be made soon - in the shape of re-casting the intakes!

Been doing more research (as usual) and I've now decided on the furnace I'm going to make, and the style of mould I'm going to make


The intake will be cast using "green sand" for the outer shapes, with plaster of paris used for the internal shapes. The mould will be made from a combination of mostly the original manifold (which will be placed into the mould during casting) and wood/bodyfiller for the main shapes.

The furnace is a relatively eco-friendly one too - easily, and cheaply made from an old electric oven, some cement, and a large flower pot - if I use a larger flowerpot (about £7) then I can easily fit in enough aluminium to cast one intake at a time. The aluminium will be taken from a couple of old scrap gearbox's I've got lying around, as at least I know it's a consistant quality for future casts for the car!



ooh, and the money issue might be on it's way to long being a issue tomorrow... I gots myself an interview for a new job!

it'll be interesting to see how they react to my mohican........