776 replies to this topic

[mini93]

Had a little more done this weekend.

 

Got the passenger door near finished. Fitted the handles and catches, just need to slightly fiddle the catch position as the doors sitting over flush to the 1/4 panel.

 

I've also set on fitting the rear 1/4 windows tot he car, Im going for the bolt through type, they just needed a slight trim down and then mark and drill.

Can see the boot lid in place here also, which I started fitting today, just need to get some decent fittings for the top and ill probably fiddle with the lower hinges a little.

Looking a little more car like with the doors, windows and boot lid in place.

 

Other than that I have started on chopping around the front subframe, going a sorta semi tubular route with im sure plenty of holes thrown in to it too.

Subframe will be raised up, deleting the original mounts between the subframe and box section. This puts the subframe very close to the steering rack. The back half of the subframe has been cut away upto the toe board mounts, these will be replaces by CDS tube and bolt directly to the shell, solid mounted.

 

More again soon.

[alexcrosse]

How much you raising the subframe by?

[mini93]

Only the height of the rubber sandwhich mounts, not much at all really, but its 10mm or there abouts I dont loose on the suspension travel side of things

[alexcrosse]

Aye. Can you lower the engine in the subframe? Best of both worlds then. Geometry still where it should be (despite being awful as standard, it's even worse lowered), and the weight low down in the front of the car... which is all you want from lowering a car anyway.

[mini93]

I'm not 100% sure as yet... will do some jiggering about anyhows

[mini93]

So... I picked up my next gift for the car in the week.

 

 

 

 

So yeah... these are pretty much the only 13's I ever really liked. I'll be using these really only to get the car rolling and ill use these wheels as spares/ different tyres etc.

 

However, I think I haz a problem... Someone eagle eyed might have already spotted it

 

 

Yeah... So these brakes dont even fit 13's!!!

But im not counting them out yet, The assembly isnt correctly bolted together, the spacings arent set and its only very close, so will see whats what when the subframe is finished, the suspension is assembled and I can hang the brakes. I think I have a spare outter CV I can assemble up with and should be able to get everything correct, then I can assess if these are fit for my use, perhaps even shim out the wheel with a narrow spacer, depends if i feel comfortable with them.

 

[Jared Mk3]

My favourite 13" wheels, great choice.

[mini93]

I agree, and thanks. Just hope they fit!

 

As I say, these will only be my spare wheels as i'll be getting splits. unsure as to which ones yet, but these will be good for getting stuff sorted, as long as they fit!

[mini93]

Some updates... Starting a while back as I havent updated this in a while.

 

Following up from the last update, me hacking about the subframe.

 

Rear stays, bolts directly to the toe board.

 

Positioning part of the bracing, allows me to remove the rack while the subframe is in situ. Of course I shouldnt need to do this very often, but makes sevicing easier in the event of bending something!

 

Front bar replaced by CDS, bracing the center in CDS and starting seam welding over the front end.

Still to lighten the subframe some more, started doing one side, got distracted and not done the other side yet.

 

Decided to get the rear suspension sorted.

I had the arms rebuilt with new radius arm pins and new stub axle pins pressed in.

 

The view of the back end...

 

A reasonable bit of wheel sticking out... but a mahoosive gap!

 

However, i made a bit of a boo-boo...

I lost some suspension components, after taring down the garage it would appear I must have binned them

So it was an annoying delay, and required me to get new parts including KAD tie bar set up and new minispares spherical bearing lower arms. (I did originally buy the minisport ones, but I dont like them, so will be sending them back)

 

I had already bought new, and fitted yellow dot cones, rebuilt the top arms, various other fixings and had the top arm assembled with the original Rip-speed type hi-los.

Some of the bits need another decent lick of paint, will do that after the dry build.

 

The new KAD tie bars and on car adjustable lower arms.

 

And the bit I have been waiting for...

(steering arms need to be blasted and painted) but KAD uprights fitted with the ball joint spacer.

 

 

 

AAAAANNNDDD!!!

 

 

 

Looks close hu??

 

Well it is... and it clashes the wheel!!!! so they're no good!

 

Just to show the clearance.

 

And then... onto its wheels!! Although, these wheels wont be staying! Ill carry on using them to keep the car rolling.

 

And rolled out of the garage for the 1st time in 4 years!!

 

 

 

Im chuffed! even with the crappy non fitting wheels, just means ill need to get my splits sooner.

 

 

 

 

 

[Jared Mk3]

Wow! Nice work. I do like how you've done that front subframe. 

[kcchan]

Nice work. The KAD stuff sure looks pretty

[1984mini25]

Not tempted by these... to shed even more weight?  http://www.ebay.co.u...=p2047675.l2557

[Archived4]

This gonna be a monster! Definitely worthy of a magazine feature!

[mini93]

Cheers guys

 

And those arms look grim! i'll just stick to my KAD ones

 

If I have a mag offer at some point, ill go ahead but i'm not fussed either way... as long as they give me a copy

[mini93]

So anyways, yesterday, i spent the afternoon fitting some new lighting into the garage... Just wish I hadnt waited 4 years to get round to it.

 

So bright in there! would have made certain jobs a little easier being able to see what I was doing rather than relying on the halogen lamp.

 

Today I got round to adding some other important parts... Steering!

 

 

 

Still to make a lower mount, i'll incorperate the lower mount into the pedal box mount. so I just gotta get round to picking the pedal box, seats, seat mounts etc and I can get round to propper mocking up