782 replies to this topic

[ed4ran]

Small update of what ive done today.

Made the drivers side bar that goes from the tower to the Tie Bar mount
Tacked in the rear section of the frame
Removed all the supporting bits and test fitted the engine complete.
Its a pretty dam good fit, even if i do say so myself, although i will be tweaking one area
All i need to do to this part of the frame now is to add some strengthening brakets and plates
and then do the engine mounts!!

[miniboo]

looking good.

what size engine is it? 1.3? is it gonna be a turbo?

[ed4ran]

Yeah 1.3,
im not gonna turbo straight off, ill run it standard for now, then save up for all the turbo bits and engine rebuild.

[ed4ran]

Small update:

Haven't done as much as i would have liked to within the past few days. >
Got a fitting kit for my Rollcage so that is now bolted together inside the car,
but not bolted to the car as im cutting out the rear pockets and rear seat bottom,
this is so i have better access to the floor mounts and so i can cut the floor bar to length
(the one that will go between the 2 rear legs of the cage, accross the floor)

On the frame its self i have been working on adding more to the front for extra strength,
and for somewhere for the front engine mounts to go.
Ive added a bar that goes accross, and 2 little posts that are the same height as what is left of the tie rod mounts and 2 diagonal pieces that are on the other side of the mounts,
this is so another bit can go parallel with the bottom bar (best seen in the 3rd pic, only with the bar parallel)

[TimS]

Wow, I have alot of respect for you fabricating your own frame, is it as hard as it looks?

[ed4ran]

Nah, not that hard making it, the hardest bit is coming up with a design that you think will be strong enough with out being over complicated and heavy.
But i think what ive come up with should work out in the end, also the swift engine seems to be very fitting for it (i.e. it fits the shape of the mini frame very well, with engine mouts and suspension points).

Also I dont know anyone that builds RWD frames for that many different engines, and also its alot cheaper to make it yourself.

Also with my plan / design i should end up with a boot!!

[v8mini]

nice to see you have made a start, looking good so far.

have you had any more thought on brakes for the rear, i'm guessing those hubs and flanges are for the rear so your using disks, have you come up with any handbrake ideas.

[ed4ran]

The hubs and flanges are for the fronts, as at the mo i have drums at the front,
which will end up going in the rear,
so im trying to sort out the discs so i have the front drums to work on for the rear!!

I think ill do the drums for now and once its all working i can look into discs at the rear.
Maybe some ye olde 7" discs would work (with hand brake modification)?

Ive also made a wee program to work out my MPH from the ratios of the gearbox,
like the one guessworks did, only so you can enter the ratios of your choice.

(i just wrapped a tap measure around the tire for an approx circumference)


So when you updating your website???

[Natalie]

Just read all 38 000 000 pages of this thread, it's looking really good, I love the colour Can't wait to see it in the flesh.
Even Neil is impressed and he's one of these strange non-mini loving people

[ed4ran]

lol, might be a while before you see it, although if i continue at the rate im going and dont get held up with materials and parts then it might not be that long before its all in and running!!

[Natalie]

Probably before I get round to getting my new panels for the front sorted

[ed4ran]

Yeah, but i do have a fair amount of free time on my hands!!

[ed4ran]

Have done a little more on the frame,
removed the rest of the unwanted parts and done a bit of welding around those areas,
I have started making the plates to re-enforce the towers so may have them finished tomorrow, then ill be starting the engine mounts!!!!

Also ive started to pull off the front brakes on the car so i can start putting on the new bits,
So far ive removed the brake and clutch master cylinders (got a new clutch cylinder, and a rebuild kit for the brake master),
Ive dismantaled the brake master ready for rebuild,
and remove the wheels and started to remove the hubs (got too late to smash the ball joints with a BFH!!)
Ill probably be painting the master cylinders in the same red paint i did the hubs so they are nice and clean,
and hopfully will stay clean for a while.
So if the balljoints come off without too much stress then i can get on with getting all the new bits on, ready for the discs im having turned down
(which should be finished tomorrow, ready for collection)

Might get some more pics tomorrow if i get the brake bits on
(although painted bits will have to wait a day to dry),
and when i get the money ill be replacing all the suspension so its all fully adjustable (front and rear ).

[ed4ran]

Well i've got most of the brakes on (am waiting for master cylinder to dry so i can rebuild and install)
So apart from that ive done a little on the frame,
just need to finalize the stregthening plates, and add the last ones (need engine in for clearences)
Ive removed the flywheel from the engine as the gearbox being used has a different one,
so now i can put the other box on ready to make the engine mounts!!
(which im pretty sure i know where they are going, so i just need to make them).
So the mounts should hopefully be finished by the end of the week, and then that part of the frame should be finished,
so that leaves cutting out the back and finishing it all off!!!
So you never know i could have the back end out and be starting to fit the frame by end of next week!!

[mini-gti]

hi mate project seems to be coming along stupidly quick, fancey doing mine for abit to get me back up to speed

you using 10 inch wheels??????

gaz