Pigsfly Panel Van

Gordo · 998cc Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 1081 Location: Brisbane

Those floors look YUM!
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http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20746

pigsfly · Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 7:46 am Post subject:

Well its all new, probably helps the appearance. The tunnel has made it look soooooo much better. Also - adds heaps of strength and straitness to the entire floor pan.

My plan is to do some Vizard-esk strengthening of the floor once it is complete as it could only help the rigidity of the shell...

I did fold up some custom rear floors, and have put the rear drivers in, but am going to go with standard pressed floors now I think...

pigsfly · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 2:00 pm Post subject:

I couldnt find van rear floors so I have ended up using standard salon floors and will have to fill in the rear pocket section which wont be too hard...

I am picking up the rear drivers floor this afternoon from Mini King and that will go in over the weekend. Once it is all buttoned up I will be one stage closer to having it off the rotisserie and rolling.

Then I will finally be able to justify why I have put this thread in the engine conversion page as the engine/box goes in... Still churning ideas about the engine/box at the moment... we'll see what comes up...

pigsfly · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 1:37 pm Post subject:

Well... A long time since i've had any chance to work on the car... A recent split up with my misses means I now have a lot more time, and maybe even some more money to work on the car.

Archangel007 · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:53 pm Post subject:

pigsfly · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:37 pm Post subject:

i can assure you - not an overly pleasant one though... The van is too bulky to fit in my bed - and being inside it aint overly pleasant either atm.

Morris 1100 · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:44 pm Post subject:

Why is divorce so expensive?
Because it is worth it. Very Happy

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pigsfly · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 12:32 pm Post subject:

FINALLY some progress!

I took sometime out on the weekend to get stuck into the floors. I have almost finished up the passenger side floor pans. Just have to seem weld the panel in the middle which joins the front and rear pans together.

The more I get done on the van the more I realise there is a whole lot more to do! I went into Mini King and have ordered a new (well reco'd) steering rack and column and the old ones are stuffed. Ordered new right and left guards, front apron, headlight panels, bonnet (second hand), A panels and a bunch of other little stuff...

Check out the rust in the rear panels.

I wont be doing the panel work on the top of the car as I want this to be of top notch quality - but will be supplying the panels to the beater.

Stay tuned for another update soon-ish Smile

simon k · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 3:41 pm Post subject:

here's something interesting regarding the SR16VE - you can put in an SR20 crank.....

http://forum.jdmstyletuning.com/showthread.php?t=21154

pigsfly · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 4:10 pm Post subject:

Oh god.... I have been tossing and turning on what engine I want to put in this thing...

I dont know if I want to be the pioneer of a new conversion type - yes I know that sounds boring - but there is so much work in doing one that people have had experience with....

Then again, I do like Nissans... OMG brain hurt!

Archangel007 · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:21 pm Post subject:

Go the NEO engine - you know you want to!!! Wink

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pigsfly · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:16 pm Post subject:

I may just go the NEO engine... I have been talking to my good friend who also is a great mechanic and he has offered the use of his workshop to get the engine in and going!

I managed to get about 4 hours on the car last friday and got a reasonable amount done... I should be ready to put the cross brace back in this weekend! Yay! Another step closer to getting it rolling again.

Does anyone have thoughts on Vizards recommendations regarding putting a double skin on the tunnel and cross brace in adding rigidity to a shell??? Considering the NEO engine will put out a lot of torque and I want the body to be as stiff as possible without the need for a rollcage....

I will pick up my new steering rack this weekend and will begin rebuilding the subframes - a task I can do at night. Panel work during the day and mechanicals at night.

Kennomini · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:43 pm Post subject:

If your worried about the shell flexing I'd be making 2 ladder style braces bolted through the floor on each side. Just make them the same size and shape as the floor pan and have some plates on the inside so the bolts don't pull through the floor.
Personally I don't think the shell would flex that much. Have you ever put one end of your mini on axle stands and then jacked the other end up from the corner? the shell don't flex it just teeters on the stands and the jack. Mini shells are very ridged.
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pigsfly · Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:00 am Post subject:

I have just been wondering about it. When I was working at revolution I had to put a bolt in 6 point cage into a mini. The drive before and after were chalk and cheese. It was so much stiffer!