hey guys i was just wondering where you got the designs for the sub frames?
i was after one for the starlet conversion.
i was just checking out what it takes to do one. i think i would be able to do it if i had all the right measurements.

cheers matt

hey mate,

its a bit tricky to give 'measurements'. Do what most of us have done.. make a jig for the sub frame and then hack away!

Have a look at any of the build threads for a range of sub frame designs. Have a look at Minstar's build and his web page.. heaps and heaps of info. It was certainly useful for me!

Good luck

alright ill check it out thanks

just a quick question where can i find this thread of his build ive looked for ages and still cant find it.. any ideas on where it would be?
thanks

try
http://www.mpdesign.id.au/engineconversion/start.htm

thanks that helps

I'm not totally convinced (yet) that the whole front section of the subframe actually has to be removed to fit the Starlet engine. After chatting to my engineer about engine mount designs & mount locations, we have a few ideas that might allow me to keep a good amount of the subframe intact - However, I may not be using the standard side engine mount locations like most have done here on ausmini.

Anyway, my Starlet GT front cut gets here next month and will find out how right/wrong I am when I pull the engine out of the cut and try it! I have a spare subframe just in case it all goes pearshaped

_________________
-Alan
I blame my dad for my love of minis. I think I was conceived in the back seat of one
I also blame my Dad for me being 6' 1" - not really the optimum height for driving a Mini.

not sure what you mean by the front section.. Mine and Ben's (92) frames are very similar and I managed to keep everything at the front intact. I moved the gearbox engine mount to ontop of the gear box. Keeps the overall shape of the subfame in similar form. The sides definitely have to go!

There is a compelling reason why the majority of the current subframes look the same. I'm sure you'll eventually discover why.

_________________
But he's thriving and striving and hugging the turns.

Oooh Oooh, pick me, pick me
Is it because theyre all 4eftes?

THAT is what I'm talking about (sorry I really meant "sides" when I said "front"). Basically I was wondering how much of the sides can be trimmed off without removing ALL of the sides? Or is the engine & gearbox simply too wide for this idea to work?

The idea : Carefully trim away the sides of the subframe; only what it is needed to prevent the engine from fouling against the subframe and then strengthening the remaining portion of the subframe... My front cut gets here soon so have no actual measurements to test the idea right now.

-Alan

_________________
-Alan
I blame my dad for my love of minis. I think I was conceived in the back seat of one
I also blame my Dad for me being 6' 1" - not really the optimum height for driving a Mini.

alan the 4efte has to sit right where the mini subframe is, the only option is to cut it sorry.

_________________
1974 Moke - 998cc
76 Clubman B16a2 Vtec AWD Turbo 12.9@105mph
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9PW49e1hYs

Yeah Brad's right to get it to sit low enough to close the bonnet the engine sits squarely where the sides of the existing subframe would be, as someone else put once you get the engine you will see why all the subframes follow a similar path.

_________________
225hp atw on 14psi. 1/4 Mile no idea. Take one 1971 Mini Clubman, one Starlet GT Halfcut, Simmer over a warm MIG Welder, and Voila Minstar! www.mpdesign.id.au

Ive seen a few builds and all the guys have done is have a whole for the alternator/engine mounts on the right hand side of the car(in the wheel arch that is) and they have cut a whole in where the radiator use to sit for the gearbox to sit... is that ruffly how much you have to cut away or is there more that is need to be done?

so is it better to make your own sub frame or is it better to alter the original mini sub frame

cheers Matt

Well generally you keep the suspension turrets back from the original frame and then fabricate forward from that. Below is a pic of my frame which has been used as the basis for a number of others and may give you an idea of what we are all talking about.

Cheers

_________________
225hp atw on 14psi. 1/4 Mile no idea. Take one 1971 Mini Clubman, one Starlet GT Halfcut, Simmer over a warm MIG Welder, and Voila Minstar! www.mpdesign.id.au