Isn't getting a back window in there going to be difficult?

Hey Harley,

No, I hope not!!

The rear glass is curved so it should fit in with a bit to spare - just a bit mind you!!!

Cheers,
Tricky

_________________
"Not Speeding Officer..........Qualifying"

I must say I'm getting use to the brilliant handling, and pure enjoyment of my AWD Turbo......

Still want to do this to a Mini one day. Was almost sooner than I thought when I was nearly cleaned up on a roundabout the other day......

Cheers,

Dicko.

Holy Cow Dicko, you need to watch out for tool-squeezers!!

_________________
"Not Speeding Officer..........Qualifying"

Hi Guys and Girls,

Did a bit more today just to keep the project ticking along. I had test fitted the door mirrors some time ago but never documented any of it. And to tell truth, I never really liked (at all) how they looked - they stuck up in the air like butterfly wings and didnt sit level - they looked silly!!

So, I decided to redo them, which I am glad that I did, as the outcome looks a whole lot better.

First things first, put the doors back onto the car temporarily just to get an idea of what the existing looked like - the doors are ready for paint so its a case of being gentle:


And this is what they looked like before fixing - ridiculous! The black line is the cut line for the new position:


After some grinding and filing, they sat a lot better - nice and level. They look heaps better:


Now to fix them - I ended up drilling and tapping two holes into the neck of the mirror, and from here I will screw in two stainless steel self tappers. To be able to actually screw the screws in, I had to drill two holes opposite the mirror mounting position to insert a screwdriver. These I will cover with small rubber bungs, so hopefully they wont look too intrusive. When I go to fix them permanently, I will screw them as well as bond them with Sikaflex!!


Screwed in and looking good:


And from the front (I like these mirrors as they are very small and aerodynamic):


The next job I wanted to tackle was to mount the radiator overflow bottle. I have been putting this off for ages and I dont know why. I just had to find a place to mount it, which wasnt to hard in the end - in front of the wiper motor and above the brake booster. I decided to utilise the bracket that mounts the coil and ignitor, which now has a spare space above it where the A/C solenoid use to sit. So, I got on the mill, and milled up a nice alloy bracket (nothing like playing with big boys toys):


And voila, not a bad place for it, and it should be easy to see the water level indicator from this position:






Might play a bit more tomorrow. Until then...

Cheers,
Tricky

_________________
"Not Speeding Officer..........Qualifying"

If you want to avoid putting rubber grommets in the door panel where visable, I'd get some allthread and loctite is into your mirrors.
To fit to car all you need to do is find somebody with little hands to reach in and put a washer and a whizzlock nut in there. You'll be able to tighten it with a spanner before the glass goes in.

AT,

Just doing some research on suspension. Given what I'm proposing for a bbackend it would need rear coilovers. There is some commentary floating around on the net that some of the rear coilovers require some massaging of the inner guards to allow proper fitment.

I don't know the validity of those statements but I wondered if you had dry fitted your rear coilovers/subframe/wheels yet. Just wanted to make sure you don't paint it then find you have to do some massaging of the inner panels. Massaging = hitting with a hammer.

JC

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

Hi Harley,

Thanks for the info - had a look at doing that the first time but found it way too difficult to do, seeing the way the mirrors are designed and made - i.e. injection moulded polycarbonate with a very thin neck. Two small rubber bungs I hope wont look out of place!

Hi JC,
Normal everyday coilovers wont fit - you need to get Mini-specific ones with an offset top pin. I have my coilovers on at the moment and they have no clearance issues. Mine are GAZ, but there are quite a few that make Mini specific ones now. See here:
http://www.minispares-online.co.uk/?cat_id=9&sub_cat_id=184&prod_id=2542

If you want to go to the std design central pin units like Ohlins, Tein or Bilstein etc you will need to widen the shock tunnel - not a huge job. All of the shocks for Mini's use a 50mm coil, so they are interchangeable with any spring on the market.

Cheers,
Tricky

_________________
"Not Speeding Officer..........Qualifying"

yeah, this was a discussion regarding mini specific ones. The discussion went along the lines that they fitted without interference until they were mated to the trailing arm.

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

Definitely no issues with mine that I can see JC!!

_________________
"Not Speeding Officer..........Qualifying"

Well did a bit more today....

Another job that I have been putting off forever is the gearshifter mechanism that is located on the gearbox - I dont know why I keep doing this!!!

Anyway, after looking at it for about 10mins I came up with a very simple fab to make it work. I simply cut off the side-to-side arm of the selector linkage and mounted it further round to the rear - of course I had to reshape it and shorten it and then weld it back on in its new position but amazingly it was very simple and worked very very well. I guess there are a dozen ways to go about this job and there are people on this forum wo have done it totally different, but I just went for the KISS principle on this one.

The only real things you have to remember is the orinetation of the selector (cable pushed out pushed the selector out) and the leverage ratio (2:1 - the arm that pulls the selector in and out is 40mm long from the pivot pin and the arm that fits onto the cable is 80mm long from the pivot pin). Get those two right without fowling anything and you are on a winner!!

Anyway, here are the pics. This is the selector from underneath:


Topside:


And in position:




And from inside, the cables are all nice and flat against the floor:


The gearbox is a bit notchy but all cable operated ones seem to be. I have a speed shifter gearstick for the box that I will put on that is supposed to shorten the throw by about 50mm - we will leave that for another day!!!

Cheers,
Tricky

_________________
"Not Speeding Officer..........Qualifying"

Woohooo good work ol sock, at this rate you'll be burning rubber in no
time

What did you get the mirrors off?

Cheers Hallsey

PS gotta love the bonnet strut

Hey Hallsey,

I hope so - need driveshafts and it would be a driver!!

Mirrors are from here: http://visionhotrod.com/gallery.php
I have the VF2 - and you can even get them with LED indicators built in.

Bonnet strut was a one-off custom!!

Cheers mate,
Tricky

_________________
"Not Speeding Officer..........Qualifying"

Hey Everyone,

Is Anyone interested in having a Xmas BBQ at my place on Saturday afternoon/evening.

The pool will be available for your entertainment, and we can watch some vids on the wide-screen, and eat and drink and be merry.

JC, sorry about the short notice, but if you book a flight now.....

Please let me know soonest,

Cheers,
Tricky

_________________
"Not Speeding Officer..........Qualifying"

Yes!!

Shame I'll be in Victoria, but at least I'll (hopefully) be admiring my freshly-concrete-filled trenches

(They'll either be filled with concrete or water, anyway )

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges