Mini project

[FWDRacer]

Great progress (*tough chinning bar for the rest of us slackers )

Did you use heritage panels?

[RussellG]

Haven't used any heritage panels. I just accepted the fact that the panels would need a bit of time spent on them to get a decent fit and since there is no rush to get it finished the cheaper panels means more money left for shiny bits and engine work

[RussellG]

Bit more work done tonight

Nearside before the hinge was fitted


23/2/12.1 by russell.grant, on Flickr

after the hinge was fitted


23/2/12.2 by russell.grant, on Flickr

and a few shots from other angles


23/2/12.3 by russell.grant, on Flickr


23/2/12.4 by russell.grant, on Flickr


23/2/12.5 by russell.grant, on Flickr

I will close off the end of the box sections and fabricate a section of inner wing to finish the hinges off at a later date. For now this should be enough to allow me to start attaching the hinges to the front end.

[camelotr]

Drill a hole from the engine bay to allow some rust prooving. Water will get into that box even if you close it.

[RussellG]

camelotr said:

Drill a hole from the engine bay to allow some rust prooving. Water will get into that box even if you close it.

Thats a good point I hadn't thought about drainage. I will put a couple of holes along the underside of the box section tomorrow. It's always good to hear other people's suggestions and ideas. Thanks

[camelotr]

I would drain the water into the engine bay instead of the wheel bay as the wheel would spay it with water and mud.

[RussellG]

Update time

This weekends focus was on getting the front end hinge setup working which after most of Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon I am pleased to say it is. It still needs a fair amount of work yet but the basics are done.

Bonnet down


26/2/12.1 by russell.grant, on Flickr

Bonnet up


26/2/12.2 by russell.grant, on Flickr

[RussellG]

I have taken a very quick video just to show the flip front in action


http://youtu.be/yypauYqJIag


There is a lot still to do but this is how it stands just now

Edited by RussellG on Sunday 26th February 21:51

[guru_1071]

that front is a very neat idea

[FWDRacer]

guru_1071 said:

that front is a very neat idea

Avoidance of smacking the head whilst bent under the bonnet . Pure genius. And a brilliant execution. Most of us Mini racers just lift them off so we can put them on the floor and trip over them...!!!

[miniman]

Very cool indeed. Are you planning to use any locating "things" to make sure it shuts into the right place? "Things" is such a deliciously vague description, isn't it? I know what I mean - there's one on the rear door of my Discovery. Googling suggests it's called a dovetail.

[RussellG]

I'm hoping to use a latch with a solenoid to give me an electric release mechanism for the front and then I will add some kind of mechanical backup catch as a safety.

[RussellG]

I havent done much on the mini since last weekends update but tonight I decided to have a look at the subframe brace bars and modify them as required

A quick inspection revealed they would take a fair amount of modifying to fit correctly and if im honest im not impressed with the finish of them


29/2/12.3 by russell.grant, on Flickr

So I decided to change there design from a pair of seperate brace bars which bolt on either side into 1 piece that bolts onto the front of the subframe and both sides.

I havent completed it yet but heres how I started


29/2/12.1 by russell.grant, on Flickr

And how it sits as I left it tonight (hopefully get this finished tomorrow night)


29/2/12.2 by russell.grant, on Flickr

[FWDRacer]

Looked at the photos - with the position of the brace bars will you have enough tyre clearance at full bump with lock applied? What wheel tyres are you running? Not 13" I hope

[RussellG]

I have a set of 12" wheels in the garage but was considering a set of 13" instead. The pictures probably don't make it clear but the new brace bars should actually be less intrusive than the originals. However I will be getting wheels before painting the shell so that clearances and any arch mods can be carried out. So if it's a problem it's not a disaster to change.

[RussellG]

Finished the brace bars tonight , they just need a coat of paint now

Back view


1/3/12.1 by russell.grant, on Flickr

Front view


1/3/12.2 by russell.grant, on Flickr

Fitted


1/3/12.3 by russell.grant, on Flickr


1/3/12.4 by russell.grant, on Flickr

[camelotr]

Very good in deed .
Do You come for the IMM2012? I would realy like to see it!

[RussellG]

Doubt the car will be ready for then and I doubt my wallet can stretch to the trip either. An engine and some shiny bits for the car will probably leave me skint.

[RussellG]

Don't have any pictures to show for the work since the last update.

A lot of swearing and trial and error means I am now confident that I will soon be able to post images of the new front hinge setup which will now incorporate a pair of these;


8/3/12.1 by russell.grant, on Flickr

[RussellG]

Got the actuator mounting points done on both sides now


17/3/12.1 by russell.grant, on Flickr


18/3/12.2 by russell.grant, on Flickr


18/3/12.3 by russell.grant, on Flickr

Got time for a quick video as well

http://youtu.be/my0np43n1u8