Vini – the Powerflex V8 Mini
Discussion
With front subframe position now fixed, strengthening of the front legs that would carry the weight (and more importantly the torque) of the engine had to be carried out.
These strengthening struts would become an integral part of the roll cage, ensure all loads and stresses are carried by the cage and not the bodyshell.
EDM will be glad when they can put the air hacksaw away and get the welder out!
These strengthening struts would become an integral part of the roll cage, ensure all loads and stresses are carried by the cage and not the bodyshell.
EDM will be glad when they can put the air hacksaw away and get the welder out!
Megaflow said:
Those subframe pictures show just how big the Mini has become when a Subaru subframe is narrower than the Mini chassis legs!
Transverse vs longitudinal (ok, with a flat engine) is not really a fair comparison, but yes, and old scoob is actually quite a narrow car by modern stds (which is also why the steering lock was a bit pants and changing the spark plugs was a pita too......)Max_Torque said:
Megaflow said:
Those subframe pictures show just how big the Mini has become when a Subaru subframe is narrower than the Mini chassis legs!
Transverse vs longitudinal (ok, with a flat engine) is not really a fair comparison, but yes, and old scoob is actually quite a narrow car by modern stds (which is also why the steering lock was a bit pants and changing the spark plugs was a pita too......)Back to CAD.
The front struts had to be repositioned to accommodate the revised geometry and the special dampers.
Because of what we do at Powerflex, I am an engineer but fabrication is black magic as far as I’m concerned.
This is making something that doesn’t exist and placing it in fresh air in exactly the right position.
But also taking into consideration all the other factors that might influence that component in a years time when final assembly shows up that it isn’t in the right place.
This position would control all of the front geometry and also the location of the entire front end of the car.
This upper panel positioning is the key to all of the front mounted components.
Radiators (Water, Oil, gearbox, power steering) (diff oil cooler will be mounted at the rear) and their associated mounts
Front panel which controls the light positions and therefore the bonnet
I didn't want bits of angle iron holding the lights and bumper on.
We must use all of the clever and beautifully make plastic mounts that BMW do so well to secure the original Mini parts
The front struts had to be repositioned to accommodate the revised geometry and the special dampers.
Because of what we do at Powerflex, I am an engineer but fabrication is black magic as far as I’m concerned.
This is making something that doesn’t exist and placing it in fresh air in exactly the right position.
But also taking into consideration all the other factors that might influence that component in a years time when final assembly shows up that it isn’t in the right place.
This position would control all of the front geometry and also the location of the entire front end of the car.
This upper panel positioning is the key to all of the front mounted components.
Radiators (Water, Oil, gearbox, power steering) (diff oil cooler will be mounted at the rear) and their associated mounts
Front panel which controls the light positions and therefore the bonnet
I didn't want bits of angle iron holding the lights and bumper on.
We must use all of the clever and beautifully make plastic mounts that BMW do so well to secure the original Mini parts
paradigital said:
rev-erend said:
Has CV-19 stopped work on your project?
Given how this thread has been written, I'd imagine that it''s either very much further ahead than the thread is, or it's even complete.'This was at the start of 2017.
It was always going to be a long project for reasons that will become obvious if you will permit me to tell the story.
Rather than sharing this from the start at the time, I thought it would be better to write about it as the car is nearing completion.'
And so on to the cage
Given that Vini will be used on trackdays and by a number of the partners who have helped with special parts for their events, it had to be very safe.
We don’t really know all of the things it is going to be doing so it needed to be built with a cage that would make it legal for racing also.
The cage had to also carry the loads so had to link the front and rear struts, front and rear subframe and provide strength to a massively altered body shell.
The engine will be stock but with a programmable ECU and custom exhaust and inlet, so it is going to be over the stock 414bhp by some way.
The shell had to be super strong
Linking the cage to the shell offers huge strength, safety and stiffness
Given that Vini will be used on trackdays and by a number of the partners who have helped with special parts for their events, it had to be very safe.
We don’t really know all of the things it is going to be doing so it needed to be built with a cage that would make it legal for racing also.
The cage had to also carry the loads so had to link the front and rear struts, front and rear subframe and provide strength to a massively altered body shell.
The engine will be stock but with a programmable ECU and custom exhaust and inlet, so it is going to be over the stock 414bhp by some way.
The shell had to be super strong
Linking the cage to the shell offers huge strength, safety and stiffness
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