my new build
Turbo Mini Forums

hey up all, just thought id post up a few pics of my new project now ive finaly got off my arse and started doing something with it.
its the old racer that i got off iain earlier this year.
basicaly its going to be a turbo trackday toy / drag car. i quite enjoyed this years mini showdown and since york raceway is quite close by it seems rude not to make something to have some fun in down the 1/4 for next year
anyway its still very early but its started at least so i'll keep updating along the way.
since i got it off iain its been sat in the back of my shed waiting for me to stop pissing about with the clubby. anyway thats off the road now too for winter so the racer is now the new favorite toy and is getting my attention.
basicaly the running gear from my clubman is going to migrate across into the racer, i built the clubman to be up to a high enough spec to be race ready but then the race shell fell into my hands and its just a much better base to work from. so its more or less a case of get the shell painted up and just refurbish any parts that need it as they move.
the only main change will be in the engine. i put an lsd in just before avon last year and with the 3.9 diff it had to rev a lot harder than it liked. i like the 3.9 so i basicaly want to make the engine a bit stronger and pull the power a little higher up the rev range. its not a road car in any way so low down power and tractability isnt my biggest concern, all i want out of it is for a fun car to thrash around the track and down the strip. the other change is the turbo and how its conected to the engine. i didnt want to chop any more out of the bulkhead so i want to make some janspeed style manifolds to go to the turbo over the clutch housing. i know its probibly a lot quicker easier and cheaper to get a mirage set but id like to have a go at it anyway, plus it makes it intresting to work on again....
some pics then...











likei said its still very early but its gotta start somewhere.
the colour on the rear of the car and inside is going to be the final colour i think. i painted a little bit in it, then went off it but its sort of grown on my again so the whole lot wants prepping, priming and then a propper coat of it. its a vw colour i think, its a bit stronger colour than the pictures show realy. will have a black roof, and some of carl's split rims on it if the plans go right
the only problem ive encountered so far is on the front end, someone's chopped too much out of the front wings when cutting for the arches, and even the miglia arches i have wont cover the hole :( so the A pannels are off too, also the dents in the rear quarters have all but defeated me! they are 90% gone but for what its gonna be used for its good enough for me. i chose the light colour too to try and hide the other 10%! anyway will post up a bit more when i get some more done.
realy looking forward to getting into this project now, its been a while since ive even looked at a mini and thought anything other than "bollocks i'll do it tomorrow"

[edit] wheels just set up on bricks to work out where the arches wanted to be, and you can see the mahoosive amount of metal thats been taken out of the front end on one of the pics. carbon front now me thinks!
steve

Edited by hippyinamini on 11th Nov, 2006.

doh! why did i start messing with it!

looking good mate, nice to see it being put to some good use.

yeah i noticed a lot of arch had been chopped out, dont know why?!

Hope the shells working well for you

yeah working lovely cheers iain! i noticed the wierd chop on the front when i came to get it but i held out hope that the miglia arches would cover it with them having a deep profile but nevermind! was looking for an excuse to get a lighter front for it anyway!

steve

doh! why did i start messing with it!

Looks really nice mate, liking the colour!
Should look really good when its finished.

Matt

WooHoo Passed it's MOT!!!! One of the cars in The Portsmouth Mini Turbo Massive!!