Oooh, eck - where will it end?
Turbo Mini Forums

I've got my mini sat 2ft in the air - and it looks like I'm going to do a little more than I was first planning...

1) Drop the front Subframe
Reason: I've never been happy with my fuel line routing, and want to change this; ideal place i want to route this is behind the subby, next to the steering rack. I figure, whilst it's off - I may aswell fit the adjustable lower arms and tie-bars that have been waiting to go on - so if i'm going that, maybe i should strip the subby, have it shotblasted and sprayed?
Doing that also allows me to swap out my (heavy!) steel subframe mounts for the alloy ones that have been waiting 5 years for fitting!

2) Drop rear subframe
This was changed for a brand-new unit 2-years ago, but I never spent any time cleaning up the underside of the boot floor / rear toeboard. This has now got heavy surface rust / bubbling that will clean up nicely if i catch it 'sooner' than leaving it another year...
Also - the underseal I applied to the rear arches 11 years ago is now flaking off - revealling heavy surface rust where it's been holding water... Guess it's time to peel it all off, prime, paint and re-apply...
It'll also allow me to route fuel-lines correctly - ie over the top of the subframe!


I can see advantages to all this - in that I won't have to do it next year (when it's got worse). It's pretty cheap (aside from my time) to do everything above - and gives me somet to do whilst waiting for the next pay-cheque to buy the next set of more expensive engine parts...
I'm just concerned I'm going to end up going too far with it!

Then again - The door to the garage is next to the kitchen; I've no-one else that needs any 'quality time' devoting to, etc - all of which makes it (and the engine build) seem well achievable inside of a few months!

Sounds like your going to be busy anyway mate!!

Wish i had that much time to spare!

Cant believe your going to make your car lighter

do it now dave, you will not regret it.

Edited by Jimster on 30th Jan, 2006.

Team Racing

Do it Dave, over the course of the last 6 years I have done many jobs on my car twice, some three times to achieve the finish or execution I wanted. It might seem like a lot of work for not much gain, but it really is worth the effort.

Mind is made up now guys....

Rear subframe is coming off tonight.
Figure i may aswell get the garage dirty, and allow lots of time for the dust to settle and ample time to clean it at least twice before the engine build starts... Certainlly don't want them to overlap!

D

think about some waxoil dave or what ever they have in the states?

rather than straight underseal.

waxoil did some shultz with added waxoil in the uk

this stuff i can honestley tell you is excellent and lasts for well over 10 years.

heres my underside
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/benross/yhhgfijw.jpg

Edited by AlexF2003 on 31st Jan, 2006.

its amazing how a few minor jobs can turn into almost full-on resto's.

good luck with it TD

"Turbo's make torque, and torque makes fun"

"did you know you can toast potato waffles?"

Oh sounds like what im in the process of doing.

what is waxoil? do you jest apply it over you normal paint on the underside and wheel arches?

Andy

waxoyl? In the USA?

err, no...


I'm bare metalling it, chemical de-rusty-ing it, etch priming, painting, stonchiping, then painting again (i like seeing arches the same colour as the rest of the car...)

Well - No going back now!






Looking round the front, even with no subframe, the engine bay still looks very 'busy'...






And here is what I mean about just 'catching' the rust before it gets a hold and makes it a very crappy job:






Battery box is on the verge of needing replacing / welding. I really don't want to - but we'll see what it looks like after the wire-brush wheel





All in all - given that this was all wire-brushed, de-rusted and painted a decade ago, and remembering that the mini has ALWAYS lived outside (before it moved to Michigan at least) - I think it's held up pretty well!
The outer sills were removed and replaced two years ago (this shell is on its THIRD set of outers now) so it's not like the vehicle has been a trailer/garage queen!!!

Edited by turbodave16v on 2nd Feb, 2006.

ha quality, thats just what mine looked like before in wire brushed it, i aslo had to replace the battary box. but as the car is 20 years old whos complaining?

i painted the whole underside of mini in silver hammerite, looks good, ill take some pics tonight

suprised your stearing rack is not green

Team Racing

hm.... i think you will be going for a battery box if you are going that far.

fab idea to etch prima etc....
but after completion i would go over it with some TECTYL

it stinks to high heaven.

but its just excellent, its inbetween say WD40 & waxoil

you can get this in the states

heres a link on the product from europe

http://tectyl.valvolineeurope.com/

i bet you already know dave

Edited by BENROSS on 2nd Feb, 2006.

nows thew time to get out the plasma cutter and rip into it, go on you know you want to ,!!

carl

WWW.FORCE-RACING.CO.UK PLEASE CLICK HERE

LOL at the random beer cans!

"Turbo's make torque, and torque makes fun"

"did you know you can toast potato waffles?"

That's my screen washer reservoir!

What about the Grolsch can behind the air vent aperture radiator side?!

Hmmmm. No idea!

I've not even noticed it!

I'm guessing that's an 'Avon Park' leftover!

hell mate, your going to be busy, great shoots as well. cars still looking good.

Edited by Miniwilliams on 4th Feb, 2006.

Best 1/4 mile 13.2 seconds @116 mph
First 5 port miniturbo to make over 200 bhp on a carb?
First 5 port miniturbo to make over 200 bhp on Injection?

http://www.mattwoodsphotography.com

ha forgot about this thread, how did it go dave. Hes a pic of mine from a few weeks ago:

Edited by Mini_Andy on 2nd Mar, 2006.