Big Bore Supercharged Estate
Turbo Mini Forums

Progress on the estate has really ground to a halt recently as I've been busy on customer projects but I'm hoping to whittle out a little more time to get this rolling again.

I have at least been buying shinny things to keep me happy starting with a set of Dunlop DJ93 tyres at about 35% off.


I also got a nice steering wheel that's currently on it's way to me from Portugal, kudos if you can guess what it's from.





Today was one of those aforementioned days when I managed to whittle out a little time to get something done that should have been finished ages ago.
When I pulled the old boot floor out the old mounts for the rear seat also went. I'd made the new captive plates to remount the seat ages ago but didn't get around to fitting them until this afternoon. I also tock the opportunity to move the seat base up at the front and rear to make it easier to hinge and fit carpet underneath.

Fiat 500 abarth?

13.95 1/4 mile on a 2.95 fd. Carnt be that hard to beat!

yep id say fiat x19

give em hell

Autobianchi A112 Abarth. I have one like that in brushed alu :)

Edited by vegar on 13th Nov, 2012.

www.shag.no

So it would seem everyone else's projects have been moving along but mine has barely been treading water. This is mostly because I've been busy with restoration work a '63 Mini convertible but I've also found my self falling in and out of love with the estate.

I decided the best way of raising my interest again was to buy something shinny for the car. I had originally planned to stick with the standard brake and clutch MC's but got a good deal on a Wilwood set-up and seized to chance to clean the engine bay up a little more.




Now for the second part of my madness.
First thing's first I **** the cross member braces, they're ugly and I can make something nicer so they're gone.






Then there's this.
Although from a distance the smoothed off bulkhead looked ok I still wasn't happy.




The most logical thing to do (in my head at least) was to chop it out and make a new one piece bulkhead. I started by drilling out the spot welds along the bottom of the windscreen frame and slitting either end of the scuttle.




Then came more chopping.


I've retained the hinge perches and the new steel will the butt welded in around here once it's all tidied up.




I also removed the bottom dash rail as it will be covered by the dash board I have planned and I can add something more suitable for my new pedal box and steering column set-up to mount to.

wow. thats brave! but you seem to be pretty handy with the welder too

Wow, I love this build thread. Did you learn all the welding by yourself? Its impressive.

nice fab work as ever

Whats the column from

MGF MGZR?

In the 13's at last!.. Just

really impressed!

Saw the article last night. Took me a while to realise it was you!

Great job mate top skills , this is gonna be fantastic when its finished !

Good work.

Wheel did you Get the windage tray from if I may ask??

www.shag.no

Thanks guys, the windage tray came from Guess Works over on TMF.

I cut the top of the GasGas tank off and flattened it out to use as the splash panel around the filler, more to come with this.


After a nice quite afternoon with some petrol and a tooth brush my pistons are all clean and ready to be sent off with a fresh block for boring.


A bit of random ebay trawling turned up a nice set of door pockets and armrest/pulls. The pockets need cutting down and the pulls need some work but I'm quite fond of them.


Ebay also delivered with a set of headlights and backing plates in decent knick. They need moving up and out but they'll be wicked cool once I'm done.



The bottom arm bushes have been swapped for rose joints because rose joints are cool and they'll match my sexy new KAD tie bars.



Now to some actual progress even if it's only a couple hours I knocked out before coming home today.
I made a template for a new smooth bulkhead and got it cut folded and fitted. I've still got a lot of other bits that need sorting before it goes in permanently but it's nice to have made a start on it.

Before I can go any further with mounting the headlights I need to get the radiator in place so I picked up some original metro radiator grommets.


After a bit of tinkering laid out the net for the top mounts on some 1MM steel.


Folded, welded and rubbed down with scotch bright.




The top mounts will sit bellow the slam panel and be plug welded on.




I also started the pattern for the lower mounts. The piece with the grommet will fit onto the radiator and bolt to another section welded to the front panel.

some nice Cardboard Aided design there...

I run a supercharger and I don't care the TB is on the wrong side.
VEMS + 12 PSI + Liquid Intercooler = Small Bore FUN!

I have similar lights on my car. You may struggle for clearance on the adjuster nobs with your rad that close.