Project Lexi

[LIX_818]

Guys I'm looking for some advice on a front panel.
There is 2 on minispares but non of the seem to be genuine. anyone got any idea which one I should buy ?

Thanks Darragh

[woody]

Whats your plans for fresh air intake for the heater

[LIX_818]

Whats your plans for fresh air intake for the heater

Ah I am taking it out. Taking up to much engine space. might put it down at the front panel. Do you think I should get a genuine front panel or does the non genuine do the same job ?

[LIX_818]

Nevermind I just went for Genuine

[LIX_818]

I'm waiting on panels to come, they should be here next week and I will be full steam ahead again. In the meantime I had got a few bits done with the engine. I painted some of the brackets black but I never took a picture sorry. I got some yellow paint and was dying to try it out. I'm not sure if I like it as much as I thought. What do you guys think ? Opinions please.

I also have another question. When changing the hi-lows on the front subframe should it be done when the subframe is out of the car or in the car and which way is easier. By the way I have the subframes out at the moment.

Thanks Darragh,

[woody]

Easier to do with subframe out. Good opportunity to check the bearings on the suspension arm and replace bump stops if required.

[LIX_818]

Easier to do with subframe out. Good opportunity to check the bearings on the suspension arm and replace bump stops if required.

Thanks for your reply woody, gonna change everything I think

[LIX_818]

Lads I'm looking for some advice....Has anyone put digital dials/gauges into their mini and are they hard to wire up/convert. I was looking at the Dakota Digital gauges as they seemed best but any advice would be great.

Thanks Darragh

[The Marcos Graveyard]

Have a look at the Acewell range of head units.

[LIX_818]

Have a look at the Acewell range of head units.

Thanks for the reply. I will do.

I was also looking at KOSO RX-2N+ 10K Classic Mini Kit Black. It looks like a cool unit.

Thanks Darragh

[LIX_818]

Todays topic is rust,

Cut off most of the front. The wings, Scuttle, inner scuttles and cut away on of the arches. I also took off the doors for more access. Hoping to have both arches repaired by the end of next week.

I have another question for one of the mini wizards on here. Dad started to strip the rear subframe today, when he took out the trumpet and cone he could get them to seperate. I have hi-lo suspension bought but I wanted to reuse the cones if possible. Basically my question is how do I separate the trumpet from the cone ? I didn't think they were attached

Below is some pictures of todays progress

[LIX_818]

Well its been an eventful day.....

Started work at about 10:30 on the mini. Everything going well got the pillar welded up and got the front floor well in. They just need tidying up. Also got 2 beautiful boxes from minisport today full of panels. So was looking forward to a good day of cutting, grinding and welding. BUT then after I finished the floor the bloody welder decided to pack in.

I went in for a bit of lunch and tried to think up of a game plan. Through my planning I figured out I'll be getting nowhere without the welder so I decided to just to make the repair that was needed for the arch. Then I tried to fix the welder and it came back to life after a bit of persuasion. I was now ready to weld in the arch repair. BUT of course things couldn't go too well...... I flung my arm when taking off my hoodie somehow and made a massive gouge in my index finger. I ran inside and left a huge trail of blood from the shed to the kitchen sink. At least I would lose my way back to the shed when I cleaned up my cut.........

Also got my college exam results today. Passed everything. Hoping Dad looks at this post later on and thinks "I must buy that son of mine a good welder since he is broke"..... just a hint Dad if you're looking at this. Knowing him he'll let on he didn't read this.

Anywhom here is a few pictures of today's work

Darragh

[woody]

Well done with the exams. If your doing a lot of welding the thermal cutout in the welder may be operating, check that the fan is running properly.
When welding seams it may be better to drill holes along one panel and weld through them to make "spot welds" or you can get spot weld attachments for mig welders but I never used them so if anybody has an opinion on them they may let you know.

[LIX_818]

Well done with the exams. If your doing a lot of welding the thermal cutout in the welder may be operating, check that the fan is running properly.
When welding seams it may be better to drill holes along one panel and weld through them to make "spot welds" or you can get spot weld attachments for mig welders but I never used them so if anybody has an opinion on them they may let you know.

Thanks for the reply woody. Tbh I've been having a lot of problems with the welder a recently. The earth is a bit dodgy on it I've fixed it but the wire is quite short now. Could do with extending. I've seen those spot weld attachments but you can't add them onto my welder. They're only interchangeable with the more modern welder. The fan is actually running 100%. But the co2 is leaking from the connection to the bottle. I have it temporarily fixed so I'm hoping get a new welder as this one has seen better days. Bit of saving is gonna be needed me thinks. My welding needs a bit of practice but I no the welds won't break. I'll do that spot welding in the other floor well and see how I get on. I've saw a few of the guys on here doing it. Looks handy for holding a panel while you Seam weld the edges and distributes the heat.

I should have an update up of the arch tomorrow even or so. Til then amigos

[LIX_818]

Another day, Another bit of rust

So I got that arch welded in and I began to patch the other arch. hoping to have both arches and both floor wells done by the end of this week. I didn't try the plug welds yet. Going to give them a go when I'm putting in the floor well.

[LIX_818]

Went at the drivers side floor well and arch. Ended up finding lots more rust. I think I'm going to have to replace the door step now as well. Just as I cut away all the rust and started welding I ran out of gas. Just my luck . Anyway I decided with all the rust the it would be handier have it on it's side so that's what I did with some help from Dad.

Getting gas tomorrow so I'm hoping to have all that completed by tomorrow evening. But don't hold your breath I'm sure I'll have an excuse why I don't.

Darragh

[woody]

Be careful not to twist the shell and then weld it up twisted.

[LIX_818]

Be careful not to twist the shell and then weld it up twisted.

Oops I better let it down so, thanks woodie

[LIX_818]

not much to say. I'm bloody knackered I've worked 12 hours straight on the mini. Had a go with the plug welds, not as easy as I thought. Anyway here is a few pics of today's progress

Darragh

[LIX_818]

Haven't done much on a couple days but I did a few bits today.

I made up the panels on both sides where the rear subframe and the floor meets. So hoping to install those Friday and Saturday.

Also have been trying to hunt down a yellow hose kit for ages. I could only find red and blue but I finally got the yellow so I was happy as Larry today when they arrived

Darragh

[LIX_818]

So Dad and I tackled the rear subframe mounts or whatever ya call them.

We flipped the mini on one side, cut out the rust, bolted in the rear subframe to line it up and welded in the panels I made (I welded on the nuts to the back of the panel and changed the bolt to a 13mm instead of 1/2 inch for convenience.

Got that done and we flipped the mini over to do the otherside and guess what Ran out of welding wire....typical

Ah well always tomorrow


Darragh

[LIX_818]

Got the far side done yesterday

Next step is to do the quarter repairs, door steps and outer sills

Darragh

[LIX_818]

Got the passenger side sill and quarter repair done today. Couple pics of the work

[LIX_818]

Hi guys,

Just wondering what your opinions on a metro turbo engine is. Is there much to fitting them? I no you have to modify the bulk head slightly but I don't think there's much other modifications. I'm wondering tho are they worth putting in, would you get much top end power or is it just improved acceleration. Basically has anyone fitted one ? Any advice would be great.

Thanks Darragh

[woody]

There is a bit more than just fitting the bulkhead box, you need to fit a fuel regulator and a high pressure fuel pump and a fuel return to the tank ( I fitted an SPi tank with the pump inside). If its a standard unit your getting you need a mechanical bleed off valve to replace the Metro ECU.You will also need the exhaust down pipe. The Metro setup is now considered old school so unless your getting a complete setup cheap your better off building your own from scratch, check out turbominis.co.uk for all the info you need on turbos. Don't forget bigger brakes.