Manky Monkey Motors

Arse, now im in a dilemma.
Just bought a mini van (RHD) and a mini saloon (LHD completely rotten) to convert
and install Honda Vtec engine. Plus shorten it 950mm.

Just been offered 2 bay window vans, one camper (rotten) and another standard roof (standard rust) for 500 euros.


Ive shortened two minis before but never a van, and the biggest engine was a 1480 at 130hp.

However Ive always had a hankering to build a shortened bus, especially now with the surf ethos here in France.

Now seen the 'dub thread and im unsure what to do.

Hmmm....

Like the Carson top red dub and the bus BTW but while admiring the engineering on the others they leave me cold...dunno why

OOh mini shorty v tec!! :o You know the 1.6 Vtec puts out about 160 bhp with a filter and 'zorst and redlines at about 8 grand! I think they are great engines! Ive got a mk1 mini deluxe that I would like to do something mad with one day, its just finding the money!

Tazet's got her eye on that Loony!
Her first car was a much loved Mini & she wants to rescue yours from it's grassy grave & restore it. 

Id like to just do a 100 point resto on it, but its not what im into, so its hard to get excited about it. To be honest Id give it to a good home where it could be restored, just dont want to see it cut up really as it was the first car we had as a group of friend. Its got alot of memories! ;D

So no roof chop then?  :(

Oh go one then! :D

Did a resto on a '66 850 mini for a friend, right down to World cup Willy sticker on the rear window...Dove grey.

It got more appreciative comments than any rod.

Guess a wider audience?

Yeah, classic cars will always be popular. I don't think Taz realises just how much work is involved but we'll see.
Captain SpannerFingers reads this 'ere forum from time to time. He's saddleBags' brother & runs a classic car resto business here in Hampshire, specialising in "modern" classics -mainly 50s, 60s & 70s stuff. He gets some beautiful cars through his workshop. 

 A bloke I know has a two door Volvo Amazon for sale. Its very rough though.

I love Amazons. I once built a Moggy Minor pick up with a 1600 Fiat twin cam motor. A mate of mine who was an auto upholsterer wanted to swap it for his mint green Amazon estate. Maybe I should've.

If my mrs would let me bring another car home, and if it was'nt so rusty, I would have it myself.

Manky, Lunatic don't you dare roof chop that mini.  >:(  I do know it would be a lot of blood, sweat and tears to restore that little mini but it would be worth every minute.  ;D  I can do that while you do the pop.

i hope its got a sunroof for mankys head, he s not exactly mini size is he, hee hee. ;D

 :P I'm maxi sized I'm told.  ;D

The Mini in question.

nowt wrong with that ;D ;D ;D ;D

That a roof chop wouldn't cure ;)

Loony's put a notice on the windscreen that says This is not an abandoned vehicle.

Today I bought a D reg mini City. 1000cc Auto. Interior is like new but some small rust patches on the outside and some iffy welding on the cills.

It's only done 57k and drives like a dream as it has been used daily. I'm gonna Trike it just trying to decide how. I did think about putting the engine/running gear in the back and doing it in the style of the Beach Bastard just smaller and a damn site quicker!

Will keep you updated once I have sorted out what to do with it!

Post some pics tomorrow!

The other alternatives are to put the engine in like a reliant trike but trying to get the parts to do that may be a problem (Am working on it though) or do a standard mini engine trike set up but like I did with the Beach bastard build it to look cool.

Having looked under the bonnet i realised that the engine is mounted forward of the drive shafts so it should not be too light on the front end.

Any Ideas?

Let me know

Could you hook it up to a Reliant gearbox? Loads of Mini tuning parts available so should really shift.

no

As Nomad says! No  ;D It shares it's sump with the gearbox but I'm wondering if I could get a diff that has a ratio of 1.7 - 1 to allow me to run the engine up front. Failing that I will go with the standard set up for a mini but very low and with some decent rake on the front.

Will have to see!

 ::)

Sorry, very sleepy when I posted that. Didn't register the fact that it's an auto.
The very thing Bobbi's looking for?

Incidentally, it would be the same with a manual.
Wake up man! ;D

ByzMax, bit confused how you would with the drive to a diff if you did the reliant type route?

BTW if you do it Beach Bastard style, you can cut the roof and widen it to fit over the parcel shelf area. Ive done this to a couple of Minis and I have always thought it would give a great servicar look to a trike.

Mini front subfrafes can fit in the rear on a Mini but its a lot of fabrication.

Looking forward to seeing the result.

"Incidentally, it would be the same with a manual.
Wake up man!"

I know, I know! Just thought it'd be an ideal new trike for Bobbi, who's looking to replace "Gertie" with an auto.
Mount the engine fore & aft, rather than transverse, complete with gearbox, blank off one drive shaft & run the other back to an axle? Would you still get drive?

I spose, how you would lock the diff off I dont know.
Had a mate 30yrs ago who had a mini egined Featherbed so it must be possible.
I seem to remember the engine was very offset, which wouldnt matter so much on a trike?

It could be made to work.

I will take the engine etc outta the mini at the weekend to see if the diff can be removed from the side of the gearbox and run directly to a diff at the rear of a similar ratio.

Other idea is to find a diff wit a 1.5 ish- 1 ratio and use bigger wheels as the mini ones are too small any how! IS such a thing available? Trying to find out!   ;D

Worth looking into me thinks but if no joy i'll design something else to suit!

Probem is there are very few rear wheel drive cars that are auto and have a small light engine that I can think of.

Would like to build a mini based trike that looks the part so what ever happens it's goons lose a wheel!  ;D

I have a suzuki 5 stud rear axle. Think it's from the Samourai SJ Jeep. Think it may even be from the 413. Have a look when you come over for the garden thingy. I'm sure if you want it we can negotiate a reasonable price.  ;D

"I will take the engine etc outta the mini at the weekend to see if the diff can be removed from the side of the gearbox and run directly to a diff at the rear of a similar ratio."

Not possible outside of major engineering/casting abilities.

Sorry

Ah, ya see I always feel that anything is possible. but you may be right we will have to see. I know a man who can make most anything I need for a price.. ;D