O.k.
this has been a long time coming......
we started this build late 2009. This was a build that was for a buddy of mine but i now own this mini and will be finishing it. so i figured that i would post the building of it.
The project is to put a chevy 350cubic inch (5.7) engine in the middle and cross ways using the power train from a pontiac fiero that we were given back in the early summer 2009.
here what we started with
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0650.jpg)
the doner
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/ferioproject.jpg)
we built a new chassis and roll cage using a gutted body by rust and have fitted the engine and transmission.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b183/joltmini/IMG_0737.jpg)
the original back half of the mini shell will mount to the frame using dzeus clips. just like a removable front end on a mini but, on the back!
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0765.jpg)(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0766.jpg)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0767.jpg)(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0769.jpg)
FINALLY GOT THE REAR SUSPESION SET UP
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0766.jpg)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0768.jpg)
Going to use the fiero brakes to start the caliper are single piston but aliminum with solid rotors and a power booster from the fiero also should be more than enough braking power.
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0770.jpg)
front suspentiontacked in to check fit.
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0771.jpg)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0772.jpg)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0773.jpg)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0796.jpg)
Firewall
Rear suspention
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0851.jpg)
the underside & frame welding is done (before paint)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0855.jpg)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0856.jpg)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0859_2.jpg)
The weight of the chassis is160 LBS in the rear and 170 LBS in the front. Total 330 LBS
Floor is done
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0861.jpg)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0860.jpg)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0877.jpg)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0878.jpg)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0876.jpg)
we ditched the fiberglass and when for an all metal body
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0895.jpg)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0896.jpg)
the roof/hood scoop and rear wing were made using the roof from my green mini when i cut it out to do the carbon fiber roof!
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0897.jpg)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0900.jpg)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/IMG_0898.jpg)
It a roller:
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/002-4.jpg)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/003-3.jpg)
found some old speed parts for the chevy and wondered what they would look like in the mini ,so we put the set engine back in to see.
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/006-1.jpg)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/007.jpg)
some more pics:
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/001-5.jpg)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/002-6.jpg)
interior shot:
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/003-13.jpg)
how it currently looks:
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/004-12.jpg)
(http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv58/BREADBOXRACING/002-13.jpg)
the motor has been removed (for another project) and i will be doing the 6 hour drive tomorrow to pick it up from buddy and bring it home to my garage to finish.
Wow man, and you're just now showing this off!?
well, up until a little while go....i wasn't sure if i was going to end up buying it and finishing it.
my neighbour also gave me a complete 327 small block to rebuild and use for this project!!! 4.gif
Any estimate when you'll finish? I guess you intend to race it.
i'll be taking my time with the motor once i get it to the machine shop to get it checked out and plan out what i will do it.
this will a road legal car but it may see a track every once in a while....
my wife wants to drive it!!!
Nice! 4.gif
Whoa!
well, the mini is now safely tucked away in my garage and i will need to take the block down to the machine shop to make sure that it is suitable for rebuilding and k need to start collecting the parts that i need for it. its been a while since i worked on s GM smallblock.....i need to some research to kick start my memory :-[
:-\ this is CRAZY ! !
been workin out of town for the last while but i've collected some bits that i need. I'll need to see how much funds i got kicking and i might get my heads and block down to the shop to make sure that it is suitable for rebuilding.
Dropped the motor off at the shop to get stripped down, cleaned and magnafluxed to see if it will be a suitable canadate for rebuilding.......................................now i wait 50.gif
Can't wait to see what you end up with.
well since the weather was decent, and i'm itching to do something while the motor is out at the shop. i decided to coat the whole exhaust and wrap the headers:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/joltfreak/IMG_00000019.jpg)
just got a call from the shop.
and its all good!
i'll be heading down there to plan out what we'll be doing next!! 4.gif
Very good 4.gif
while we planned what we are doing with the motor. i had an old pair of alloy valve covers that looked like crap! so i sand blasted them and shined them up a bit. i wish i took pics of what they started like.
here is what it looked like after blasting them:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/joltfreak/IMG_00000044.jpg)
after a bit of shining up:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/joltfreak/IMG_00000045.jpg)
i think that they will come out nice:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/joltfreak/IMG_00000043.jpg)
after talking to some of the enigne experts, i decided not to use the 327 block that i currently have......
I not have a 350 block which i will be using for the build!!!! the inital "desktop dyno" figures that me current build plan would produce 397hp and 470 ft/lbs of torque......
i just need to get back home to build it :-[
Well it's been awhile now since I've posted any updates..... the motor is finally done and back home again
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/joltfreak/IMG_00000119.jpg)
Had to shorten the timing tab to allow for the belt to wrap around the modified damper.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/joltfreak/IMG_00000120.jpg)
Got the motor in and bolted up tight, the exhaust is back on. Even bought a battery and put it in. The carb rebuild kit came in and a buddy of mine (who is a Holley master) is going help rebuild it.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/joltfreak/IMG_00000142.jpg)
I also ordered a different remote oil filter relocation kit. The one the is currently on the mini has an alloy housing which has a reusable filter in it. I'm sure it will do the job fine but I would rather have a regular spin on filter on it for simplicity sake.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/joltfreak/IMG_00000145.jpg)
Still crazy man 4.gif
Thanks!!
Had the inital power figures for the motor.....397hp and 470 ft/lbs of torque!! ;D
I need to finish off a little bit of plumbing, rebuild the carb, fill up all the fluids and fire it up!!!
if it goes as planned, i should have it ready to run by the end of next weekend!
It's alive !!!!!!!!
more details to come with pics
Can't wait to see!
Here is a pic of the news spin-on oil filter adapter mounted in its place:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/joltfreak/IMG_00000146.jpg)
The cool thing is that both minis use the same oil filter!
I took it out for a test run around the block.... It is a beast!!
Will need to pull the rad out since there is a small leak. more to come..
Need some videos or something! I may have to fly up and take a ride or something lol.
well been busy getting my garage cleaned up so that i could fit both minis in there for winter storage. had the V8 mini out a couple times (it scary fast!!!!) to break the motor in........having some cooling issues tho. the current inline water pump seems to not be able to "keep up" with the cooling for long and the impeller in the pump seems to wear out very fast......got a new electric water pump ordered, this one will be fitted on the motor where the stock pump would be... i'm also running a larger diameter hose to up the flow as well....more to come!
What kinda radiator you running?
a heavy duty 4 core rad out of a 70's GM fullsize.....just had it re-cored by my buddy who builds custom rads for racing/towing and he did all my rads in the past. when running, the rad is fine and the current inline pump (it is a marine pump) does ok with a new impeller on it but it will not last as long as i would like (it may last a season). with this new pump it will solve it for good. and it will be much more reliable.
picked up the water pump and mounted it on the motor.....it was a real tight fit!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/joltfreak/photo.jpg)
I have been having problems finding a insurance company that would insure it..the company that i've been using with my green mini is covering it until the end of the month....i been told that it is too modified for modified classic car insurance!!!!
this is really bothering me......50.gif 50.gif 50.gif 50.gif 50.gif 50.gif 50.gif 50.gif 50.gif 50.gif 50.gif
Is that a Canadian thing with the insurance? Surely someone will insure a modified car.
I'm sure i'll find someone that will insure it.....i just dont want to give up my first born to do it. :-[
Well it been a while since I've updated this thread. I finally was able to get it insured 4.gif 4.gif 4.gif 4.gif 4.gif. Got to put some miles on it. still had some heating issues. It was running lean. I swapped out carb for a bigger one and played with the timing a bit.
Finally got it to run really well and the tranny was going.....i pulled it last week and had a buddy build a fresh one that will cope with the power.....will post some pics shortly
Well, it has been a while since I've posted an update.....
Found out that the torque converter blew apart....so I a buddy that specialized in building converters for racing build one to handle the power. Got it put back together again.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/joltfreak/photo-1.jpg)
Had a nice day and took it out for a test run. It wouldn't get out of first gear!!
I'm sure it was fast in 1st gear though :)
Been a long time since i updated this build.........
well i've had the monster out for a bit and was able to do some hot laps with it at Mosport raceway during MMN this year!!!
it really drives differently from my other mini...but i was able to overtake a Ferrari 360 on the front straight!!!! (the look of the guys face when i passed him was priceless).....Then i broke the tranny again :-[ :-[ :-[ the tranny that i had in it was a stock rebuilt one and couldnt cope with the power from the motor. i will be getting a purpose bulit "race" tranny for it and swap it over the winter.
it been stitting in my brothers garage for last couple months as i'm re-buliding a 1924 dodge hot rod for my brother in my garage. once completed, i will be able to work on my minis again!!