D-Series VTEC MiniTec Pickup joining the fleet - Page 9

elprofe · #**201** 12-19-2008, 02:50 PM

Reason why you need to pockets to support that step child of yours!
One for the Honda parts and the other for those great English parts.

tavis1 · #**202** 12-20-2008, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elprofe

Hondas are realiable, but not custom built Mini Vtecs....it's a whole different animal. It's more like an old school beattle "always underneath it!"

Are you saying they are just as bad with reliabilty as a standard Mini?

MINIdave · #**203** 12-20-2008, 09:59 AM

I think the P'up will be very reliable once he gets thru the "sorting out" period, remember he drove it 1400 miles home straight from the shop with pretty much no issues and absolutely no breakdowns - that's pretty impressive to me!

I don't anticipate any problems with the Honda side of the car, and really very few with the Mini side, since everything in there is new and/or new tech.

Even the gas tank leak will probably turn out to be a loose clamp or fitting, or worst case something that needs to be slightly relocated because it rubbed thru.

I think it will be a car that he can have fun tinkering with, but will start and run whenever he wants to go for a cruise.

Bear in mind tho, I had a '62 Cooper S that I drove daily for years, and to Colorado so I think they're fun and reliable anyway...........rose coloured glasses firmly in place here!

dimini · #**204** 12-20-2008, 11:14 AM

I agree with MINIdave. I've never owned a car that required an onboard parts bin or toolbox--the Pup's no exception, it's reliable. No dependability anxiety here! And for my agreeing with Elprofe's VW comparo, I can see how I will be "always underneath it". During the first couple weeks of ownership, I spent several hours underneath just looking up and marveling at how MiniTec engineered the whole damned thing. I think it's pretty amazing.

As mentioned several times earlier, there are a few little adjustments here and there... and MINIdave nailed it precisely, it's a toy that I can have fun tinkering with. One of those adjustments is to better protect a front turn signal bulb connection as the bulb wires are too close to the radiator. Oh, and another "issue" is that a pop-riveted radiator shroud has come loose and rattles.

I love to trash-talk British cars, but if I didn't love them or trust them, I'd be driving something else.

dimini · #**205** 11-19-2009, 04:07 PM

Now that it's been nearly a year since my last post in this thread, I figured I'd attempt to resurrect it from the forum's dust bin. Here it is-- testament that some folks who own Vtec-powered Minis keep them beyond the first year of ownership.

I took this snapshot a couple of weeks ago during a weekend outing into rural Kansas.
What happened to all the Vtec talk on this forum? Is there a pulse out there?

Meno... calling Meno, are you out there?

[IMG]

[/IMG]

tavis1 · #**206** 11-19-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dimini

Now that it's been nearly a year since my last post in this thread, I figured I'd attempt to resurrect it from the forum's dust bin. Here it is-- testament that some folks who own Vtec-powered Minis keep them beyond the first year of ownership.

I took this snapshot a couple of weeks ago during a weekend outing into rural Kansas.
What happened to all the Vtec talk on this forum? Is there a pulse out there?

Meno... calling Meno, are you out there?

[IMG]

[/IMG]

Nice shot! Glad your back, was worried about ya.

meno · #**207** 11-19-2009, 09:00 PM

huh....uh....what? Oh yeah! I'm here. Just enjoying poverty.

I don't get the composition of this shot....you woke me up for this! Damn it.

Now if you have a photo of you jumping or hauling a 5th wheel, now I get it. Just kidding.

You do any track time with this thing yet or are you still doing the Morgan Freeman impression and driving Ms. Daisy?

dimini · #**208** 11-19-2009, 09:45 PM

The P'up likes it on the track more so than on typical Midwestern city streets. I took it to Heartland Park Topeka for a track day event in May and had lots of fun. It surprises folks at the track almost as much as on the street.

It's such a crude little beast. How can something so cute on the outside be so rude? I kid you not, ear plugs are essential equipment. Looking forward to next year as I plan to get out to the track often. Work schedule and having sent the p'up back to MT for warranty work kept it off the streets/track this summer. Of all years to miss Mini events, I didn't drive my P'up to any of the Mini 50 gatherings. Oh well, I didn't buy it for show and tell.

Lance, if I'm careful, I might get my A008's to last to 5K miles. They're down to the wear bars at 4K right now. Good thing I didn't buy AO32s...

tavis1 · #**209** 11-20-2009, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dimini

The P'up likes it on the track more so than on typical Midwestern city streets. I took it to Heartland Park Topeka for a track day event in May and had lots of fun. It surprises folks at the track almost as much as on the street.

It's such a crude little beast. How can something so cute on the outside be so rude? I kid you not, ear plugs are essential equipment. Looking forward to next year as I plan to get out to the track often. Work schedule and having sent the p'up back to MT for warranty work kept it off the streets/track this summer. Of all years to miss Mini events, I didn't drive my P'up to any of the Mini 50 gatherings. Oh well, I didn't buy it for show and tell.

Lance, if I'm careful, I might get my A008's to last to 5K miles. They're down to the wear bars at 4K right now. Good thing I didn't buy AO32s...

Did you put in any sound deading material? How are the stock rubber engine mounts working?

dimini · #**210** 11-20-2009, 08:12 AM

Yes, there is dynamat on just about every surface including roof underneath headliner, dense foam carpet backing, full carpet, including up the back of the cab to the rear window (stock pick-ups are bare metal) and leather-wrapped door cards. In general, pick-ups are louder than coupes. The MK1 style tin-foil doors & slider windows (with their "exceptional" fit) create lots of noise above 45 mph. On a practical note, these were designed at a time when the commercial vehicle speed limit in the UK was 45mph. A stock pick-up, driven sanely up to 45 mph is actually ok--but add an extra 100hp, heim-jointed suspension and speeds into triple digits... Ear plugs are essential.

The OEM Honda rubber motor mounts were critical in reducing the engine vibration/harmonics. For me, the poly motor mounts are intolerable--maybe not in coupe, though.

If you drive it like your great grandfather would, it's pretty comfortable on adequately maintained city streets-not many of those in Kansas City, though. Out on the highway, there's just too much road, engine and wind noise for average, rational and mentally stable Americans. I'm probably going nuts as I write this.

MINIdave · #**211** 11-20-2009, 10:46 AM

I didn't think it was that bad..........................................once we got the earplugs!

But compared to a MINI, well, let's just say it's a wee bit noisey...........

But, he has put 4 going on 5K miles on it, so he should know!

As much fun as this thing is to drive - and it is a blast - it's just too small for me, I'm too krinkled up once I get in it to really enjoy it as I should. Don's a lot, ahem..............slimmer than I am so he fits a lot better.

tavis1 · #**212** 11-20-2009, 12:21 PM

Thanks Don!

gasmini03 · #**213** 11-20-2009, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dimini

Now that it's been nearly a year since my last post in this thread, I figured I'd attempt to resurrect it from the forum's dust bin. Here it is-- testament that some folks who own Vtec-powered Minis keep them beyond the first year of ownership.

I took this snapshot a couple of weeks ago during a weekend outing into rural Kansas.
What happened to all the Vtec talk on this forum? Is there a pulse out there?

Meno... calling Meno, are you out there?

[IMG]

[/IMG]

dimini,
I don't know but that picture looks a little grainy.

dimini · #**214** 11-20-2009, 07:05 PM

Hey gasmini03,

I just cancelled a mid-Missouri drive this weekend with the other Don, who lives on the east side of the state and also owns a P'up.

My work sched. got in the way, again. Anyway, is your pup roadworthy for meeting up with us somewhere in mid-southern Missouri later this year (if we are lucky w/weather) or first thing next spring once the salt is gone?

MiniDave was going to caravan over there with me in his 2008 Clubby or (JCW MCS) and we were going to meet up with Don and maybe one or two classic Mini owners for an impromptu drive in rural Mo. Lots of great secondary roads in the south central portion of the state. PM me if you'd like me to include you in the planning.

**Don Racine** · #**215** 11-21-2009, 08:29 AM

The Mini Pick-up restoration project seems to be again getting underway. The program started almost 2 years ago when I got tired of seeing the decay on the family pick-up getting worse just sitting there.
T

he first step of restoring the body got underway with a bang and looked like it could be done in a couple months. But now it looks like only a couple MORE months and it will be done and ready for the next step. A visit to the body shop with camera in hand shows the progress. While it is best described as SLOOOW- it will indeed be fantastic when it is done, While it is hard to tell from the pictures, but a ’skim coat’ has now been applied and we expect it to have it first coat of primer by next week.
With an assurance from the shop that they will be ready to give it back to me by the end of the year I have started to ask myself a few new questions!!
My original plan was to install one of the Mini Mania VTec conversion kits into it. Keeping it as stock as possible with 10″ wheels, etc. This was to become a daily driver that simply had the torque and performance of a very stock VTec. Mini

Mania has sold hundreds of these kits and it felt like a good idea at the

time. But recently I have considered that perhaps the value of the Pick-up to the next generation would not be the same and besides Mini Mania also builds 100’s of 13800cc A+ powerunits.
But now for my Ultimate confusion- We anxious to see completed the development of a production kit that will allow the average DIY Mini owner to convert his Mini into an

“Electric” Mini. This looks like it is going to be a fantastic option that will allow you to convert yet still maintain the option of being able to switch back to a conventional engine if desired. The kit will use the standard Mini transmission and will fit into the engine bay with no modification. It may be another six months off till we have our first running sample but family pick-up has been laid up this long- what is another 6 months!
Looking for opinions: which way should I go?
Electric?
VTec?
1380cc?

dimini · #**216** 11-30-2009, 05:38 PM

Finally got the work schedules and weather to cooperate enough to meet up with my classic Mini P'up Mentor, who owns the black one pictured. I live on the left side of the state, he lives on the right side. We met half-way, which just happens to be a great playground for driving Minis. For the ultimate mini pick-up trifecta, all we need now is for Gasmini03 to join us with his cool blue P'up. Perhaps in the spring of 2010!

tavis1 · #**217** 12-01-2009, 06:53 AM

Very cool pictures, THANK YOU!

gasmini03 · #**218** 12-01-2009, 10:40 AM

dimini,

Good looking pictures and I agree that the only thing that would look better would be all three of our pups together at one time.

dimini · #**219** 12-01-2009, 12:00 PM

I consider last weekend pure luck with the weather. We DON'T want to be out there once the nasty salt has been spread. On my return trip I drove through some drizzle, just enough to toggle on the wipers a few times. I still have (maybe will always?) a few water leaks in the cab, which makes for a major PITA because the seats and seat belt anchors have to be removed before I can pull the carpet for drying... Five hours of "detailing" maintence so I don't trap moisture in the pans. Me no likey the rain!

Next spring!

Red Riley · #**220** 12-01-2009, 09:27 PM

Hey Don,
Glad to see you're enjoying your D! I've pretty much called an end to the driving season, at least for the couple of months of "winter" we have in Charleston. I need to pull out the interior and do some soundproofing so I can enjoy my stereo. I was noticing gas fumes in the exhaust and I recently had a certified Honda tech look at the motor and he gave me a couple of tips. The aftermarket plug wires and dizzy that came with the motor were crap, and once I had a new set of OEM Honda parts on it, and 1 step hotter plugs, the motor ran much better. I think it was running poorly and I didn't even know it. He also recommended I move the IAT sensor to the intake plenum rather than where they put it on the air pipe to get the ECU to run the motor "hotter." I think I'm also going to put a catalytic converter on it to get it closer to original Honda specs. So I've got enough work to do to keep me busy until the weather gets hot again.
This picture was in Mini Magazine. I like this one a lot. The yellow van is a MiniTec built K-Series. The Elf is getting a feature in the next issue of MC2 magazine. Mini Magazine and Mini World also shot it for features but I don't know when they're coming out. See ya around!

LiLReD1 · #**221** 12-01-2009, 11:00 PM

Great pics! I can vouche for this red P'up, it is very very clean and well taken care of. He keeps talking about how loud it is and all with the noise thing (lol), but I still want one so bad! I ride V8 and F6 motorcycles cross-country, so I must be going deaf cause it doesn't bother me a bit, lol.

I'd trade/get rid of my '09 JCW just to have a 200hp AWD classic MINI.

Red Riley · #**222** 12-02-2009, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiLReD1

I'd trade/get rid of my '09 JCW just to have a 200hp AWD classic MINI.

So what are you waiting for? http://superfastminis.com/AWD_BUILD_INFO.htm

dimini · #**223** 12-02-2009, 07:08 AM

RedRiley-
That is a great photo. Makes me want to own one of each. Mini-Sota was fun! I didn't realize that your dizzy & wires weren't OEM. So, if the temp sensor is connected to the intake plenum, it will read a hotter temp, and will signal the ECU to act as though the engine is running at a hotter temp? That's worthy of further research... Admittedly, I don't know whether that would be good or not.

LilReD1-
Careful with your wishes... An AWD fire-breathing MiniMonster would cost you about the same as your new JCW Clubby. Checkbook restomods are expensive. Even with a late model power train, these little tin cans are crude, maintenance-prone toys. I now "pre-flight" check mine before any drive other than a trip to the grocery store. Things tend to vibrate loose, often. As for daily driver... I think a Vtec mini is a daily driver toy, buy mine is certainly no substitute for a real vehicle. True confession: I daydream about 250hp AWD classics. Thankfully, I've run out of money.

LiLReD1 · #**224** 12-03-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Riley

So what are you waiting for? http://superfastminis.com/AWD_BUILD_INFO.htm

Uh huh... I think I've read every part they have on their website for an AWD MINI.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dimini

LilReD1-
Careful with your wishes... An AWD fire-breathing MiniMonster would cost you about the same as your new JCW Clubby. Checkbook restomods are expensive. Even with a late model power train, these little tin cans are crude, maintenance-prone toys. I now "pre-flight" check mine before any drive other than a trip to the grocery store. Things tend to vibrate loose, often. As for daily driver... I think a Vtec mini is a daily driver toy, buy mine is certainly no substitute for a real vehicle. True confession: I daydream about 250hp AWD classics. Thankfully, I've run out of money.

I'm very careful, lol. All those reasons you list (and more) is why I want one! Granted like you, it wouldn't be my only car, prolly have a little truck parts runner type of vehicle as well. A big go-kart/4-wheeled motorcycle... I already ride the 2-wheeled street rod, lol.

This is the way I look at it... you can build some sort of street rod with yer modern V8 engine, something like an LS7 to be able to achieve yer hp/weight of a 200+hp MINI. But an LS7 is not pennies by far, and a steel body '32 is in the 6 digit price range. You could go buy you one for ~$40k I suppose (cost for a 200+hp AWD MINI??) but yer still buying a car that nobody will work on, you didn't have built, and for all you know could be a $40k basket case waiting to happen.

Or you could do this route of a VTEC MINI where parts are about as readily available at yer local parts store as much as a small block Chevy, the reliability and efficiency of the Honda motor and drivetrain and an aftermarket backing like no other. Yet yer still building a classic! I see more '32 Ford's than classic MINI's anyway. Many other reasons I could list as well. Sure you may have to keep a toolbox handy and get yer hands a bit dirty, but that's the same as I do on my '09.

Honestly, I probably wouldn't think about it much if not for the AWD. I miss having rear drive wheels of some kind quite a bit. The only "down fall" to the thrill of driving these MINI's for me.

dimini · #**225** 12-05-2009, 08:40 PM

MT had not yet invented an AWD conversion when I bought my P'up. And now I'm too deep into the checkbook to consider anything but keeping and enjoying it.

Had the AWD Saloon been available two years ago, I would have likely gone that route.

The Saloons are a little more "practical" as there is more room inside and they can actually fit a pretty tall driver. (take a look at BigNorm's threads).