New arms to prevent CV destruction.

It's back at the surrogate home already.

Norman says I should try the New K subframe. I didn't know whether to cry or laugh.

 

I think I'd be sending him a 1600 lbs. care package, C.O.D!

 

 

Okay....okay....(sounding like Leo Getz)....so I get the old arms back in and a shadetree mechanics alignment and things are on the up and up. Seven Ent. will be doing the corner balancing and alignment in a week or so. Truth is that the car is back to how it was prior the Yellowstone trip (save the temporary alignment issue). So I now need to ask MT to give me a remedy for the steering arms which does NOT require putting in a new subframe after all my subframe has several thousands into it and those improvements may well not be useable if I swap not to mention the cash outlay to do the swap. The current state is laborious manual steering and I need to be cautious when backing up with the wheel cranked to the left as that can cause pressure to the CV joint (rod camming over)...so it's not right but it's liveable until an alternative can be made.

The A/C works pretty darn well until 100 degrees then it works just okay. It's not without issues though. For example it's emmitting a smell from the exterior which may be oils or something burning off, not sure. Also the heater is bypassed because the valve can't hold the coolant out when the thermostat releases. The proposed cure is an "H" valve this fall. What that means I haven't the slightest but George is feeling confident.

The skid plate is in and looking rather dapper.

The ignition system is back to normal and allegedly has all of the needed wares to prevent any more dash fires.

The hood cable was replaced unbeknownst to me and operates much, much better.

The leak on the methanol tank is fixed.

Most of the dash is rewired.

The new cooling system kept my car at 180 even when it was 100 degrees out last weekend so that seems pretty cool (pun intended), too. The fan is lethal and loud but HEY it's keeping it below 180!

The cold air intake works and it will be interesting to learn if it restricted air flow and hence reduced power or not. George agrues that the charge temps will be dropped by 50 degrees in the summer.

The new belt arrangement is tight but until it's on the dyno I won't know if it still slips or not.

Voila. Things are looking up for the infamous MT-K #1.

 

Dude.
Sucks.
Can't get much worse....

Mabye you should move on to the next project and just park that one for a while....yea right...!

I've been thinking about AWD!!!

T to tha T to tha I......

 

I'm done with projects I think. There's something special about the already completed project and/or new.

 

I see that you are now selling your Mini. Did you get the steering arms resovled? I hope things are well.

 

All good and been done for a while now. Still my favorite set of steering arms was the second set despite less radius and more difficult to turn. The ones currently are easy to turn and much, much better radius but are really sensitive to the road - transmit everything to the "feel" - it darts accordingly. Perhaps it's the state of alignment because it is no longer neutral either. Don't know but I don't want to fiddle with it either. Let the new owner decide how they want it to feel.

We're in the same sellers boat now - we're like two peas in a pod you and me.

 

I think you mean Travis 10, I am Tavis1. It's all good, we get confused on other web sites as well. If it's not to personal, why are you selling? Me, myself right now, is stock pyling parts for a "D" conversion.

 

Meno-

Sorry to see you are selling, but I totally understand. If mine were anything but a toy, I'd be a seller, too.

I hope you are able to hold onto it long enough to find the the right owner. Seems like very few cars are selling right now, VTEC or traditional.

 

Wow, I was thinking about having one of these built. After reading this, I'll pass, to many problems!! It's to bad, because they are beautiful cars.

 

CynMini-

Keep in mind that this is the very first K-series that MT built, plus they added enormous extra HP, per customer's request. I'm not saying that if you ordered one today that it would be trouble-free, but it would likely have less issues than Meno's little torque monster.

For example, I have a D-series conversion built by MT that I am pleased with. It has had some issues, which for the most part have been resolved by MT during the one-year warranty period. My AC unit lost it's charge due to a loose hose fitting, so technically speaking, I still have a problem with my Vtec Mini since I don't plan to recharge the AC until spring 2010.

 

Actually I was thinking about the AWD version with about a 200 hp D motor. I can live with little stuff like that going wrong. Would you feel comfortable with putting around 200 freeway miles a day for 5 days a week on yours?

 

Short answers--I think AWD would be awesome! If I were buying an MT Vtec car today, I'd pass on a pick-up and get an AWD Saloon.

My Vtec on the freeway daily at 200 miles a pop? NO! Pick-up cabs are louder than saloons and anything above 60mph requires ear plugs. The sensation of driving a classic mini at 70 mph feels like 90mph. Push it up to 85 and it feels like 120. They are so small and so low that if you were to hit a road hazard (piece of a truck tire retread, or racoon) at 85mph, I fear you'd be launched into a world of trouble. Wouldn't be pretty.

I love vintage cars and have owned/driven them as daily drivers (modded '71 Datsun 510 sedan, modded '71 Datsun 240-Z, stock '59 Mercedes 220-S Sedan) but a classic Mini, even a VTEC AWD, would be an uncomfortable beast on freeway commutes. IMO, VTEC and stock classic Minis are for the back roads and track days. Mine is loads of fun on twisty 30-70 mph roads and I avoid freeways when possible.

Go out to Royston and drive MiniTec's AWD demo before they sell it. YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO DRIVE ONE BEFORE CONSIDERING IT. And right now, I'm pretty certain there is only one in existance. I don't think I'd buy that one. On paper, the concept sounds great, in reality, it might not be what you are dreaming of. I promise you, it will not resemble the feel of an WRX STI or an EVO, or an Audi TT. It will be LOUD and crude (yet FUN!!!) compared to any current model car.

 

Thanks for all the advise! Wow, a '71 510 and a 240Z! Two of my favorite cars. I owned a mint condition lightly modded '77 280Z and a one of a kind optioned 914-6. They were fun cars!

 

Ooops! I made a typo, I ment a B motor.

 

I was about to ask you how you were planning to achieve a reliable 200hp D series...

Wow! A 914/6. That's always been on my bucket list, but the rarity/cost is soaring.

Lance- Sorry for hijacking your thread! Did you end up with a "chubby one?"

 

Can we have an update on the 6 million dollar Mini??

 

Sold it 12/09 - got tired of never getting it quite right - had spent nearly as much money on it after it was "completed" and shipped than I did in the order process when I was sending checks to Georgia. It was a fun project, but about as good as an investment as a Solyndra solar panel. Wish the goods had been delivered as ordered...but then again I wish I was tall and good looking, too.

 

I'm really sorry to hear that. One of these has kinda been my dream fun car, but I have heard to many people say the same things as you are saying. So, I'm out. What a bummer!

 

Sorry for being a post hog on Meno's thread, but I agree that goods delivered are less than goods perceived while waiting for one of these little rats to be built or converted. On paper, they sound great, but in actuality, there are hybrid issues that arise that only you (presuming you are mechanically capable at troubleshooting and wrenching) or an eccentric mechanic can address unless you live within reasonable distance to MiniTec.

As mentioned in my thread, my mini pick-up is a fabulous toy, relatively trouble-free and I have no plans to sell it. As a hobby, I love it.

A daily driver candidate? Not a chance. Most mini owners would kill me for saying this, but classic minis are little piles of crap... really (Vtec or OEM)! They were then, and now 50 years later, still are one of the least expensive econo-boxes ever made. They are not little Rolls or Jags--they are cleaverly designed tin-foil boxes constructed with laughable quality control. They squeak, RUST, rattle, hum, buzz, LEAK, wipers are lousy, Chinese replacement parts are absolute CRAP. Am I down on classic minis? Absolutely not! They have an amazing appeal, in spite of their bucketloads of shortcomings. Park one next to an Audi R10, and when you come back to your car you'll likely find people gawking at the mini--not the awesome sports car next to it.

Pro-built customs are expensive, regardless whether they are VTEC Minis, "32 Ford" roadsters, Porsche speedster replicas w/fiberglass bodies, etc. At that entry level price range, there are lots of automotive toys to choose from.

 

I was hoping by now that he had worked out the bugs with building these cars. The thing is, I know he is good at what he does and tries to build the best car possible. That's why it is a little confusing that people have so many problems. Building these cars isn't rocket science.

One thing I would like to see: An AWD car, like he has already built, with a roll bar that ties together the front and rear subframe. It would give the car a ton more strength.

 

Hadn't read this in a LOOOOOOONNNNNG time. Hind sight is interesting.

 

Meno-

Great to see you still have a pulse.
Send me a PM!

I still have mine and the goofy appeal is just as strong as ever.

 

I've been on and off about a vtec Mini (or any classic Mini) for quite some time, though the primary reason I want a modern motor is reliability and comfort over an OEM motor, as opposed to power.

Great writeup, with regard to both tech and language. Thank you for documenting this whole process (though it absorbed most of my Sunday to read everything). It seems there are many out there who are asking the question "What would it really be like to own one of these"?