Thanks Bigshot!

A quick update on progress over the last couple of weeks. We welded tabs on the strut tower for our hood pins:



One of the most challenging part has been to make new seat mounts on the floor. We wanted the seat as low as it would go. The base set-up before welding:



We made a template to ensure everything would be leveled and lined-up properly, for our seat and also to fit a narrower one in case I decide to become jockey-sized and lose weight. (Fat chance this will happen :rolleyes)





We used the wide factory nut on the front mounts:







In order to give a bit of adjustment (most seats and brackets aren't perfectly square as we've learned in our other car), we elected to also use the factory nut that slides in a a box:





A regular nut was used for the spare seat hole (that's all we had!):
We welded the steering brackets:







There will be a couple of positions available for different driver preference and greater range of adjustment (as you know, the factory column is height adjustable but not telescopic on the R53)



New brackets for the fuse boxes (3 brackets- the picture is not clear):



Aerocatch for the rear hatch:







The brackets inside still require to be welded:



The front fender tabs were welded (and fabricated for one):





Since the car will soon go to the bodyshop, we finished our moving jig, mounting where the front subframe normally sits:



That's it for now!

 

Ingenious.

Are most of the guys you race with / against also builders such as yourself? Do you plan to get this on the track this season or next?

I'm sure I've said before, but this is amazing work and kudos to you for making the time to share with us.

 

Some build, some buy. Some partial build.

The car should be on the track in June (famous last words!)....

Glad to share.

 

I must have missed it......what series are you going to race this in?

 

Is that steering wheel adapter / hub a custom piece? It looks like it covers up some of the guts of the steering better than the once I have from Pegasus Racing.

 

Most likely Castrol Canadian Touring Car Series for now.

 

I honestly don't know. It came with the crashed car. It may be a Sparco or for a Sparco instead of the traditional one by MOMO.

 

Ahhhhhh......so you're a canuck. That explains alot.

Good luck!

 

Is that a good or bad thing ?

 

Hopefully a good thing..........

 

Nice work Allain

 

As we saw before, we perfomed a limited amount of body reinforcement by seam welding some parts of the chassis.
One of the small downside of a traditional stitch-welding is that it ads a limited amount of weight to the car.

We like to reinforce our chassis by welding it with a pinch-style welder which is basically a portable version of what the factory uses with their big robots. No weight added here.







A couple of small videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do1CVxlJfa0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwPJdDNmfIk


That sucker is heavy. So you have to be creative to be comfortable



A few more pictures:

One door opening completed:


The front frame rails:

 

^ that is a pretty cool solution!

 

i like the spot welding. you have to have the stiffest unibody in MINI history. i'm taking copious amounts of notes.

 

The strut towers are now finished (holes for camber plates drilled):



Battery box completed:



Mounted on the floor:



Hood pin brackets for the hatch completed:



Hole enlarged for the proper radio antenna:



Harness bars installed:



Belt plates welded (additional one for tall driver too)



Dash fitting completed including brackets:





Nascar door bars added to the driver side:



The car was sent to the body shop late last week.

 

lookin' good!

 

thank you, alain, for this detailed build thread. as i enter into my build, i am sometimes overwhelmed by the task. your thread, as well as onasled's, have convinced me that i can break the build into multiple managable tasks. i'm jumping in w/ both feet, now. i cannot wait to see how this build works for you on the track. congrats on your early season success in your other car.
greg

 

The car is still at the bodyshop, but the last coat with final color should be ready within the next few days. A few pictures:

 

The car is back from the body shop:

 

Nothin looks better than fresh paint.....

Matt

 

Agreed! What a wonderful craftman you are Alain. Really cool seeing this evolve...

 

Thanks guys.

Not a lot of time left with the current race season. So progress is slower than we want. But a few good days and things move at a decent pace.
We started installing some parts. I think it's just to find space back on the sheves.

Engine support:


With bushing insert:


...washers/plates:


Brake booster:


A bit of paint to hide the rust. Quick job because it's a question of when it will come back, not if:


Wiper motor and arms:


ABS/DSC studs for the control unit:


Installed with lines:


Driver side engine support:


Closing holes in the frame with stickers:

Before:


After:


A few more:


Downpipe heatshield test fitment:


Bushing for the steering rack:


Installed on the front subframe:


Installing tie-rod ends:


One would have taught that between these 2 parts, the jam-nut would be included. Nope. We had to dig in the bins for some old ones.

Rack heat shield:


Passenger side engine mount:


Covering the firewall holes:



A piece of Vibram rubber to be used to insulate the battery against vibrations:


The battery hole:


The cushion:


Battery inserted with terminals:


And the final result:

 

looks pretty slick to me !

 

This build is epic .

 

Good god... that's an awesome build