Here’s the color we’ve decided on: flat Satin KhakiGreen/White, same as my Trek Fuel EX 8™. Give us your thoughts.
Tell us what you think of this color before it’s too late? Flat, matte with a yellow tint at some angles.
Satin KhakiGreen/White Top
The dash tray patched and nice and flat
A little more touch-up and paint and I can begin to install the wiring harness.
Oh, here’s the Dyno readout from the Mini Mania Nevada City adventure a couple of years ago. For an engine this size to hold peak torque and HP numbers like this is remarkable. These are at the wheels real numbers on a 95 degree day when no other streetable non v-tech Mini bettered about 55 BHP. The engine had no miles on it! I’d run it on the test stand at MM, installed it and driven from home on the battery… no electrical system at all other than a few alligator clips to power the fuel pump and ignition. Don thought I was a little crazy to repeatedly run it up to 7000 revs, but I thought it would be spectacular either way!
The Dyno readout of the current engine configuration
I suspect that a little more tuning will actually pull that flat spot up resulting in higher peak numbers. Perhaps having the alternator actually charging so the ignition isn’t running off the battery under such load! Maybe I’ll flog it again this year at Mini Mania’s Nevada City Adventure… I have until June!
OK, lets just start somewhere!
My carb's bigger!
I have been dragged into the Blogosphere by my lovely and persistent very internet savvy girlfriend/assistant, who assures me others will find what I’ve been up to interesting. True, I built all of Mini Mania’s Engines for a seven year span, and my Mini history goes back to when I was three (yes, years old!). If some of you that got to know me from MM find your way here, welcome! Why not share some of my knowledge AND opinions(!) about our frivolous pursuits with these little cars. Really not bragging, but there can be rather few people left with as much knowledge and experience with the mechanical side of the Classic Mini.
Enough bla-bla for now? I’m told I need to stick to the subject and bang it out if I’m to keep anyone’s interest. Something about a 30 to 90 second window to hold someone’s attention… I’m going to have problems!!
How about some photos?
The Mark I with the stock column.
Yes, the worst thing about the mini to me has always been the less than sporty driving position. I’ve always been annoyed by the VW Bus style of steering column and the way it does not complement adjusting for more leg room… Moving the seat back just makes the awkward angle worse! Apologies to more practical minds, but who are we kidding with the back “seat” in these things? Two and a little space behind like an extra cab compact pick-up is the best we can hope for IMO (In My Opinion…. I should use that a lot!).
So, I moved the seats back and fabricated a stout but unobtrusive bracket to mount an OTS tilt steering column. Off-the-shelf was important, my mini happens to be a Mark 1, but my “kit” needed to fit just about any of them, including right hand drive. As an added bonus the column is new and it uses the most common steering wheel mount opening up a world of choices. Plus, have you ever taken apart the stock broomstick held by little felt “bushings”, or try to buy said flimsy components? And those lovely plastic shrouds… ’nuff said.
More photos.
An iPad GPS! Early mock-up, see the vise grips
Early gauges and a 10,000 RPM Auto Meter tach
Speaker hole... Let's see how this turns out!
More work to do… new wiring harness as soon as I finish welding the holes in the dash- speaker holes I presume, hacked in by someone without foresight!
I’m going to try to stick to these updates and make regular progress. Looks like you can post comments here… I’m just learning my way around this interface… or try jkat@cooperroadmini.com
More updated photos coming… Oooh, welding shots!