Mini with K series engine. (Phoenix)

supercooper wrote:

Won't be able to keep up -- took a ZR 180 for a test drive, and it was Quick!!!!

They didn't do a ZR 180. They did a ZR 160 which is the same engine as mine but tuned more. Or ZS 180 but this is a KV6 engine and is much heavier and not really suitable to fit into an Mini.

Mine is 143 BHP as standard. The guy I bought it from gave me receipts he got from previous owner about head work. Now I don't know what that is but it's quick! As stated it would easily spin wheels in second and that's on 16" wheels. It's now got 13" on so will have quicker acceleration. Plus the exhaust has no cat in it now. In a car at half the weight will be a more power per tonne! It's gonna be fun.....

Anyway an update.

Wiring is back in the car and engine runs again. Still got all the lights, etc, etc to wire up but the switches and fuse boxes are in with wires running to each component. Just needs the ends sorting. I've quit today as it's too cold in the garage!

Here's the before and after photo's of the main loom. Third one is what I've cut out of the main loom. There's also more component wiring eg ABS and electric windows, sunroof, which has also been removed.

spagetti junction ........ better you than me....

Won't be able to keep up -- took a ZR 180 for a test drive, and it was Quick!!!!


It was a ZR160 Not a 180

Had a nice quiet Christmas and didn't do any Mini stuff at all. Now it's new year I can continue with Phoenix.

Since fitting the engine and gearbox I have had a serious oil leak from one of the drive shaft seals. I have had to order one from Rimmer brothers as no-one had one locally. This has now been fitted and means that I can drive the Mini.

I've got the wiring in the rear of the car. The washer bottle has had to be put in here like a later injection model would have. Fuel pump and sender wired up properly. The rear Mk2 lights have new rubbers and now work as they should. Boot refitted with number plate light.

Next was the wipers. Had a lot of drama with this, but turned out to be a simple fix.
On a Mini the wipers are fed by 2 power wires through the switch and earthed at the motor. On the Rover the motor is fed with power and the switches go to earth. I thought well it's only a motor, it can run backwards no problem! It did, but would not park at the end of each stroke. So I thought I'd wired it up wrong but after changing it around various ways I found that it was right in the first place and the park switch was faulty. So a new switch has been ordered. I now have wipers that work and have intermittent wipers too!

The next thing is the headlight bowls. Basically the engine / radiator protrude into the area of the bowl. These need to be "adjusted" to fit.

Found this on you tube. It's the same engine as mine so gonna be good fun....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvAwd4WWH18

looks like .... that will be hard to keep up with ..... sounds awsome .......

Blooming cold working at this time of year so bobbing in and out to try to keep this moving along.

Got my plastic headlight bowls from the Stafford Mini show last weekend. They have been heated up using the hot air gun and them reformed using a plank of wood to clear the radiator and engine timing cover. I've fitted and wired them up today with a new halogen lamp kit as the sealed beam ones are poor.

Cleaned up the grill and side lights I got from Classic Mini Bits and trial fitted these which seems all good.





Just those silly corners to do next.....

them corners look fine to me

It's been a while since last update so here goes to whats been happening.

Moorview had their open day. I got most of the parts I needed to finish Phoenix from there for £20!

I got a 2" RC40 back box
Top dash rail, vents and ashtray
Battery clamp
Various bolts and rubber mounts
An alloy wheel for a spare as it's the same as mine.

I hated the loudness of the exhaust which Lee had fitted to my car. It only used the middle box from the Rover as a back box and was very loud. So I've cut the long pipe and welded it back so the box is now in the middle and then fitted the RC40 to the end. It has a nice chrome side exit pipe and is no louder than a normal Mini but has a nice deep note to it. :p

I've been trying to get this ready for the road so needed to finish the front panel. This has been a pain and still not happy about it but don't know how to improve it. Basically it was rotten so we (Martyn) decided to cut the bottom off and just weld sheet along it to create a front apron. Then I had to make some spacer pieces to bolt it to the front subframe. It works ok but not the most attractive front apron.



Also took this which is my other Mini and Steve's in background!



I'm trying to get the inside finished now. I have trial fitted the dash rails and have to mount the speedo onto a bracket from an 1980's Mini. I got some carpet from Stafford Mini show and have fitted them.

Hopefully not long now....

i have the feeling the front will grow on you looks wise compared to this ...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mini_Clubman_SRV4_Concept_1974.jpg



the above link is :-
Mini Clubman SRV4 Safety Research Vehicle 1974. One of the vehicles British Leyland produced as part of a joint safety project with the Transport and Road Research Laboratory. It features: a strengthened passenger cell, impact resistant low-mounted bumpers, fully padded interior, and pedestrian-friendly bonnet, longer wheelbase with engine moved forward, high door sills and relocated fuel tank. This vehicle is kept at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, UK.

Well I agree. It's better than that!

I'm hoping it won't be as noticeable when the lights and bumper are fitted.

A bit more progress.

It's now the colour I want but will need another coat but this isn't bad for painting using a roller and paint brush!





Dash is in with the new switch panel finished. Inside I've cut the carpet but then removed it to paint the inside. I'll take some photo's when it's all fitted.

Wheel arches are not a good fit. The fronts are ok but the backs are nowhere near! That's Huddersfield spares for you....

now the colour is applied it looks prerty stunning .....

i am liking the grey with black roof .....

Aches are on but had to bend them and hold them in place with the screws. They're only just wide enough.

Bumpers, sidelights and indicators fitted. Grill painted and fit.

Front isn't too bad now. Might just get a finishing strip along bottom of apron.



Interior next.

i love it ...... all that work then a single line





interior next .....

keep going its looking really good its a real credit to you a lot of hours ....

Interior is fitted but need the dash finishing.








I don't know if anyone else dare do this but this is the cost of this project.



It's needed a track rod end for MOT, tax is free and I've just been quoted £368 to insure it.

This has been hours and hours of "fun". Lets hope it's reliable now!

Nice one mate... my 'project' has already set me back that much, and I haven't finished yet lol

the interior looks well lush ....... and comfy

i statred reading the bill and i dear not scroll down but it doesn't seem bad .... then there are all your hours... tidy very tidy indeed

Minisontour wrote:

Nice one mate... my 'project' has already set me back that much, and I haven't finished yet lol

Dale your a perfectionist

Nice work I too like the colour works well :-)

Can't wait to see it in the flesh

After showing up at my first club run, it let me down.

The bottom radiator hose was a temporary pipe as at the time of building as I didn't have one the right shape. It needed a 180 degree bend and then a 12" straight to connect to the engine. I jointed 2, 90 degree pipes with a sleeve. This came apart in traffic in Ilkley. It's extremely tight and next to exhaust manifold. I put it back at the road side and got home ok. I already had been and got the correct pipe which is now fitted and I've had no more drama, even after a trip to Leeds and sat in traffic on a hot day. There is no fan fitted yet. I don't know if to bother as it never comes on in my MG.

I can report though it goes well! Martyn can confirm this as the smile on his face tells a story!

AGoaty wrote:

After showing up at my first club run, it let me down.

The bottom radiator hose was a temporary pipe as at the time of building as I didn't have one the right shape. It needed a 180 degree bend and then a 12" straight to connect to the engine. I jointed 2, 90 degree pipes with a sleeve. This came apart in traffic in Ilkley. It's extremely tight and next to exhaust manifold. I put it back at the road side and got home ok. I already had been and got the correct pipe which is now fitted and I've had no more drama, even after a trip to Leeds and sat in traffic on a hot day. There is no fan fitted yet. I don't know if to bother as it never comes on in my MG.

I can report though it goes well! Martyn can confirm this as the smile on his face tells a story!

only teething troubles after all the work ..... not bad

3 of us in the car video the 0-60 time.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRBCBP-i1N4

wow

i like .......................................

We had a good day at Mini in the park.

Lots of drama too.

Ran good all morning. I ran 14.9 and Martyn was doing alternate runs in my car. He was running 15.5.

After lunch was a different tale. First off after the break I made a fool of myself waiting for the other Mini so show at the line. The lights went green and I just sat there! Anyway the Marshall let me do a restart, which I was slow off the mark but ran 14.9 again.

Martyn ran 15.0 straight after that.

The next run is when the drama started. Waits in turn, then when I got to the line the Marshall saw my car was leaking water. They told me to turn the engine off and pushed me off the line. Gutted.

So we pushed it back and refilled it with water to find that the radiator was leaking, big time. The temp of the car had not risen above average all day and there was still water in it so it's a good job they saw it before any real damage was done.

It's a standard Mini radiator in it. We went to the Somerford Mini stand and they had a new radiator, so I bought that. Changed it, filled with water and bled it, but it was too late to go on the strip anymore. So we set off home but there must of been an airlock in it and 2 miles down the road it started bubbling from under the bonnet. We had to stop and re bleed it. Some people stopped and asked if we were ok which is good to know that someone would of helped if we were truly stuck, but we sorted it ourselves and came home.

Anyway, a good day out....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejv5wubPNNg&feature=player_embedded