Welcome to FrankenMini Racing

The following is a blog by Paul Monaghan aka paulmon to highlight work in preparing a 1967 tube frame Mini Countryman (aka Estate) for SOLO2 competition in Ontario, Canada. Look here for more information on the car, you can check out my upcoming event list and don't forget the Photo Gallery. For additional information contact me.

Headed out today to measure up placement for the steering wheel. New flat 13" Sweet steering wheel looks great. Another job for today was to remove the headliner and paint the inside of the roof. Nice surprised after fighting with the headliner for 45 minutes, the roof doesn't need paint. I might paint it anyways to make the interior brighter, but I'm going to hold off. Tires are installed. Next week, assuming the oil pickup can be sorted, the engine will be started. Joy Joy.

Sorry for the bad photos, camera phone. More pictures can be found in the Week 17 Photo Gallery.

Talked to Andrew over at Wheel and Tire Zone, he's hooking me up with a set of Yokohama A032Rs in 215/50-13. I was on the fence about which tire to get but decided that ultimate grip, from something like a Hoosier or Kumho V710, isn't what I needed right now. I need a tire that is sticky enough but won't wear away in a blink as we play with suspension settings. The Yoko should also be hard enough for a few lapping days which will be nice. The end goal is to have two sets of tires, one for lapping and one for solo2.

Ordered another kind of wheel today too, a steering wheel. 13" Flat wheel. The steering wheel was a little close when I sat in the car, we only have a few inches to play with for adjustment and that was not looking to be enough. Considering the old wheel was 3" dish I've changed that over to a Sweet 13" flat steering wheel. We can then position the steering wheel better.

No real movement on the oil pickup issue. Talked to Kevin at Kevko, he can send us another, but from the pictures he isn't sure why it isn't fitting. They test each of their tubes on a test block they have in the shop. I think if the bracket is modified slightly we should be able to reposition the tube slightly. Granted I'm going off the picture when I say this.

Got to see what the issue is first hand. Seems the oil pickup tube I got a while back from Kevko doesn't clear one of the rods. It's very obvious in the picture to the left vs the stock pickup tube on the right. Click on the pictures for a hi-res version.

I've emailed Kevin at Kevko, he's a good guy and knows this stuff, I'm sure he'll have a suggestion. It looks like the tube wasn't bent correctly, but I don't want to speculate until I talk to Kevin. If I can get this sorted quickly the plan is to start the car next Saturday.

As for the steering, it's all in and looking really good. I need to find a flat dish steering wheel as the wheel is a little close, needs to move back around 2 inches.

Check out all the pictures of the steering rack install in the Week 15 Gallery

Problem solved, seemed to be a loose wire on the solenoid. However some bad news, the crank shaft is hitting the oil pickup tube.

Placed an order today with Bicknells for the remainder of the parts needed for the steering system.

Qty Part Number.
2 * #BRP1060 5/8th threaded tubes (Anodized Red) (tie rods)
2 * #BRE5081L 5/8 rod ends
2 * #BRP787 Jam nuts
1 * #BRP2128 Rim Type 3/4 Splined steering hub (Anodized Red)
2 * #AFC30321 Firewall mid plate brg
1 * #SWE401-50606 Steering Shaft U Joint.

The threaded tubes are going to be for the tie rods. I'm also taking the time to replace the steering wheel hub with one of the rim style hubs with a spline mount and not the current hex.