Hi all, well managed to solve the mystery of the shrinking subframe. I must have banged the frame after taking it out of the jig, then welded the rear brace. She no fit. Angle grinded brace out hey presto goes in no troubles. Finally got around to creating the lower control arm mounts. Not finished but close. Also that isn't the bolt I am using to secure it just something to give you the idea.

About 70-80% to completion.

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225hp atw on 14psi. 1/4 Mile no idea. Take one 1971 Mini Clubman, one Starlet GT Halfcut, Simmer over a warm MIG Welder, and Voila Minstar! www.mpdesign.id.au

nice work. I can't believe how much is involved in what you are doing. It sure will be worth it when you are finished!

Keep up the good work!

Trust me JAM if I had known how much was involved I might no thave started, actually crap, I've been working up to this for 3 years. Still looking good for March April 05.

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225hp atw on 14psi. 1/4 Mile no idea. Take one 1971 Mini Clubman, one Starlet GT Halfcut, Simmer over a warm MIG Welder, and Voila Minstar! www.mpdesign.id.au

JAM do you like how I ripped off you paintjob for the suspension arms. The weirdest thing tho is it looks nothing like yours. I think I sprayed it too thin. Now looks a bit like a powdercoating...

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225hp atw on 14psi. 1/4 Mile no idea. Take one 1971 Mini Clubman, one Starlet GT Halfcut, Simmer over a warm MIG Welder, and Voila Minstar! www.mpdesign.id.au

looks great, just make sure your steering rack is 100% before you fit the frame up. Dont be like me and forget that the rack is sloppy and only relise after everything is bolted in

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1974 Moke - 998cc
76 Clubman B16a2 Vtec AWD Turbo 12.9@105mph
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9PW49e1hYs

Yeah good point Brad. Didn't think about that and as you say with the frame out of the way then changing it or checking it is a lot easier. Will do. Anybody got any tips on what primer to use on the subframe. It needs to be acrylic based as the spray gun I am buying will have a large tip for acrylics? Also I am going to buy a spray can of it initially as I a far way off puttin in the engine and the subframe is starting to show signs of surface rust. Bare steel after all...

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225hp atw on 14psi. 1/4 Mile no idea. Take one 1971 Mini Clubman, one Starlet GT Halfcut, Simmer over a warm MIG Welder, and Voila Minstar! www.mpdesign.id.au

I saw that lower arm and thought it was a new one!! Looks great.

Did you use 'White Knight' brand Hammer Finish (Charcoal) ? That's what I used

Yeah JAM used exactly the paint you used. The only thing is I probably put on about 3-4 coats. Also I was paranoid about drips and stuff so I only did light coats. I think the thinner you put i on the less of the hammer finish occurs. Now it looks like a mix between powder coating and hammer finish. But either way looks fantastic. thanks for the tips. Also while I have you. I need to get cans of primer to do the subframe as I can't get a gun for a fortnight (no HVLP guns in Canberra if you can believe that) and the subbie is starting to get surface rust so I just want to put one coat on that I can then sand back when I need to any ideas...

Cheers

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225hp atw on 14psi. 1/4 Mile no idea. Take one 1971 Mini Clubman, one Starlet GT Halfcut, Simmer over a warm MIG Welder, and Voila Minstar! www.mpdesign.id.au

Personally, I would spray the subbie with WD40 or Maxsolve or something, to prevent the rust. YOU MUST WASH ALL OF THIS OFF BEFORE PAINTING, PROBABLY WITH PETROL OR A GOOD SOLVENT.

Some people may disagree, but I took my shell back to bare metal ALL OVER, then hit it with Maxsolve. Left it like that for months and it didnt rust, and I washed it off with petrol no worries and painted over it

When you are ready to paint it, wash it off, dry it and paint.

If you want to just hitit with one coat of a primer, to protect it, USE AN ETCH PRIMER, preferably the same brand as your top coat.

Re: the hammer finish - you have to put on heavy, wet coats. That's what gives it the texture.

Jam the reason for paint is that I can see where its gone. I need to leave bare patches where I need to weld. Grease, protector whatever vastly reduces the current and makes for bad welds so if you can see I am kind of caught between a rock and a hard place. Need to leave bare metal to get a good current for a good weld but also don't want to leave it bare to stop it rusting. See I still have to do the engine mounts and while I know roughly where they are going it makes it a bit difficult.

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225hp atw on 14psi. 1/4 Mile no idea. Take one 1971 Mini Clubman, one Starlet GT Halfcut, Simmer over a warm MIG Welder, and Voila Minstar! www.mpdesign.id.au

Weld through primer if you are using a MIG?

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

Hey Minstar,

You going to fit some good spacers/washers between that bit you have welded on an the bottom arm? Might create some serious friction and chew out your bushes if you don't.

JC

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But he's thriving and striving and hugging the turns.

no no no no no no no no non nyet etc

does not matter which welding process you use you must have a clean metal surface for a good weld. that means no rust, no paint, no grease, no solvents. it is just like painting - its all in the prep.

best to use an etch primer and clean it off with a wire brush/flapper wheel/grinding disc on your angle grinder where you need to weld when the time comes.

michael

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the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates

Yeah I actually saw weld through primer when I was picking up the primer and grease/was cleaner. The only thing about weld through primer is that I still need to have a bare patch to attach the lead. I was also of the opinion that you needed to the metal to be free of all contaminants to get a good weld. I would have thought weld thru primer would prevent a decent arc. Still as I said I only discovered it today.

Cheers

Matt

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225hp atw on 14psi. 1/4 Mile no idea. Take one 1971 Mini Clubman, one Starlet GT Halfcut, Simmer over a warm MIG Welder, and Voila Minstar! www.mpdesign.id.au

Yeah as concerning the washers yeah I was purely putting the bolt in for demo purposes. I have the washes now. But good point!

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225hp atw on 14psi. 1/4 Mile no idea. Take one 1971 Mini Clubman, one Starlet GT Halfcut, Simmer over a warm MIG Welder, and Voila Minstar! www.mpdesign.id.au