The Independent American Magazine for all Mini Owners
Issue link: http://mc2.epubxp.com/i/33536
1,350-lb Mini scoots, you’re right, but Mandeep has no time slip for the quarter- mile. Seems he’s having too much fun driving it and taking thumbs up from everyone no matter where he takes it in the province during the summer. Originally bought for $4,000, it took almost three years and another $32,000 as the major job in a VTEC-powered Mini is hanging the engine and front end. This can be accomplished with a custom engine cradle, and then you have to choose whether or not to “section” the fenders 3-5 inches to increase their length to accept the new engine and components. Like so many that use a VTEC engine, he bought the MB2 engine cradle from Mini Tec (Royston, GA) as this family business have been engineering conversion cradles (and complete, ready- to-drive Mini conversions) for several years with a few hundred conversions to their credit, several of which have EHHQ IHDWXUHG RYHU 0& ·V ÀYH \HDUV RI publishing. The removable front clip consists of metal fenders (he started with two sets of fenders to make the one) sectioned E\ LQFKHV DQG WKH ÀEHUJODVV ERQQHW He complicated the process by forming KLV RZQ ÀEHUJODVV ZKHHO ÁDUHV IURP KLV own molds, which took “three molds to get it perfect”, he says. He bought a front apron from a supplier in Southern California, but it was of such poor quality, that he made his own molds for the part that holds the fog lamps. The team was so demanding of quality, they actually designed and built the Mini on a rotisserie-style jig that holds and suspends a car much like a BBQ chicken on a spit. This certainly helped while they created their own 1/8-inch steel ÁRRU WXQQHO DQG QHZ FURVVPHPEHUV WR increase the structural rigidity. The front end is lengthened by 4.5- inches total. In talking with the team at Mini Mania we’re told that there was an alternative to increasing the nose length with another cradle but the company left the market a few years ago. Making the entire front clip removable wasn’t easy. If you look closely at the engine bay photos you’ll see some steel sleeves serving as the guides so the KDQGPDGH ÀEHUJODVV ERQQHW DQG VWHHO fenders glide in easily as two pieces, but even then they need two sets of caring hands due to the size and weight. Look closely and you’ll see four hood clips just like American musclecars used back in the ‘60s to retain their hoods on the front clip, plus Dzus Fasteners are often used on race cars down the back edge of the bonnet as they unlock with a special 48 MC2 Magazine www.mc2magazine.com /LNH WKH IDPHG )HUUDUL 7HVWD 5RVVD WKLV 0LQL KDV UHG KHDGV SDLQWHG WR PDWFK WKH H[WHULRU DuPont Acura NS-X Red. Stainless steel braided aircraft spec hoses keep coolant circulating. The burl wood lined boot houses the battery and stereo equipment. In all of our years, we’ve never seen a burl-lined boot, nor a Mini so beautifully and perfectly customized. Great work! %HHI\ 'XQORS 63 [ V ULGH RQ LQFK 6XSHUOLWH ZKHHOV DQG DUH SURWHFWHG E\ custom-fabricated wheel arches. Dual Manifolow tips poke through the rear bumper.