Xe-xcitement

Mini Vlatko · 07-10-2008, 07:04 PM

Hi guys!
SO I decided to make my own 16 valver and just started my build few days ago after sourcing the engine!

It wasn't easy but it was much easier then finding some good V-tec...and much cheaper

I decided to build my own subframe, since I figured that it would cost me less than £1000 and will be done in less than 2 months...and I will be proud of it in the future more then with bought one

I did my research here on forum and made me a plan!

The plan worked so far as I ended up with this…

Here are some pics for start…I’ll let them do the talking…comments (and some advice) are most welcome

Subby

Subby is built out of 30mm rolled square section with 3mm wall thickness…

Engine trial fitment…
Next to do is to make the brackets for engine mounts…but first I have to do proper spacing

Mini Vlatko · 07-10-2008, 07:26 PM

Bought me some new brackets today and nearly finished subby...

As you can see I remade the right brace bar as there was no space for pulley...

Mini Vlatko · 07-10-2008, 07:30 PM

Would like to ask you guys one question...

Please examine my welds and tell me if they are OK to leave it at that or should I take subby to be professionally welded?

Any of you driving on there own welds lol

pickmeup · 07-10-2008, 07:51 PM

your welding and subframe look pretty good to me, give the joints a good smack with a hammer if you feel like it, but as long as your welds have good penetration it should be fine!

Allan McD · 07-10-2008, 08:20 PM

You will need that fourth mount with an XE .
Allan

cooper_mark · 07-10-2008, 08:29 PM

best way to check for penetration is get 2 offcuts of the material u are using do a weld on it at the setting u have been using and cut thro the weld to see how deep penetration has gone
also as PICKMEUP said"give it a good smack with a hammer"..

i have also been told on my build diary..."thnx mattg..

"...u need that fourth mount. as the rear mount WILL SNAP..without it

MattG · 07-10-2008, 08:57 PM

get it welded , and you will need 4 mounts , as that back mount will break first time you pull out of the garage.

Matt

Andy_S · 07-10-2008, 09:14 PM

Lovely job you've done on the frame, welds certainly look hot enough on that. Your weld may not be penetrating on the thick steel of the mounts, so you could get them sorted by someone with a higher amperage machine.

Have fun with your build

Mini Vlatko · 07-10-2008, 09:29 PM

Quote:

You will need that fourth mount with an XE

I did try to do the back mount as hard as possible and it sure looks strong but...

That is why I bought four of them and I was hoping 3 would do the job leaving me one as a spare but it seams like fourth is going on as well...

Have to do the search to see how did other people did this just to be sure

cooper_mark · 07-10-2008, 09:39 PM

i thought 3 would be enough.......
MATTG advised me to do a fourth mount as the rear 1 has a tendancy to snap as i am at the same stage as your at
also bassaddict posted me a link
http://www.16vminiclub.com/forums/vi...ighlight=mount
this is what can and will happen
also checkout abands fourth mount about halfway down the page
http://www.16vminiclub.com/forums/vi...r=asc&start=80

cooper_mark · 07-10-2008, 10:06 PM

hopefully will beable to get some more done on my frame on thursday

Mini Vlatko · 07-10-2008, 10:06 PM

TNX mate!
This is the only place I found that 4th mount is made

I saw you are at same stage as me and I hope for some mutual help

I started my build this weekend, to be exact on friday...as far as I'm concern I did a lot of work in this five days

cooper_mark · 07-10-2008, 10:17 PM

from what i can see on the build's there's only been a couple of home built frame's for the xe
so a little bit difficult to see how others have done there's
just need to look at allspeeds frames and work out a simular type of rear mount

fbm-spec · 08-10-2008, 06:36 AM

I only used 3 mounts on my frame. it's not broken yet.

I also machined down the bottom crank pulley to a single v pulley to reduce the width.

Incidentally your frame looks exactly like my first frame before I decided to ' bin' it and build one from scratch............

garyshoose · 08-10-2008, 07:01 AM

Welding ??? Now there's a thing. Matt's right, get it done properly. It's not all about penetration, although that's one factor. Root Fusion, Perosity, Lack of Weld Re-enforcement, Slag Inclusion . .BlahBlah . . (12 years of being a coded welder to x-ray standard

There are some very iffy welds on car building forums. Most of them are fine for body panels but subframes & roll cages etc.... maybe not advisable.

BTW, when welding up stuff like frames, you would probably get a better weld from MMA. Too many peeps think Mig does everything.

Sorry for the Hyjack

Soapbox has left the building.

G.

07-10-2008, 07:04 PM	#1
Mini Vlatko Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Posts: 761 Subframe: Home Made CC: 2000 Make: Vauxhall ECU: MegaSquirt	Xe-xcitement Hi guys! SO I decided to make my own 16 valver and just started my build few days ago after sourcing the engine! It wasn't easy but it was much easier then finding some good V-tec...and much cheaper I decided to build my own subframe, since I figured that it would cost me less than £1000 and will be done in less than 2 months...and I will be proud of it in the future more then with bought one I did my research here on forum and made me a plan! The plan worked so far as I ended up with this… Here are some pics for start…I’ll let them do the talking…comments (and some advice) are most welcome Subby Subby is built out of 30mm rolled square section with 3mm wall thickness… Engine trial fitment… Next to do is to make the brackets for engine mounts…but first I have to do proper spacing __________________ The truth is under the bonnet! :) https://www.facebook.com/BrutalacGarageProjects Last edited by Mini Vlatko; 02-12-2017 at 08:54 AM.

07-10-2008, 07:26 PM	#2
Mini Vlatko Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Posts: 761 Subframe: Home Made CC: 2000 Make: Vauxhall ECU: MegaSquirt	Bought me some new brackets today and nearly finished subby... As you can see I remade the right brace bar as there was no space for pulley... Last edited by Mini Vlatko; 22-02-2010 at 06:56 PM.

07-10-2008, 07:51 PM	#4
pickmeup Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 410 Subframe: Other CC: 1800 Make: Rover ECU: Std	your welding and subframe look pretty good to me, give the joints a good smack with a hammer if you feel like it, but as long as your welds have good penetration it should be fine! __________________ 69 Mk2 Mini Maguire Rover Special K Powered!

07-10-2008, 08:20 PM	#5
Allan McD Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dalbeattie Scotland Posts: 3,174 Subframe: Other CC: 2350 t Make: Other ECU: Megasquirt	You will need that fourth mount with an XE . Allan __________________ My new shop http://www.aandgmotorcycles.co.uk

07-10-2008, 08:29 PM	#6
cooper_mark Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: birmingham Posts: 4,190 Subframe: Home Made CC: 1998 Make: Vauxhall ECU: standard	best way to check for penetration is get 2 offcuts of the material u are using do a weld on it at the setting u have been using and cut thro the weld to see how deep penetration has gone also as PICKMEUP said"give it a good smack with a hammer".. i have also been told on my build diary..."thnx mattg.. "...u need that fourth mount. as the rear mount WILL SNAP..without it __________________ Think Twice Before Passing This Mini.....It Could Make U Look Fkg Silly..... my beast

07-10-2008, 07:30 PM	#3
Mini Vlatko Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Posts: 761 Subframe: Home Made CC: 2000 Make: Vauxhall ECU: MegaSquirt	Would like to ask you guys one question... Please examine my welds and tell me if they are OK to leave it at that or should I take subby to be professionally welded? Any of you driving on there own welds lol

07-10-2008, 08:57 PM	#7
MattG Administrator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: West Sussex,UK Posts: 7,342 Subframe: Allspeed CC: 2000 Make: Vauxhall ECU: Megasquirt	get it welded , and you will need 4 mounts , as that back mount will break first time you pull out of the garage. Matt __________________ Mini Restoration on YouTube VW camper in storage , Red hot , www.16vmini.co.uk www.jetblackmini.co.uk Dad's Building K1100 : bmw.16vmini.co.uk , donate to club running costs : paypal@16vminiclub.com

07-10-2008, 09:14 PM	#8
Andy_S Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 3,088 Subframe: AMT CC: 1998 Make: Vauxhall ECU: Megasquirt ... kinda	Lovely job you've done on the frame, welds certainly look hot enough on that. Your weld may not be penetrating on the thick steel of the mounts, so you could get them sorted by someone with a higher amperage machine. Have fun with your build

07-10-2008, 09:39 PM	#10
cooper_mark Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: birmingham Posts: 4,190 Subframe: Home Made CC: 1998 Make: Vauxhall ECU: standard	i thought 3 would be enough....... MATTG advised me to do a fourth mount as the rear 1 has a tendancy to snap as i am at the same stage as your at also bassaddict posted me a link http://www.16vminiclub.com/forums/vi...ighlight=mount this is what can and will happen also checkout abands fourth mount about halfway down the page http://www.16vminiclub.com/forums/vi...r=asc&start=80 __________________ Think Twice Before Passing This Mini.....It Could Make U Look Fkg Silly..... my beast

07-10-2008, 10:06 PM	#11
cooper_mark Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: birmingham Posts: 4,190 Subframe: Home Made CC: 1998 Make: Vauxhall ECU: standard	hopefully will beable to get some more done on my frame on thursday __________________ Think Twice Before Passing This Mini.....It Could Make U Look Fkg Silly..... my beast

07-10-2008, 10:17 PM	#13
cooper_mark Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: birmingham Posts: 4,190 Subframe: Home Made CC: 1998 Make: Vauxhall ECU: standard	from what i can see on the build's there's only been a couple of home built frame's for the xe so a little bit difficult to see how others have done there's just need to look at allspeeds frames and work out a simular type of rear mount __________________ Think Twice Before Passing This Mini.....It Could Make U Look Fkg Silly..... my beast

08-10-2008, 06:36 AM	#14
fbm-spec Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Resting...waiting for Mark D to catch up ... Posts: 741 Subframe: Home Made CC: 1998 Make: Vauxhall	I only used 3 mounts on my frame. it's not broken yet. I also machined down the bottom crank pulley to a single v pulley to reduce the width. Incidentally your frame looks exactly like my first frame before I decided to ' bin' it and build one from scratch............ __________________ Drives the fastest (standard length mini)hairdressers car in the UK!!

08-10-2008, 07:01 AM	#15
garyshoose Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dumfries Scotland Posts: 1,051 CC: Sold ECU: Honda	Welding ??? Now there's a thing. Matt's right, get it done properly. It's not all about penetration, although that's one factor. Root Fusion, Perosity, Lack of Weld Re-enforcement, Slag Inclusion . .BlahBlah . . (12 years of being a coded welder to x-ray standard There are some very iffy welds on car building forums. Most of them are fine for body panels but subframes & roll cages etc.... maybe not advisable. BTW, when welding up stuff like frames, you would probably get a better weld from MMA. Too many peeps think Mig does everything. Sorry for the Hyjack Soapbox has left the building. G.

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