MK1 Midas kit car RWD project

[alecw35]

a few years ago I seen a thread of an old Mini getting modified. I think it was a Mark 1. the man did a lot of engineering, to a high standard. He was fitting a Vauxhall XE engine and MX5 suspension. It was a white mini. I think he narrowed the crossmember and the A arms, made a jig to weld it. I think it was on Passion ford, or another Ford website.
A man on here was gonna fit Mx5 suspension to his mini. I told him about the thread, but couldnt remember where it was. Somebody found it.

There used to be a Midas up high on top of something, at the back of a single garage, across from the Forfar Ice rink. I don't know how they got it in there. I think its been there for 10 years, probably more. Theres a race car business, and a paint sprayers beside the ice rink. So you think they could make something of it.

[miniswift]

After speaking with Alan about width of mk1 Midas wheel arches, I decided to reduce width of rear subframe by 100mm.
I have measure to make sure where centre line is and gave 2" masking tape 2 widths.


Then cut it up and welded it up.



After tidying up, I was going to do more but run out of welding gas. So I have to get hold of carbon Dioxide bottle again!

I think I will get it sand blasted, then either etch prime or Zinc primed. So that I can use it as it is or make a jig from it!

Cheers
Atchi

[miniswift]

Hi,

I'm getting my subframe sand blasted, bell housing is now welded and picked up and on it's way.
So I should have everything I need by tomorrow!
With bell housing, I can start to measure and cut my torque tube to length and lay out what it will look like.
All I need now is for me to get hold of the LSD, I'm getting it made.

Watch this space :lol: .

Cheers
Atchi

[miniswift]

Hi,

I have been busy with my work but meanwhile, my mate has been busy on behalf.
He has finished welding bell housing of Swift Gti to a Volvo 360 torque tube adaptor.




I can start to measure few other bits with this item now!

Cheers
Atchi

[waveman1500]

Nice project!

[miniswift]

Hi,

I trial fitted my modified bell housing to my torque tube to see what length I need to cut.



New bell housing is 186mm in length and I need to have my shaft which is 8mm short of the engine mounting face.
I need to cut 300mm to shorten it as well as whatever length I need to adjust.
So, it will be 300 +7mm in total to adapt my Volvo 360 gearbox to my Swift Gti G13B engine.

This is the other side(gearbox end).



This is my connecting end of the gearbox.



Next, I have to take out a prop shaft out of the torque tube. Cut torque tube to the length and weld back together.
I have to get new splines(Swift Gti) cut into a shortened prop shaft.

Cheers
Atchi

[miniswift]

Hi,

I mocked up what it will look like so that I can measure what I need to do.



Then I thought I have a go taking a prop shaft out.
In the end, I cut it up and smacked with my Copper hammer for about 30 min using socket set extensions.
End result!



I measured that position of the rear prop shaft is 158mm from the flange to the gearbox.
I can dry fit them and see how much I need to cut but I either have to cut Suzuki splines to the prop shaft or weld my spare input shaft onto this prop.

Cheers
Atchi

[miniswift]

Hi,

OK, so my first trial LSD is made.
Here are photos.










Cheers
Atchi

[miniswift]

Hi,

I bought bits while back some of them starting to arrive!

Adjustable cam gear


Water proof connections.


I'm waiting for an inter cooler, under drive pulley, LSD, fast road cam shafts, Cultus HC ratio pistons and a cylinder head.

Cheers
Atchi

[adi]

this will be very cool. There used to be a white mk1 midas near where I grew up, always wondered what it was when I was a kid

[miniswift]

Hi,

I got more parts for this project.


Piper fast road camshafts, under drive pulley and VW turbo inlet which I will cut to fit Gti head.

Cheers
Atchi

[hairnet]

absolutely insane!!!!

love it!!!

[miniswift]

Hi,

I got those, too.

R1 coil overs.


Then I have those, too. complete MX-5 rear setup.


I will have to shorten drive shaft and mate it to Volvo 360 setup.

I will be starting to make rear subframe to take std MX-5 arms or I even make them also out of CDS tubes.

Cheers
Atchi

[enneaitch]

any more on this? cant wait... I'm building a mini based kit car called a kingfisher sprint and you have made me consider other powerplant options lol...

[miniswift]

Hi enneaitch,

King fisher Sprint is off Marcos kit car, isn't it?
This Midas is based on Marcos as well so it will be very similar.

I wanted to have a Marcos but I was given this kit car. It is parts collecting stage at the moment.
I have now an IC and a spare cylinder head. I have been talking to few friends with RWD kit car and they are telling me 100BHp is enough for this kind of kit car with RWD....

I could make it with G10 993cc 3 pot engine but with turbo as well. I think it can make 180 Bhp so I could try it first I suppose. G10 turbo will still return 40mpg so I might look into it!

Cheers
Atchi

[rickyr]

Just lovin this project. It's gonna be awsome.

[enneaitch]

any more bee ndone with this I'm seriosuly hooked!!

[slot]

Nice work matey, you don't see many early versions at all
Keep up the good work ;-)

[VND]

Quiet too long here dude, hows it going?

[miniswift]

Hi,

I'm still at it.
Just still collecting parts and will start to build turbo engine from sleeving and so on.
Watch this space as i will be building bit of OTT engine for this car.

Cheers
Atchi