• From: Sacramento
  • Registered: 2010-08-09
  • Posts: 1,665

Topic: Red Mini team Future

OK, now I have a problem

Do I run a fabulously themed almost-cheater mini, or do I thrash to bring an OMG I Scored SOOO f'n good VW bug to B-willow?

- the Red Mini 997 was in fact the ground work for an upcoming Vintage car or NASA car - it had all the used crap from off the shelves on it and it had not been made pretty
- but now... Damn, the sandblaster finally got to it (it's been at the blast-and-paint shop since Feb) and swears he's going to have it all pretty in less than a week.
~it looks like I have a bonafide race car~

1. I can put the same junkyard crap back in it, paint it with water-removable paint to look like it did (over a spendy pretty paint job) rip the front end off (it's removable) and put on a skanky but well-developed hollywood set I've had in the works for two weeks now
(Team USSR, 4-man bobsled, Lake Placid. We're not on steroids and we don't have a Russian space-agency developed bobsled, really, honest, swear to Lenin and embrace glasnost, really... but please ignore hood won't open and just drink fine vodka)
...but it's still going to be a dent-free nice looking mini under the paint and set-pieces. And NO, I'm not scorching a race engine that's developed specifically for 25minute run times in a 15/16 hour race - it will get a std austin america motor , the one from T-hill, but rebuilt and (possibly) a bit more reliable...

or

2. I have just got the ultimate Lemons deal - I got an ex-drag bug for $400, and a type 3 engine that looks almost new with a turbo hanging off of it for an additional $200. The bug has about 2/3 usable (*needs doorbars, diagonal and rear brace redone) cage.

- after looking at all the cool stuff was thrown in, there are plenty of spendy bits I shouldn't have got. But hey, it's Lemons and this is the kinda scoop we live for!
My previous bug experience is only i changing clutches for profit, so here we go...

- the engine, really, honestly, truthfully came from a Sanford-and-son sort of "we haul trash" guys ("Git'er done hauling", no kidding) that were emptying a foreclosure-moving sort of house - they live across the street and asked how much they could get in scrap for "an air-cooled volvo motor". I looked, it was a nice looking pancake dual port EFI with a pontiac sunfire computer attached, and a turbo hanging off the back, so naturally I told them "about $125, but I'll give ya 2 bills for it and you won't have to go to the recycle place" It was in my garage in 15 minutes.
- it has a nice Oberg style oil filter, an Empi extended sump and a new flywheel. The case is almost clean enough to eat off of - I think it was never run... stock exhaust manifold into an odd bus style but header wrapped mess of spaghetti. No output pipe from the turbo. A rats nest of oil lines.

- the bug is a '64, wide-5's, slammed in front with a weedy little itty bitty sway bar. Stock-looking shocks. gutted mostly (pep boys instead of Boge's), it only has a little keg 3 gal gas tank.
the rear has some sort of IRS hermaphrodite thing going on - still wide 5's. Am told it's a spool (pushes like it is, so yeah) geared for "107mph at 7k r's" (this is obviously not a T-hill car) and with a 2300 it ran 13's.

I would spend for a brake upgrade to discs, allowed in Lemons rules.

Multiple themes available for bugs I think of a new one about every 1/2-hour...

SO here's the question:
Run:
a Cheater mini in a theme of the ultimate cheaters
~The USSR athletes were pumped on steroids and used F-1 technology sleds in 1988
or
An honest OMG I can't believe I got this righteous deal - and neither will the judges even with documentation - Air-Cooled bug - that everyone says won't last, even the guys at BugFormance
???

Thoughts? Anyone?

  • From: Toronto, Ontario
  • Registered: 2009-05-03
  • Posts: 1,114

Re: Red Mini team Future

Bug....If you have a real 997 that's an early Cooper so restore it!

Jim "Endo" Anderton
30 years of racing and still not Brambilla.....
  • From: Sacramento
  • Registered: 2010-08-09
  • Posts: 1,665

Re: Red Mini team Future

The mini is Lemons #997, although we are restoring a genuine 997.

the mini is a cut-up job formerly a 1/4 mile car with a rabbit enigne in - never ran, was butcher job. no provenance, but pretty straight and as said, is set up now mostly as a '92-rules SCCA tub-car (still stock suspension for the most part)

I got it for $250 and have put nothing but labor into it until the paint job. The engine was out of Pick'npull, but will have to be rebuilt to go again, T-hill was a learning experience re junkyard engines...
That said, ANY engine in any mini automatically makes it worth considerably more than $500. Pretty much less roll cage the collection of parts this represents would be ~$1500 street value. ...And now we're adding body-beating and paint...
hence the "cheater" status.

I kinda want to do it under GP and 'cause we finished DFL at T-hill, and it would be cool to put in a future NASA logbook as having Lemons as prior competition inspection/licensing.

~but, the bug is an "honest" Lemons deal, and I haven't seen a bunch of successful a/c bugs competing, and they *are* CHEAP

  • Spank
  • Utter Madman
  • Offline
  • From: Escondido, CA
  • Registered: 2009-06-10
  • Posts: 5,864

Re: Red Mini team Future

crazymike wrote:

That said, ANY engine in any mini automatically makes it worth considerably more than $500. P

Uh, I beg to differ: Why do you think I keep running a 998? People darned near give them away when they upgrade to bigger motors.

This entire front cut was only $250..

http://hubgarage.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/1196351/tilt_detail.jpg

And these damaged flat top +.030 pistons were free

http://hubgarage.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/1505781/100_2353_detail.JPG

and rescued with some home spun teflon buttons (scrap teflon stick $2)

http://hubgarage.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/1505665/100_2355_detail.JPG

Home made windage tray $.50-- made from aluminum baking pan from Amvets

http://hubgarage.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/1505403/100_2375_detail.JPG

used clutch given few more hours of life by hammering rivets flat:

http://hubgarage.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/1505247/100_2398_detail.JPG

bearings were cleaned and reused (and reordered to give best clearance readings):

http://hubgarage.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/1440705/100_2253_detail.JPG

Machine work also free:

http://hubgarage.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/1505199/100_2393_detail.JPG

http://hubgarage.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/1505283/100_2403_detail.JPG

http://hubgarage.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/1505241/100_2409_detail.JPG

http://hubgarage.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/1505295/100_2402_detail.JPG


That said, there's a "free to good home" posting for a 1098 engine / trans combo that's been sitting in his backyard for 15 years-- it'll have a nice head casting on it at bare minimum.

But I think you answered your own question-- run the bug, because now if you run your mini someone is going to run into you on purpose just to mess up your nice new (disguised) paint job. And besides, I'm starting to like fielding the only mini in the series wink

Spank's Website

  • From: Toronto, Ontario
  • Registered: 2009-05-03
  • Posts: 1,114

Re: Red Mini team Future

Your front clip has wind-up windows....did you guys get later Minis too? I thought they stopped importation to the US in 67 or 68...

Jim "Endo" Anderton
30 years of racing and still not Brambilla.....
  • Spank
  • Utter Madman
  • Offline
  • From: Escondido, CA
  • Registered: 2009-06-10
  • Posts: 5,864

Re: Red Mini team Future

jimeditorial wrote:

Your front clip has wind-up windows....did you guys get later Minis too? I thought they stopped importation to the US in 67 or 68...

That was an import from the UK-- some guy in Otay Mesa (big auto salvage yard area near border with Mexico) imported a container of junk minis, some as cars that could be registered but most came is with the roofs cut off so they could only be called "parts". I think that front cut was from a late 80s/early 90s mini. When I realized what a deal that was and I should get a few more spare parts I called the guy but he said he ended up giving the rest of the stuff away to a guy who bought one of the cars-- it was more work parting out rusty junk than he was interested in.

They did stop being sold in the US  around that time, you're right. But there are a ton of grey market minis in the US, including those that found their way over from Canada and those that folks imported themselves using the rolling 25-year EPA and DOT exemptions for classic car imports.

Spank's Website

  • m610
  • m610
  • Lemons Staff Stalker
  • Offline
  • From: Esparto, CA
  • Registered: 2009-12-12
  • Posts: 2,666

Re: Red Mini team Future

Not true about Lemoniers hitting at car because it is pretty, so far. Our pretty yellow Rustoleum job made it through Arse-sweat unscathed.

I think Lemons rules should require that someone run a Mini.

Momentum is a terrible thing to waste.
24 Hours of Lemons on Vimeo, Team Tinyvette on Facebook, Team Tinyvette

m610's Website

  • Spank
  • Utter Madman
  • Offline
  • From: Escondido, CA
  • Registered: 2009-06-10
  • Posts: 5,864

Re: Red Mini team Future

m610 wrote:

Not true about Lemoniers hitting at car because it is pretty, so far. Our pretty yellow Rustoleum job made it through Arse-sweat unscathed.

I think Lemons rules should require that someone run a Mini.

If things go well, I'll have another mini (twin engined) at Buttonwillow in December. If not December, then by the first events in 2011.

Spank's Website

  • From: Sacramento
  • Registered: 2010-08-09
  • Posts: 1,665

Re: Red Mini team Future

Spank,
I'll gladly put my a/a engine in your $125 shell... after T-hill it's pretty much like your 998 backyard rebuild job!
still though, needa cage and brakes and whatever else the shell is lacking.

on the other hand, I think I could come up with a plan for that front clip... who needs a rear axle anyhow? (or is that the front of the twini?)

10 Reply by Spank (edited by Spank 2010-08-23 10:03 AM)

  • Spank
  • Utter Madman
  • Offline
  • From: Escondido, CA
  • Registered: 2009-06-10
  • Posts: 5,864

Re: Red Mini team Future

That front clip is what's on the Mr. Bean Mini! Even the MKIV subframe (on a MKI shell). Didn't you pay attention when you drove it?

http://hubgarage.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/1505961/100_2330_detail.JPG

The $125 shell won't be ready by Buttonwillow-- I've got other plans for a powerplant for that one anyways.

I need to get rolling on the OTHER shell-- the one on it's side-- for the twin engined mini.

http://hubgarage.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/1645662/100_2593_detail.JPG

Spank's Website

  • From: Sacramento
  • Registered: 2010-08-09
  • Posts: 1,665

Re: Red Mini team Future

That looks almost as good as my twin engine shell. You have a front clip, I have an almost straight floorpan. Mine will make a better bobsled though, but I haven't the resources to put a cage in.

thinking hard about the uber-cheater-mini. Can't find enough reasons why not and Amanda doesn't want to campaign the Bug 'til next year.

~reasons why over why not=

CSRG at Sears in October will run about $1100 for one driver, for about 2 hours of track time in three days. It'd be CSRG so you can't really race, nor can you race 'close, and if you go off track you get a penalty that isn't as fun as a cone on the roof.

Lemons would be about $1500 split four ways, you can race close, there is almost 4 hours of track time (plus friday) over two or three days - and if you do something stupid you are made to look as stupid.

CSRG, other peeps in *Really spendy* cars, eating expensive cheese and drinking Napa wines.
Lemons Other peeps in equally pimped out crap-cans and modestly expensive cheaters, drinking MD-20/20 and eating roast corn and hot-dogs.

Really now. It's worth the gazillion penalty laps they're going to give me...

but maybe the bug.
I dunno, we'll see after Bug-O-Rama and see where the $$ and upgrades go and come from. and after Clint agrees to build a cage for a bug...

  • From: sacramento ca
  • Registered: 2009-11-25
  • Posts: 266

Re: Red Mini team Future

yeah ill cage it, post pics of the bug mike!

  • Spank
  • Utter Madman
  • Offline
  • From: Escondido, CA
  • Registered: 2009-06-10
  • Posts: 5,864

Re: Red Mini team Future

Just thought of something: Automatic America motors are dime a dozen / free: I can use one of those and convert it to a manual box!

http://home.earthlink.net/~roygmisc1/co … vert1.html

Hmmmm. It's all just free labor and some 1/4" aluminum plate

Spank's Website

14 Reply by crazymike (edited by crazymike 2010-08-25 09:38 AM)

  • From: Sacramento
  • Registered: 2010-08-09
  • Posts: 1,665

Re: Red Mini team Future

Auto's - you need the drill (long) the plate, easy
AND you need the pesky oil pressure bypass widget out of a 'normal' block ($25)
http://www.7ent.com/detail.cfm?pageid=3439
... you can use the remains of an old oil pump for the 1/4" spacer, then you won't need to figure out how to cut an exact circle.