'66 Sunbeam Minx Project - F20C/6sp/4-link/Discs...

[Jvsapp]

whooo hoooo out of the bandwidth doghouse..... time for some more corn. i was putting my nova build pics up and my brother in law was saying my pics are nice. i had to show him yours and he was blown away with the tahoe and the minx.

[justcuz]

You will not believe this, I drive by one of these every week or so. It is tan with a maroon roof and is a Hillman Minx. Looks almost identical to your body.
Nobody in a million years would consider the swap you are doing. Great work! That is going to be very cool as a finished project. My talent would have restricted me to a little Ford or GM V6, upgrade the rear axle and hope for the best with the front end. You are in a league of your own, my hat is off to you. That rear axle is equivalent to putting a 14 bolt in your Tahoe, it will never break.

[Joey~AP]

Nice car, Fry!

Thanks for postin pix from your hard drive!

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by justcuz

You will not believe this, I drive by one of these every week or so. It is tan with a maroon roof and is a Hillman Minx. Looks almost identical to your body.
Nobody in a million years would consider the swap you are doing. Great work! That is going to be very cool as a finished project. My talent would have restricted me to a little Ford or GM V6, upgrade the rear axle and hope for the best with the front end. You are in a league of your own, my hat is off to you. That rear axle is equivalent to putting a 14 bolt in your Tahoe, it will never break.

Snatch that thing up man! I agree the rear is plently, even riding on the edge of overkill... But I'll have no worries about laying into it off the line

There's pics of a V6 conversion on the yahoo hillman group right now. Looks like a full chassis swap.

[OLDIRON69]

This is gonna be one killer ride!

[Frizzle Fry]

Been trying to finish up the 4-link. I get an hour here, an hour there these days. I was able to tac three of the four housing brackets with the rear in place/centered/at ride height. But the last one is lapping on to the housing because it's so far off-center (the housing). So I decided it would be much easier to do that one out on stands since it involves trimming/fitting etc. I realize that welding on the cast pumpkin is not ideal, but I have achieved good results in the past by gringing the area clean and pre-heating it prior to welding. As can be seen in the pics below the left bracket will be welded to the tube and the housing. I will then add gussets on the tube side.

[Jvsapp]

WOW that is some offset. i 'm guessing the shortness of the housing and width of the car doesn't help. i feel you with the hour here, hour there work. that's how my swap is going now, but i'm hitting it all day tomorrow. still it's awesome work, keep us posted. i love the CORN

[Frizzle Fry]

You can see how offset it is in this pic. The pinion is actually not too bad though.

[Jvsapp]

kinna makes you think about using a 8.8 out of a mustang or a 7.5 from a G body so you can have the mounting ears. but then again i think the Dana 44 is sweet.

[OLDIRON69]

How hard is it to determine the angles on the 4 link set up? I have a Mopar I want to do the same thing on I just wouldn't know where to start.

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by OLDIRON69

How hard is it to determine the angles on the 4 link set up? I have a Mopar I want to do the same thing on I just wouldn't know where to start.

It's an Art Morrison kit. The instructions call out all the specs that they have developed. I can attatch it if you want to see it.

[Twisted78SS]

Mike,

The whole project is Looking Sweet!!

I'm going to have to come see it in person soon. Maybe I need to talk you into helping me with the finish welding on Project 50th..

Drew

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by Twisted78SS

Mike,

The whole project is Looking Sweet!!

I'm going to have to come see it in person soon. Maybe I need to talk you into helping me with the finish welding on Project 50th..

Drew

Sounds great Drew! I'd like to see that project of yours. Could be dangerous though, I already have a weakness for Blazers...

[Frizzle Fry]

I've attached the tri 4-bar instructions. Let me just say that Art Morrison is top quality all around. They don't just sell stuff to take your money either. They didn't want to sell me the kit until we were sure it could be made to work for my application. That means installing it with the correct lengths and angles. I will certainly be a returning customer.

[BlueJeep]

Welding to the cast like that won't be a problem on a dana axle, I've done it a hundred times. If it were a GM corporate axle, I wouldn't say the same thing (different cast). Pre-heat and grind it good like you have mentioned, and the only thing I might suggest is find a buddy with a big 220 MIG to weld it on.

Looks great!

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

I've attached the tri 4-bar instructions. Let me just say that Art Morrison is top quality all around. They don't just sell stuff to take your money either. They didn't want to sell me the kit until we were sure it could be made to work for my application. That means installing it with the correct lengths and angles. I will certainly be a returning customer.

It sure is nice to find a company like that these days. This car is turning out great.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[ERASER5]

I know you are using the Honda S2000 rotors on the D-44, but what calipers and what mounting plates are you going to use? Also,how many bolts do the retainers use?

[Jvsapp]

that 4 link is giving me ideas for my morris build. it's probably the same width as your minx....

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by Rokcrln

It sure is nice to find a company like that these days. This car is turning out great.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

It sure is.

Originally Posted by ERASER5

I know you are using the Honda S2000 rotors on the D-44, but what calipers and what mounting plates are you going to use? Also,how many bolts do the retainers use?

I will make my own brackets to adapt the S2000 calipers. The theme here is to use as many mechanical parts from one donor as possible. That way future maintenance will be simplified and the huge selection of aftermarket upgrades are a simple bolt-on affair. I'll have to check the retainer bolt count.

Originally Posted by Jvsapp

that 4 link is giving me ideas for my morris build. it's probably the same width as your minx....

Be sure to post a build thread when you do!

[Jvsapp]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

I will make my own brackets to adapt the S2000 calipers. The theme here is to use as many mechanical parts from one donor as possible. That way future maintenance will be simplified and the huge selection aftermarket upgrades are a simple bolt-on affair. I'll have to check the retainer bolt count.

Be sure to post a build thread when you do!

that is the key, totally. with my project 20V swap i already have that problem. motor was only made in japan and Australia so i had to order a replacement timing belt from Australia before i get the motor in.

and yes once i start the morris i will be posting pics.

[justcuz]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

Snatch that thing up man! I agree the rear is plently, even riding on the edge of overkill... But I'll have no worries about laying into it off the line

There's pics of a V6 conversion on the yahoo hillman group right now. Looks like a full chassis swap.

I would have a hard time fitting in it! At 6'1" and 250 I would look like a whale in a sardine can! Besides I have too many other projects right now. I still dream a lot but have learned to tell myself no.

[Frizzle Fry]

I'm 6'2" but weigh less. It's not roomy but I'm comfortable in it. It's good to excercise some will power on the project acumulation. Maybe I can take some lessons from you? This one is the last "addition" before I start working back through mine (minx, tahoe, then 61).

No updates recently. Work, school, kids, etc... But I hope to get out there tomorrow!

[skchevota]

Wow, cool project! when I was a kid, we had A sunbeam wagon. I think it was a 66 as well. My Great uncle was a Dealer in Los Gatos CA. I used to love to go work in his shop as a kid. He always had an Alpine or Tiger in his shop to give me a ride in. I would love to find one in as good as shape as yours some day.... awsome job.

[justcuz]

You do not want to take lessons from me. 3 suburbans, 3 pickups, 4 chevelles and a 96 Impala SS.

[Sub-versive]

? Progress pics???
Love this project.