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

[Frizzle Fry]

Thanks guys Feels good to be back at it. Though I have done a little here and there over the last several weeks. Those machined parts (tapered hole for lower BJ, press-fit hole for upper, and turned down alignment pins) caused the bulk of the delay...

The upper arms are 1x.120" and the lowers are 1x.156" providing a .688" ID; perfect for tapping with 3/4-16.

Back to the shop!

[hgs_notes]

The original brackets that the upper A arms mount to seem to be a weak point compared to the strength of the components you have replaced or built. Do you think they will hold up under hard cornering?

[Frizzle Fry]

The car weighs less than the Honda, but I have seen S2000 guys do a little extra welding on them. I'll do at least that.

[sparkydog]

Originally Posted by ERASER5

Ahhhhh! I needed that fix. Amazing work Friz.

X2!! ......time for a smoke now.......

[67ChevyRedneck]

[Jvsapp]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

The original brackets that the upper A arms mount to seem to be a weak point compared to the strength of the components you have replaced or built. Do you think they will hold up under hard cornering?

ff, what if you were to build a front under brace like these?
http://www.weaksauceparts.com/store/...7&cat=0&page=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...5688&viewitem=

a couple of them. i'm sure you're plenty capable of making one
not a S2000, but gives you the idea


found a better pic

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by Jvsapp

ff, what if you were to build a front under brace like these?
http://www.weaksauceparts.com/store/...7&cat=0&page=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...5688&viewitem=

a couple of them. i'm sure you're plenty capable of making one
not a S2000, but gives you the idea


found a better pic

HG is talking about these upper arm mounts being a weak point:


As for cross bracing, I think I have plenty!

[Frizzle Fry]

A little bit more, a little bit more...

Got the tires mounted on the front:




Welding/grinding:


flipped; you can see that they do have a slight asymmetry by design (one side has two bends and the other has one)


Lower still needs the shock mount added:


...and I finally tried out my powdercoat set-up. Worked out pretty well for a first try:

[Jvsapp]

looks good FF. no doubt the subframe is stronger. as for your oven, i have one of those cheap liners on the bottom of mine for grease and what not. i once baked a set of wheels for my bro's welding cart and all the old grease from inside puked out onto the bottom of my oven. talk about a mess and at 400 degrees it makes alot of smoke and taints the parts. it keeps the bottom of mine clean, and i can see you have had some grease splatters.

BTW what powder you using? i pick mine up from columbiacoatings.com. though i've found a new place that might be a bit cheaper.

[Frizzle Fry]

That was the first time I've personally used that oven ...was a freebe from craigslist and I didn't bother to clean it. It's smaller than I had expected so I figure it'll just get me by for now. Not a bad idea on the liner though.

My powder is from Caswell Plating. Next I might try some from eastwood since I get free shipping from them. What's your new source?

[Jvsapp]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

That was the first time I've personally used that oven ...was a freebe from craigslist and I didn't bother to clean it. It's smaller than I had expected so I figure it'll just get me by for now. Not a bad idea on the liner though.

My powder is from Caswell Plating. Next I might try some from eastwood since I get free shipping from them. What's your new source?

i find the powder from eastwood is picked up from columbia coatings. alot of the colors are the same, and have the same name even. just a little more expensive from eastwood.

here's the place i pick up from.
Columbia Coatings
i even bought their color books so i have an actual sample of the color before i buy it. shipping is USPS so it's not too bad even to here(hawaii). they even have a frequent buyers club so i'm hoping i will get free powder eventually. they also have monthy deals. like this month they have $2/lbs satin red. and free shipping on orders over $75.

the other place i'm looking at picking up is this one
Rosey's Powdercoating/
haven't ordered from them yet, but the color selection looks good.

i've used powder from Castwell plating, i like their metal cans.

i'm planning to build a bigger oven so i can do things like axle housings or 24" wheels. biggest thing i've done so far is 17" wheels. i'm guessing your subframe won't fit in your oven? i'm kinna like you. don't like subbing things out and would rather try to do it myself. get the pride from saying, yep i did that.

[67cheby]

Man you do clean work...unbelievable

[Frizzle Fry]

Good info Jvsapp, and thanks 67!

Just a little teaser. Here it is with weight on the front DS tire (notice the floor jack). So this is roughly how it will sit in the front. Maybe a slightly lower with all liquids in it and after settling. Course, all that can change with adjustable coilovers

[Jvsapp]

looks good FF. guess you just had to go get the tire mounted?

[Frizzle Fry]

Tire was mounted in previous pics but the height was just an estimate. Now the lower shock mount is in place and holding up the car.

[67cheby]

man would i like to be in the passenger seat when you are setting at a stop light next to a civic with no exhaust and a four foot tall wing on the back....... and leave him setting there gawking with his mouth open !!! i didnt even mention how perfect those wheels look on your car, man your taste is dead on

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by 67cheby

man would i like to be in the passenger seat when you are setting at a stop light next to a civic with no exhaust and a four foot tall wing on the back....... and leave him setting there gawking with his mouth open !!! i didnt even mention how perfect those wheels look on your car, man your taste is dead on

that's the plan... Funny thing about the wheels; I hated them on the Burb/Tahoe. But I do agree that they work really well on this car. Glad I still had them ...they were nearly sold at one point

[Jvsapp]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

Tire was mounted in previous pics but the height was just an estimate. Now the lower shock mount is in place and holding up the car.

oops i was thinking of the post from 7/12. i agree the wheels are spot on. so nice..... can't wait to see some video of it

[watahyahknow]

im wondering if you can just lay some aluminium foil on the bottom of that oven thats simple to put in an pull out

[Jvsapp]

Originally Posted by watahyahknow

im wondering if you can just lay some aluminium foil on the bottom of that oven thats simple to put in an pull out

you can but after enough cycles it becomes super brittle. the liners are cheap like $1 for a pair and are thicker than foil. they also give a nicer reflective finish. also the liners have a lip incase you get some grease spillage from inside a wheel barrow wheel say it will pool onto the liner instead of run all over the foil and onto your oven bottom.

[smbrouss70]

That looks good, but do you have enough room for that tire to turn and still have some compression left for when you get into the twisties?

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by smbrouss70

That looks good, but do you have enough room for that tire to turn and still have some compression left for when you get into the twisties?

I've honestly been wondering the same thing, but I can't believe that FF hasn't cycled the steering, etc before final welding, so it must not scrub?

[Frizzle Fry]

Yes I've cycled it. It is tight! But it will work. We have the technology... Can't go any shorter on the upper arm and I'm at the max BS on those wheels. I will likely do a little fender rolling. Worste case scenario I'll go to smaller tires. Here's another look at the sitch at hand:

[dammitmitchell]

anyway you can ever do a "how to" on cleaning your welds so nicely?

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by dammitmitchell

anyway you can ever do a "how to" on cleaning your welds so nicely?

You mean the ones that are ground smooth? Mostly 4.5" flap disc followed by about 100grit on a DA. Other weapons of choice are used where access is limited such as porting drums or 2" discs on a die grinder. Still need to try the 7" maroon scotchbright Nate uses for final clean.