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

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by Jvsapp

DANG FF! LOOKING SWEET, sounding SWEETER! is the wheels moving while idling due to clutch adjustment? slight engagement? awesome though. one more step to almost being on the road! congrats!

Thanks man! The clutch is fully engaged (no MC or line installed). It's just parasitic transfer through neutral.

Originally Posted by NONHOG

Yes?

Hell yes

[no_gas_65]

Sick Build Frizzle.. Very Inspirational

[watahyahknow]

maibe do one better than an amazon and try to find a volvo p1800

[Frizzle Fry]

P1800's are cool, but "better" is a matter of preference
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[NONHOG]

Frizz speaking of old euro cars, your kids like the Minx? Reason I ask is my 15 yo would rather walk than drive in the Amazon. I asked him last night "Some of your friends would like the Amazon no?" his reply......"Dad I don't have stoner or hippy friends"

[Jonboy]

Originally Posted by NONHOG

Frizz speaking of old euro cars, your kids like the Minx? Reason I ask is my 15 yo would rather walk than drive in the Amazon. I asked him last night "Some of your friends would like the Amazon no?" his reply......"Dad I don't have stoner or hippy friends"

Some of my friends would. I guess that is why we are here......

[watahyahknow]

you shouldve seen some of the builds that the swedes are doing to volvo's , turbo is the magic word there and there definetely not youre average grannies car
the amazon does have a lot of space it wil seat 4 or 5 comfortably and the shape allways reminded me of a leadsled out of the 50s
now lets see ...... a eurocar that has nice shapes........ french car maibe?
peugeot cv4

peugeot 404


i dunno the real classic cars will set you back a lot of cash if there in decent shape allmost a shame to cut them up realy besides that a lot have allready been done at one time , if you want to use a classic/ older type car youre best bet would be to drive around rural area's or drive around in mexico and see wats sitting there half hidden in the dessert/grass or behind the barn

been to a sheetmetal forum a while back and there was this guy who had made his own body , he rolled it out of sheetmetal , i admit that its a complete different set of skill to measure and create something 3D out in thin air compared to make something fit between 3 pieces of metal with a gap in it but it would be interesting to watch

i seen a few projects where they peeled the outside of a car and reshaped it in sheetmetal up to a point where you cant even recocnize the donor , they used the original roof but adapted the angle to his taste he kept a lot of the inner structure intact to hang the metal from

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by NONHOG

Frizz speaking of old euro cars, your kids like the Minx? Reason I ask is my 15 yo would rather walk than drive in the Amazon. I asked him last night "Some of your friends would like the Amazon no?" his reply......"Dad I don't have stoner or hippy friends"

You really can't expect the 15yo to have developed any "real" taste for what's cool and what's not. Heck some adults never get there. We're not born with the ability to distinguish a good beer or wine, same with cars. Kids just go with the obvious Camaro, Mustang, Ferrari, etc. And that's fine. Keep them somewhat exposed to the car scene and maybe at some point they'll "get it." Or maybe not...

To answer your question, My 13yo boy has a 68 VW Squareback that he thinks is cool (but has yet to really do anything with...). He and his friends think the Minx (or what I've done to it) is cool.

My 9yo boy is into classics. He's the one in a few pics in this build. BUT, he recently told me that the Minx was not his style That's ok. He digs the FJ40 and Chevy trucks

My 8yo girl likes all years of Vettes and motorcycles (uh oh)

[65Pickup]

The P1800 is nice but the Volvo's have beautiful lines!!



How close to launch is the Sunbeam??

[Frizzle Fry]

I dig that!

DriftBeam is nearly ready for teardown/paint/final-assembly. Major items before paint are:

• Finish Wiring (including dash)
• Batt hold-down
• Brake MC reservoir (MC is turned 90*)
• Coolant lines/plumbing (have all required fittings/parts, just waiting for a 1.25" die for my tube bender)
• Fuel tank access hole cover for trunk floor
• Close off raised rear floor/exhaust clearance area next to DS tunnel

And with that all the fabrication will be done!

[sparkydog]

Frizz are you going to do the paint yourself?

[thor]

Are you painting just the engine bay and trunk (areas that were modified) and leaving the outside, or painting the entire car. I thought the exterior looked good as is.

[Frizzle Fry]

Doing my own paint on fabbed areas and interior only.
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[Graeme_B]

Hi Frizzel, been lurking on this thread for the last couple of years . Had to register to post my thanks for the shear entertainment and information value in following this build. But more importantly to express my admiration of your ability in working with metal – you Sir are a genius.

I was the proud owner of the more boxy 65 series lll super minx (the model only a mother could love) for 20 or so years. Did much the same as Mal with DCD Weber, wade 240 cam, port and polish, freeflows etc. Although I did prefer the look of the series V the Super Minx served my family well with many fond memories. Right into Triumphs Spitfires now.

Just a bit of info on the Minx. The Series 1 to Vl Minx was known as the Audax design. It was designed by the Rootes Group, but helped by the Raymond Loewy design organisation. Raymond Loewry was also involved in the design of the Studebaker Commander Starliner coupés around 1953 era.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillman_Minx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Loewy

Look at the subtleties of the two cars like headlight surrounds, back window pillars, back window shape, wheel arches, the front mudguard (fender) shape, the body crease starting behind the headlight on the Hillman and the reverse in the Studebaker. Always loved the Studebaker Starliner look – a real classic.

Keep up the good work FF – can’t wait to see this car on the road.

Nice to see the junior Frys involved in the project as well.

[watahyahknow]

saw a verry nice hotrodded version of one of those studebakers in hot rod magazine a while back , it was the typical streetmachine of those days lowered to the max with huge mickey thompson tires in the back though
it would make a nice trackday race/sunday streetcar though put a complete modern corvette undergear and motor in it and go racing

[Graeme_B]

Originally Posted by watahyahknow

saw a verry nice hotrodded version of one of those studebakers in hot rod magazine a while back , it was the typical streetmachine of those days lowered to the max with huge mickey thompson tires in the back though
it would make a nice trackday race/sunday streetcar though put a complete modern corvette undergear and motor in it and go racing

They certainly had a sleek classic look compared with Chev/Ford of the same era. 60yo and they still look superb!
Your'e right, with modern running gear and motor it would be a very desirable motorcar.

Now theres a project for FF ......

[Frizzle Fry]

Hey Graeme_B. Thanks for loggin on to post! I have noticed there are a few small pockets of Rootes fans scattered across the world: UK (of course), Australia, New Zealand, and few in the US. There's a good group of guys who are keeping them going and chatting about it on the Hillman Yahoo group. I've learned a lot about these cars from those guys.

I didn't know about the designer's portfolio, but you can definitely see the same influences coming through in the SIII Minx and the Stude. Very cool! I almost bought one of those for $1850 back in highschool. It had a Vette 327 with a 6-pack...

Thanks for the kind words. I'm gettin there ...sloooooowly

Worked on it more last night Coolant system is now intact and filled with water. Ran it for a good 10min. No issues!

Originally Posted by Graeme_B

Hi Frizzel, been lurking on this thread for the last couple of years . Had to register to post my thanks for the shear entertainment and information value in following this build. But more importantly to express my admiration of your ability in working with metal – you Sir are a genius.

I was the proud owner of the more boxy 65 series lll super minx (the model only a mother could love) for 20 or so years. Did much the same as Mal with DCD Weber, wade 240 cam, port and polish, freeflows etc. Although I did prefer the look of the series V the Super Minx served my family well with many fond memories. Right into Triumphs Spitfires now.

Just a bit of info on the Minx. The Series 1 to Vl Minx was known as the Audax design. It was designed by the Rootes Group, but helped by the Raymond Loewy design organisation. Raymond Loewry was also involved in the design of the Studebaker Commander Starliner coupés around 1953 era.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillman_Minx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Loewy

Look at the subtleties of the two cars like headlight surrounds, back window pillars, back window shape, wheel arches, the front mudguard (fender) shape, the body crease starting behind the headlight on the Hillman and the reverse in the Studebaker. Always loved the Studebaker Starliner look – a real classic.

Keep up the good work FF – can’t wait to see this car on the road.

Nice to see the junior Frys involved in the project as well.

[Graeme_B]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

Very cool! I almost bought one of those for $1850 back in highschool. It had a Vette 327 with a 6-pack...

That would have been a cool ride for a young fella

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

Thanks for the kind words. I'm gettin there ...sloooooowly

You're on the home straight now FF - not too far to go. I had the Spity off the road for 5 years just doing an engine rebuild

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

Worked on it more last night Coolant system is now intact and filled with water. Ran it for a good 10min. No issues!

Great stuff!! Satisfying moment knowing all is well.

[jb1016]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

Ran it for a good 10min. No issues!

[Graeme_B]

Originally Posted by watahyahknow

now lets see ...... a eurocar that has nice shapes........ french car maibe?
peugeot cv4

Don't want to get OT but I think thats a Renault CV4. As far as I know it had no connection to Peugeot. Cute little car though.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_4CV

[watahyahknow]

dohw

[Frizzle Fry]

Some parts on the way-

Heater hose firewall bulkhead fittings:


These are actually glass. Pics don't do them justice. Made by Hella. Goodbye sealed beams:


Heat-Shrink Hose Clamps:


Looks like this installed:


Nice T-Bar Clamps for the engine connections:

[OLDIRON69]

The heat shrink hose clamps work great, we use them on Cummins and Perkins diesel engines here at work.

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by OLDIRON69

The heat shrink hose clamps work great, we use them on Cummins and Perkins diesel engines here at work.

I've read they work great. Glad to hear another confirmation. Nice clean look too.
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[lowrollin70gmc]

If those are the Hella non-DOT headlights, I run those on my 63 Chevy II and love them. With headlight relays it's like driving a new car, nice and bright without the annoying blue that some bright headlights have.