Firewall Cleanup

NEW?  CLICK HERE FOR DAY ONE!

---UPDATES ARE ON MONDAYS---
Click here for a 3 minute video of the entire build.

I finally got the clutch and brake master cylinders out as well as some other things out of the way. I started to remove all the grime with various air tools and settled on a small rough grit sanding disk. I think I'll use some bed liner or sound deadening mats on the firewall to quiet things down as these old minis didn't come with much in that department, I'll also plug the giant hole, not sure why that's there...

Tranny pull

NEW?  START DAY ONE HERE.

---UPDATES ARE ON MONDAYS---
Click here for a 3 minute video of the entire build.

Dave and I pulled the tranny off and cracked it open.  I bought a LS 5th gear set to bring the RPM down on the freeway.  Gonna need that with 10 inch tires!  Thanks Dave for coming down.  Oh, and we found some nice videos on YouTube that helped out.

Dave and I pulled the tranny off the B16 after pulling the bolts and the splash plate.

Look at that clutch,  hardly any dust on it, the thing looks new!

Tranny drained and about to be popped open (fluid looked new too).

Dave and I having steak BBQed (over alder wood chips) while watching YouTube leaning how to crack the case.

Dave wrenching.

Ok, now what?  The 5th gear is on top, so that's nice.

We pulled the bearing off the shaft on the right with ease, the ones on the left need a slim puller.

As I pulled the parts I stacked them in order  (the new LS 5th is on the left).

Master Cylinder

NEW?  CLICK HERE FOR DAY ONE!

---UPDATES ARE ON MONDAYS---
Click here for a 3 minute video of the entire build.

OK, almost an hour spent trying to get the brake and master cylinders out of the firewall but they are as firm as I started. Bummer, I'm going to bed.

Bottom bolt out.

Stripping Hubs

NEW?  CLICK HERE FOR DAY ONE!

Click here for a 3 minute video of the entire build.

  ---UPDATES ARE ON MONDAYS---

Today I stripped the hubs of all the old parts that aren't needed any more.  Gone are the small CV joints and little ball bearings!  I just found out you can take a larger "S" CV joint and roller bearings and they will fit in the hub if you use an external drive flange and not the internal one like the old drum brake set up.  Much stronger and is needed to handle the extra horse power and torque of the VTEC engine.

Next is to clean these hubs up and possibly give them a new coat of black paint.  There is no need to pop off the arms as I replaced all the joints 5K miles ago.

Hydrolastic Displacers

NEW?  START DAY ONE HERE.

Click here for a 3 minute video of the entire build.

                                                    ---UPDATES ARE ON MONDAYS---

I was finally able to remove the front hydro bags (with some advice from a few mini owners) and now I have the old sub-frame completely stripped.   I also found out why the car always pulled to the left, a crumpled sub-frame thanks to some crazy Italian driver pushing the limits a bit too far (I assume).

Big Parts Out

I'm still working on getting the suspension off the original sub-frame, but at least the engine is out and stored.
Click here for a 3 minute video of the entire build.

Starting the Swap

Day one of the build, tear down started.
Click here for a 3 minute video of the entire build.

The Kit

---UPDATES ARE ON MONDAYS---

Click here for a 3 minute video of the entire build.

So far I have accumulated some parts including a JDM B16, ACT light weight flywheel, an LS 5th gear to keep the Rs down with my 10 inch wheels and some small stuff.  I also bought a modified sub frame to mount the B16 in the mini and it came with a nice header which I will have ceramic coated soon.  Here are some pics of the goods.

VTEC Mini Build

---UPDATES ARE ON MONDAYS---
Click here for a 3 minute video of the entire build.

Welcome to my first blog! I'm building a "Monster Mini".
I am starting with a 1967 Mini with a worn out little 850cc, 31 hp engine and converting over to a Honda B16 170hp engine with a LSD 5 speed. This is an engine swap I have always wanted to do but didn't have the means until this year. So now that the rainy season has hit the Seattle area, I parked the car and started wrenching!