Show off time

Post by **maverick** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:24 am

As a bit of inspiration it would be much appreciated if you could post some pics of your custom/modified minors. I am keen to see wheels, body, interior and engine. I don't ask much really

thanks Tom

Post by **maverick** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:27 am

Hmmm sorry I have managed to post it twice somehow.

Post by **LouiseM** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:16 am

I've deleted your other post.

Post by **plastic_orange** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 8:50 am

Have a look on www.minormania.com - plenty to look at there.

Pete

Post by **maverick** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:50 am

Thanks louise.
And thanks Pete. Great site and there is a few interesting ones.
Do you know what engine this is?

Toyota maybe?

Post by **badobsession** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:37 pm

Tom did you have a look on Minor Mania ??
as far as the engine pic i do not recognize it, from where did you get the pic was it one you seen at a show .

what look are you trying to achieve with your car/ van/ pickup
tell us more....................................................................
some of us ARE INTERESTED in customs .

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:54 pm

The 'TOY....' on the oil filter can kind of confirms your thoughts!

Post by **maverick** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 12:14 am

Bad obsession. Yes i have looked on minor mania it is a great little site

. The engine pic is from the site!

As for the look i will be going for......
Ill start with a little story. I am about to turn 19 in just over a week and am having a bit of trouble with car insurance. After spending a week working on a minor in a friends garage i quite like the simplicity and style of the minor. After asking others on the site about insurance i feel i am looking at under £1000 with a few mods which is more than £900 less than what i am currently getting quoted. I am about to join the owners club and get a quote from footman james. Following this quote if it is good i will probably be buying a 2 door saloon. with a little help from my knowledgeable friends.

Right onto the car ;)
On purchasing the car there are a few plans that i would like to put into place:
Full roll cage
Race seats
Disc brakes
Suspension upgrade front and rear
New grill
Custom fiberglass dash and a centre console inc gauges, stereo etc.
Custom ice enclousure in rear nothing too heavy to blunt performance
Strip out back seats
Type 9
Escort axle
New wheels
Engine bored to 1220cc cooper head, inlet, exhaust, 1 1/2 carb, cam, timing gear, flywheel. Just to give me a bit more go until i get a yrs no claims then ill prob put a 4age in ;)

What you think? Criticisms welcome.
Thanks
Tom

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:26 am

What you think?

see how enjoyable a standard Minor is first?

Thu Jul 30, 2009 6:02 am

talk to your insurance company before you do any mods.. my premium did not change when doing suspension, brake and fitting a 1300 engine with overdrive box. however when i fitted the metro seats they increased my premium! something about it being more attractive to thieves! so just ask before you do the mods..

as for overall cost are you not going to be spending a lot on the A series engine before fitting the toyota 4age will you not be better off going directly to the 4age and spending the money you save on the insurance?

Post by **LouiseM** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:21 am

i quite like the simplicity and style of the minor.

But you will be changing this completely with your proposed mods

Personally I prefer to see a Minor that looks like a Minor, rather than one that is trying too hard to look like something else, but each to their own.

Post by **jonathon** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:47 am

He's not really, externally it will still look like a Minor. The engine /running gear will seldom be seen and only the engine swap will be obvious when the bonnets open. Admittedly the technology will become more 21st century, but in the Toyota's case this will eventually make the car even simpler to work on, and dare I say it, much more reliable.
Only the interior mods will set this car off as different. I'd be wary of fitting a cage as this will increase your premium, despite the safety it offers.

Post by **LouiseM** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:10 am

externally it will still look like a Minor.

Well he's planning on changing the grille and wheels, and the roll cage and seats would be visible from outside, so to me it wouldn't look like a Minor

Post by **jonathon** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:56 am

Might be a new std grille and steels or Minilights, still period parts.

. Maybe you could convince him to tint the windows to hide the seats and cage. Then again........you're, just too fussy

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:18 am

I seriously doubt any insurance co will touch the car - with these mods declared! You need to get a few years NCB under your belt first. Stick with the standard 1098 drive train - it can be 'improved' by 'blueprinting' - see other thread - without being obviously much different externally.
The various mods you list appear to come to ~ £ 3000 (and that's before the engine swap). Make sure you can afford them before starting down that road!
Oh - and it's not easy to get a 1098 up to 1220 cc ! And not much point anyway when 1275 engines are readily available - and very much stronger.

Post by **plastic_orange** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:26 pm

Far better to buy one already done, then personalise it - save you a fair bit of cash.

Pete

Post by **badobsession** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 6:52 pm

plastic_orange wrote:Far better to buy one already done, then personalise it - save you a fair bit of cash.

Pete

that is the way i have done my last 2 minors .
the pick up had a 1275 with a 5 speed box discs etc etc
not much done to the interior got it and have been improving it over the last year .

this is the way i got it .

this is after a few weeks.

at its first show.

have done a few more things to it over this year .

the advice is do things in stages , ask for advice , try and see cars with that have the mods you are looking to do and chat with the owner to see how it was done , most minor owners love talking about there cars .
do not get put off by some that dislike what you do it is your car .

Post by **maverick** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:11 pm

Thanks for the advice. I will be chuffed if i get one with a 1275 and discs to start with.

Pickup looks great

Post by **maverick** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:14 pm

got a quote today off adrian flux but the said i didnt qualify for a classic policy due to the mileage my age and it being my primary vehicle (£3000

for a completely standard 1098 aswell) so i am going to try fj

Post by **badobsession** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:51 pm

maverick wrote:got a quote today off adrian flux (£3000 for a completely standard 1098 aswell) so i am going to try fj

WOOO hope FJ comes up with a better one
and they wonder why some young drivers drive with no insurance...

i thought the MMOC had a way of helping young members get there morris insured a bit cheeper

it will be the only way to bring new and younger owners in to the club ..