Radiator

Just finished some custom bracketry for mounting the 1st radiator. it is a near perfect fit behind the grill, with just a 1/16" to spare around it. The second radiator it a little tougher to mount, i had to modify the mounting tabs a lot to get it to fit in the wheelwell,
The radiators are from honda motorcycles, an older 500 and newer 750 if i remember correctly. The nice thing is one is designed as a secondary radiator and doesnt have the cap opening, just inlet and outlet.

I also finished hooking up the brake lines this week, just no fluid reservoir yet.

Intake Manifold

After cutting a lot of excess material off the back and bottom of the intake manifold, it still wouldnt fit in the mini. It bumped the firewall and the body cross-beam. I ended up milling about 0.100 in. from the mounting flange on a slight angle. The angled flange raised the back of the intake about 0.25 in. while hardly changing the port angle. The honda motor shouldnt lose too much power by my changing the angle so slightly. Clamping the intake in our mill was a pain, but thanks to my dad, we managed. I think this was a much better solution than cutting the bulkhead. I did have to grind a small notch in the mini cross-beam and a small notch in the first runner on the honda intake.

Shift Linkage

The shift linkage was modified and installed with help from Andreas. The trick was to first cut off all the ends from both shift rod and the stabilizer rod, then bolt the ends on their respective mounts, hold the cut pipe pieces in place, dont let them touch the body or each other, have someone hold the shift lever in the desired position, and weld it all together. Two people are needed for this job.

Engine In

Last week my brother Andreas and my Dad helped me install the subframe (with motor/tranny) into the car. it took an hour or so to get it aligned right, but it slid right in. Some paint was scratched off the headers, but other than that, it fit.
next was installing the axles. The inner half are standard honda CV joints and the outers slide into the mini CV joint at the hub. Getting the honda joints to slide into the transmission was very difficult.

Next up, shift linkage, exhaust, manifold and wiring.

Motor Preparation

The last 2 months Ive spent getting the motor ready for installation. New timing belt, Alternator belt, Distributor cap, Plug wires, Spark Plugs, new clutch, lightweight flywheel, and rebuilt transmission.

The Integra LS transmission matched nicely with the motor, but i didnt know I needed to swap the clutch to match the transmission (smaller splines for older trannys). You learn as you go.

Here are pictures of the new alternator mount I built last week and the headers i just purchased and installed.

Rear Windows

One of the coolest features of the Estate version of the mini are the enormous sliding rear windows. The problem was forcing them into the felt/rubber tracks and screwing the tracks in the car.
Lydia helped get the tracks/screws in. The glass has such a snug fit, it takes two hands and a serious amount of muscle to get the windows to slide. Since they dont have locks, i dont mind too tight. Ill try and force the tracks open after i get window locks.

Motor

Here is a picture of the motor. After powerwashing the block, I painted the valve cover red since the old paint was peeling off. I removed all the extra mounts, A/C, Power steering and installed a small vss (speedo) sensor. Then Lydia and Andreas helped with the monstrous task of squeezing the motor into the subframe. Not easy.