Project Mini Cooper
 

Just got the body in, so the project commences. I'll try to show some detailed steps so that it will help others who are trying to fit Mini-Z bodies onto their XMods.

First thing's first. Remove the stock side body mounts by prying them off with a jeweler's screwdriver.

http://users.adelphia.net/~neurokine..._sidemount.jpg

Next, remove the ribs that those body mounts were attached to with a sharp blade or a set of small diagonal cutters.

http://users.adelphia.net/~neurokine...ib_removal.jpg

At this point, the body is ready to be test-fit on the car. Looks pretty good, don't you think? :D

http://users.adelphia.net/~neurokinetik/mc_1.jpg

omg! that looks like it was made for the xmod!

How do all your bodys fit so perfectly with the whellbase? i like that, room to do things inside:D

wow, slick job! what other bodies have you tried?

did the body fit perfectly the first time or did you have to file the wheel wells?

aw-aw-awsome. I love mini coopers. Now all it needs is a convertible conversion.:D :D :D

that's just the initial test fitting. I'm in the proces of fabbing up the front mounting tab right now.

The wheelbases fit properly because two of my bodies (this one and the C5R) were designed for the Mini-Z, hence they are the correct (1:28) scale. This one uses the long wheelbase setting, giving me yet another reason to buy the long driveshaft. (Remember that the stock RSX uses the middle wheelbase setting and a shorter driveshaft) The only fitment issue with this body is that it is very narrow. I can't fit it over the stock battery clips. (I have the same problem with the 1967 'Vette). The overhang on this body is very short. It sits flush with the back of the chassis in the rear, and the front body mount is less than 1/4" long.

This Mini Power body is pretty nice, the finish on it is like a black mirror. I'm thinking I may opt to paint my roof white (possibly adding the Union Jack) and putting the white stripes on the hood. I'll probably paint up a set of the RSX wheels in white to complete the look.

wow how did u do that i cant believe they have have the same wheelbase wich x-mods chassis did u use supra, skyline, etc:blift: zznos brspec bbgtr

it looks perfect!:)

you might wanna read his posts carefully. he has the rsx chassis but said the body gives him a good reason to get a longer center driveshaft cuz this body requires the longest wheelbase.

i'm thinking about getting either this body or another mini-z body cuz these two seems to have a lot of interior room to mount 2 extra cells :D

where did u get the body?
I (my dad) have a MINI Cooper S , and want a body

This is the first post ive made on a body swap thread because i must say "GOOD JOB" on the swap. Unlike other (this is my personal opinion) that look kinda just thrown on and kinda flimsy, but this looks well built and sturdy. I cant wait to see the finished product! Once again good job, it looks great.

Nice work as usual, that things DOES look like it was made for the X. Might have to try this one myself. Keep up the good work!

WoW!!

That's a sweet looking conversion!

So the front wheels move OK, or is there a lot of wheel rub?

The fenders on this car are very tight (as they are on the real car.) I think I'm going to have to "roll the fenders" so to speak in order to gain some clearance. Right now, the front wheels rub badly when turning. I may have to run the body a little higher than normal as well, so as not to lose suspension travel. Alternately, I could see if I could modify a set of wheels to decrease the offset and pull them in a bit.

I'll post the pics later tonight, but the front body mount on this one is really easy. It lines up almost perfectly with the chassis, so not much more than a flat piece of plastic with some holes drilled in it is needed. I have an additional piece underneath that to raise it up about 1mm. I'll probably add one more and it should be perfect.

any pics or updates on the rest of the mounting? i'm really interested in seeing how the clip was done for the mini cooper

I ve been thinking about buying one of those bodies, and I was wondering... will all Mini-Z bodies fit on X-MODS? and if so, when installed by your directions, do the bodies fir, or do they just lay on the bodie so when you pick it up the car stays on the ground but the body comes up? Thanks for all your info.

Ask, and you shall receive. Though not necessarily in a timely manner, as I work on too many different projects simultaneously. :lol: Front tab is not satisfactory yet, and I need to come up with how to attach either the sides or the back.

http://users.adelphia.net/~neurokinetik/frontmount2.jpg

http://users.adelphia.net/~neurokinetik/frontmount1.jpg

http://users.adelphia.net/~neurokinetik/mc_2.jpg

http://users.adelphia.net/~neurokinetik/mc_3.jpg

Not all bodies will fit. Many will, as the wheelbases are similar, if not identical. The real stumbling block is low hood clearance like I ran into on the C5R. The MINI body has two challenges, the first of which is the tight wheelwells, the second of which is the narrow width. I can't even put the battery clips on with this body. Most Mini-Z bodies should fit easily by making a new front tab, and using velcro on the battery clips. The body is quite secure when mounted this way.

I fyou could do one like a MINI Cooper S I would buy it give it to my dad for xmas.

im thinking ill have to buy the mini-z Calsonic Skyline GT-R just so i can have a real race looking body........that or the CLK........(i hope i dont make my R-34 jealous.....lol....)......

http://mini-zracer.com/shop/product.php?pid=462

That one takes you right to it...

Here's the revised front mount. I was unhappy with the old one. This one is both stronger, and also doesn't interfere with front suspension movement like the old one did. This one is made of pieces from the Mini-Z Autoscale chassis battery cover, a couple of wheel nuts, and alot of slow-setting CA glue used with accelerator.

http://users.adelphia.net/~neurokinetik/revised_fm1.jpg
http://users.adelphia.net/~neurokinetik/revised_fm2.jpg
http://users.adelphia.net/~neurokinetik/revised_fm3.jpg


Still trying to get the rear mount sorted. I may cut a slot into the rear of the MINI Body for the little tab I created (shown in this thread: http://www.tinyrc.com/forums/showthr...threadid=14230 )to seat into. Right now, the rear mount is pulling the entire body backward, causing wheel rub issues, due to the extremely tight fenders on the MINI. This body is proving to be more of a challenge than I initially thought, due to the extremely short (almost nonexistent) front and rear overhangs, and the narrow width (can't use the battery clips with this body).

Another one finished. This has been a productive weekend. :D I had to do alot of sanding in the wheelwells to solve tire rubbing issues. ALOT of sanding. :mad: I also had to reduce the offset of one set of wheels to hwlp a bit more. Which meant even more sanding... :rolleyes:

Here's the rear mount, as shown in the Corvette ZR1 project.

http://users.adelphia.net/~neurokine...ar_mount_1.jpg
http://users.adelphia.net/~neurokinetik/mc_done2.jpg
http://users.adelphia.net/~neurokinetik/mc_done3.jpg

Ready to run...

http://users.adelphia.net/~neurokinetik/mc_done1.jpg

Note how tightly this body fits to the chassis...

http://users.adelphia.net/~neurokinetik/mc_bottom.jpg

looking very good;)
keep up the good work:p

that looks damn nice, i bet your troubles were worth it

the mini body is the best!

awesome fit


whenever i get round to picking up a xmod i will get that body

nice nice but can u turn that good? it looks like the wheels r going to hit the body



Anthony:D

That's not very proportional to the real thing. It's supposed to be smaller than the other cars, but it still looks pretty good. You should paint it.

good luck when you hit a bump that your batteries dont move out of place..

With all of the sanding I did on the wheelwells, yes I can turn full lock with no rubbing. Look at the pic at the top of the page and compare it to the one at the bottom, especially at the front of the car.

Actually, you'd be surprised. It's quite a bit smaller than the RSX in all dimensions but the roof height. The new MINI isn't really all that small, especially compared to the original. As for paint, it is staying black, but I might do the roof in white, along with adding the white stripes on the hood, like the cars in The Italian Job. That's the extent of it, though, as this body is intended to be a race body.

http://users.adelphia.net/~neurokine...sx_compare.jpg

Well, I finally got around to doing the white stripes, white roof,and white wheels last night. Now this car looks more like the ones I normally see. Still debating if I want to put a graphic on the roof. The Union Jack looks to be a real PITA to do, I don't think I have the patience to cut all those pieces in either vinyl, or in masking tape if I chose to paint it.

http://users.adelphia.net/~neurokinetik/mc_painted1.jpg

http://users.adelphia.net/~neurokinetik/mc_painted2.jpg

http://users.adelphia.net/~neurokinetik/mc_painted3.jpg

Looks great!!!!

neruo.....mind doing a mini for me?...lol

team mini 4L

Order one up, and I can help you get it to fit...

This body is now up for auction...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MESSE:IT

cool

neuro doesn't really post here anymore......but i can fill you in a little bit seeing as i know him personally


the mini he made is a mini-z body....and yes it is a new style mini cooper