MARSHSEIS "Classic Mini Challenge" Creating a Time Machine.

Objective-7 Brace the Sub-Frame and Engine Cradle.

Really getting into high gear now (pardon the pun) with this pic showing the "Time Machine" now a full rolling and steerable chassis, but most importantly the pic gives good visual reference to the sub-frame bracing. This is a legal requirement for any mini that has had the front body work chopped out in order to fit a flip bonnet. The braces maintain the structural strength of the whole power plant to body shell installation and need to be there so that the vehicle can pass, on road vehicle licence and testing approval.

As we've mentioned before our whole front end engine cradle and sub frame is a bolt together/apart solution and we have incorporated that same thinking into our bracing solution. Keeping in mind at all times we want to retain where ever and as much as possible of the Mini's original integrity and legacy of its British Engineering Heritage.

This pic also gives a glimps into some of our other solutions showing a first trial fit of the front valance and turbo intercooler. This evolved quite some way from here and there will be a later blog detailing that whole process that we went through to achieve an aesthetically pleasing front grille solution and maintained classic clubman styling and got everything squeezed into the very limited space.

The eagle eyed amongst you might also have noticed the enlarged through body opening in the fire wall above and behind the engine and this is to accommodated the heater matrix from the new MINI but again there will be a later blog detailing the whole process we went through to squeeze that in.

Back to the bracing struts and again this pic gives good visual reference as to how we have achieved what you could call bolt-ability. The strut comprises a telescoping top mount with a bolt apart foundation welded to outer side of the body shell sub frame cross member. The bottom mount also being bolt apart is fabricated as an elephant's foot type installation that bolts to a welded bracket on the front sub frame crossmember which as you may recall also dismounts from the cradle assembly to enable and make easy future engine removal.

And of-course ditto for the near side of the engine sub frame and cradle. Only one more thing to mention about the sub frame assembly and that's based on the old adage, "The Triangle is the Engineer's Friend". If you look closely at each engine cradle side bar you'll notice we have put in triangulated bracing in the corners where the new engine cradle welds to the old sub frame rubber cone housings, and that's going to make it "Stronger Than and Then Some". So there'll be no flexing in the space time continuum, of this fabrication as it transits swiftly through the boundless realms of time. >---------< Boom :-)

Next up on the list we're going to start fitting, modifying and shoehorning in, the interior ancillary components and I believe most mini enthusiasts will be astonished to learn what is achievable and perhaps even flabbergasted at some of the "Marshseis Magic Solutions". Sounds like wizardry doesn't it.....well it is. :-)

That's about all for this blog....All the best and take care and be sure to keep an eye out for our next blogs where you'll find out exactly how we got on with "Creating a Time Machine".