28 replies to this topic

[Mini Mad James]

Hello Everyone

This is my second project log for my mini, my first one was a little over enthusiastic and far too expensive so i have decided to start over with a more realistic approach. Old Project Log

My minis name is Minty (I didn’t name it my friends mum did and it somehow stuck) I have had it for a few years now during which time i have managed to get through an engine block, a gearbox and lots of other bits/bobs

I have decided to start from scratch, at the moment i am completely going over body the mini and de rusting it, in a two weeks i am taking it down to my uncles and I am going to give it a full respray it myself.

Performance wise I need to be able to keep up with my friend who has a 2.0 16v VW Golf mk2 soon to be supercharged, this will be difficult as his golf only weighs about 900-950 kilos and currently has 157 bhp, I know my chances would be better if I went for a non a series engine but I would much rather stick with an a series



I have got my hands on this A+ 1275 Metro engine and gearbox about the same age as my 998cc and to get big bhp figures i am going to send it to MED and get it back in an FIS Kit form then turbocharge it with a new garrett turbo and a megasquirt injection system The gearbox will also get a complete rebuild with straight cut gears all round and an ATB differential

I realise this is not going to be a cheap project I have it all planned out, it is going to take a very long time to complete but I am hoping to have it running and road worthy by Christmas

Minty in the past with his alloys on:



Updates and many more pics to follow soon

[ed4ran]

LOL. Finally got around to starting another thread, although it still sounds like your spending alot granted not quite as much as before, but still alot

[wilcooper]

going to take a long time to complete, but up and running by christmas? thats not a long time at all

[Tomf]

sounds like it will be a nice project.

by the way what arches are they and how wide are the wheels they are covering?

[Mini Mad James]

Hey Ed,

Yea i know its taken ages for me to re-do this log i just havnt had the time!! (And im just too lazy when i do have time)
I finally do have time spare now to get on with everything now im working locally again
Those are 12"x6" Deep Dish Minilites with Group 2 Race/Wide arches

Here we go then, what ive done so far with the help of my mates Ben and Paul:
First job clear enough space in my garage to get the mini in




Then i started stripping it of almost everything






Next job was take the engine out...
Did this in december when it was very cold and it took two long evenings to remove the damn thing






Then we got both the subframes off, i was expecting the worst but the werent too bad






The subframes were good enough to be used again so i sent them off to get sandblasted along with my front and rear hubs, radius arms and top arms, then when i got them back i gave them a few coats of POR15 anti-rust paint which is horrible stuff but very effective, then I coated them again with chassis black for abit of extra protection.


Accidently left the outer bearings in the rear hubs



We then completely stripped the mini of everything and flipped it up on its side to do the underneath
(Thats Bens golf in the background, the one i mentioned in the first post)






For the underside i got out my angle grinder with wire brush and sander attatchments and tryed to remove as much C**p as possible before painting with hammerite... this took what felt like forever and im still not totally finished






Then i got my box of goodies from minispares



I have started putting all the suspension back together and will post pics up later

[ed4ran]

Dont forget to paint inside the towers

LOL, you did, along time ago

Edited by ed4ran, 16 July 2007 - 08:13 PM.

[Mini Mad James]

LOL, i didnt know i had that picture!

Yea those towers are a real pain to paint, will look sexy with my new coil springs tho!

More pics to come!

[Mini Mad James]

Ok, Ive got my rear subframe almost fully built up (With the exception of grease caps £10 Each!! what the hell?) and ive got most of the underside done now i just need to slap on some underseal and its done

The springs look really good cant wait to try them out, they seem very stiff but not as bad as the original old rubber donuts i had that had never been replaced in the minis life!





Got a shiny new battery box too, the old one was about to fall out



Im in the process of stripping the engine too, will post pics of that soon

[ed4ran]

RE: grease caps, are they the things that go over the hub nut on the rear? If so i may have some old ones in a box if you want them (pay postage of course )

[wilcooper]

project is comin on well mate!!

[mini13]

If you haven't got a bulkhead box yet there's a guy on ebay doing some great quality ones for a really good price. there's a link in the last few pages Andywallers euro street racer thread.

[Mini Mad James]

Thanks Mini13 but im thinking of this kind of turbo setup



Found this pic on the turbominis forum its the good old janspeed setup! dont know about the turbo performance but it would really look cool going to talk to people about it much later on, in the mean time ill practice my pipe welding skills...
Thanks ed i may have to take you up on that, cant believe i threw my old ones away

[annodomini2]

I'd be curious how to get the downpipe in there with the turbo mounted to vertically close to the bulkhead.

Also the lag with the T3 is quite high to begin with (too big for the engine really) on the normal metro manifold, that long feed manifold will amplify it.

[Mini Mad James]

Ive spoken to a guy from owen developments im getting something similar to a GT25R but with a smaller turbine housing so it suits the engine, something like this:



Its the smallest ball bearing turbo garrett do, they have alot of advantages over the journal bearing turbos

Ill mount the turbo closer to the front than that to avoid downpipe problems, ive seen a few pics of these turbo setups about somewhere... ill look for more pics

[Grimmy@JHE]

could you tell me about those springs on the rear subframe. what advantages do they have? havent seen them before but i am new to minis ....