59 replies to this topic

[locky7101]

The story so far....
I was 16 (now 19) when i got her and she was a pretty nasty looker
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Not only that the gearbox was done in, wouldn't go into 3rd at all so i needed to sort it out before i passed my driving test, gave me about 6-8 months.
I bought a (so called) recond engine n gearbox off ebay (998cc) and then went about doing an engine swap.
hours spent trying to undo rusted up nuts and tight studs but after 2 months the old lump was out, and ready for the shiny new one.
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got her in and running after a slight teething problem with the clutch, as they had left the clutch plate loose, made a bit of a noise! and various new parts to go with it.
Then i needed to sort out the hideous body so i stripped her down to bareshell n engine ready to get resprayed. did a bit of sanding and grinding to get the body smooth and tidy again and then sent it away (on the day i passed my driving test!)
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She was sprayed a lovely old school looking aqua green, with a nice shiny black roof.
I then proceeded to chuck money at it with shiny new exterior parts like clear lens covers, black arches, black wingmirrors, black stripes, quick release bonnet pins, new badges, headliner, black bumpers and so on
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After i got her looking acceptable (from the outside anyway) took her to get MOT'd and she got through with a few minor electrical problems but she was finally road legal after about 8 months.
So i was off, adding to her every month after i got paid, i put a stage one on her with a rally exhaust to get a bit more poke from the engine, ironed out a few teething problems with the carb and engine as it snapped two exhausts (new engine steady needed!) a few new seals on the doors after i found some rain getting in. she was going lovely throughout that summer, sounded a dream with the new stage one and exhaust. come the time for me to turn 18, just oredered a lovely new set of alloys to go on her to finish the exterior off and then concentrate on the interior.
Disaster!
going down on saturday to play footy with the lads, and bang! crunch! and a truly horrible sound! i pulled over bamused as to what it's doing, i stripped the carb on the side of the road, and that seemed ok, so i limped her back home in a sorry state and sounding awful, took a closer look, and took the head off the engine and there was a huge crack down the piston!on chamber 2! oh great!

she was dead.
Now i did have a job but i also had college and other things so i couldn't just fork out a shed load more money for another engine as i was still paying back for insurance and other bills! so she was garaged for the winter, i needed a new car (106 - rubbish) and she has been left in the garage until last year. when i built myself a new mini garage to put her in and hopefully get working on her again. i'm now in my gap year (convenient - i know) and working and earning a lot more so she is now ready to bring back to life, the old engine is out and stripped down and selling components to raise some dollar (ask if you need anything from a 998), and i have placed an order with chris from smart performance for a 1380 engine kit, bring it on! so in marchish time i should be building the engine up and she may be running by may!
I will get more pictures.

[Teapot]

12 out of 10 for effort and now you deserve 12 out of 10 in fun so I hope the summer is good for you and your min

[sazal]

Sounds similar to my Mini story with things always going wrong!

Its a lovely looking Mini, love the colour!

Edited by sazal, 22 February 2010 - 10:36 AM.

[locky7101]

Cheers guys!
I'll get some more pictures and posts of the new engine build and going in as well as some other small jobs need to be done (like brakes and interior!)

[Mini Basher]

Nice car, love the colour and now to have some fun as the weather starts to improve.

Well done

Andy

[locky7101]

A little update as iv only had a few hours to spend on her,
the last couple of days i've been tarting up the body slightly, as well as the brakes.
took the calipers off and cleaned em up and gave them a new lick of paint(hammerite)
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i just need some new seals and i'll put them back on the disks, although i'm confused about the type of brakes disks, as its an 89 mini it should have 8.4" disks, but i swear these look like the cooper s type????
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i've also re wrapped the loom to make it look tidier in some rather nice blue tape.
next thing on my list is to reassemble the brakes then to tackle the engine bay and wings with a bit of touch up paint and body seal.
Also some news on the engine front the 1380 kit should be with me by the end of march!! woooop

P.S. the 998cc engine which i have stripped down is gonna have its parts and what not on the classifieds
cheers

[danie garry]

unlucky wit the engine but the car looks great, measure the disks and c if they're 7.5????

[locky7101]

cheers Dannie, yh i will, just didnt have a ruler to hand in the garage, so i'll take one out next time, they just look like the cooper S ones.

[locky7101]

thought i should chuck some more pictures on to show you what has been done previously








and to give an update on whats happening now, i have been painting the engine bay to tidy it up as well as cleaning up parts like the gearbox casing and brake servo to get em shiny again. i have ordered and awaiting the delivery of EBC greenstuff pads to go on my refurbed brakes. also Chris @smartperformance is putting my engine kit together and it shouldnt be long before i take delivery of all the goodies. i'll post a list of the spec when it arrives with pictures

[battleroc]

loving that mini and the colour....HMMM Lovely..what is it called

[Nickh_16]

Nice choice on the colour, exactly the same look as my sis went for with her mini! (Y)

[locky7101]

it is quite similar to your sis's mini but i notice she is going for a few chromey bits on it where as mine is pretty much all aqua with black trim.
battleroc: her name is summer

[locky7101]

got a delivery of some goodies today, mini spares are pretty awesome as i just ordered all of this yesterday morning and it arrived this morning!
so here is the EBC greenstuff pads, piston sealt kit, braided brake pipes, new bleed nipples and washers.

oh and some new stickers on the right there from roofless. look good!
so it looks like i'm rebuilding the calipers next week:D

[josh.evans]

nice looking mini you got there well done mate


Josh

[mk3 Cooper S]

Nice looking car. Wht style you aiming for?

S discs don't have the 4 bolts on the drive flange.