7 replies to this topic

[vasi]

I bought this in January this year for £200 and its not quite on the road yet, I've been a bit lazy.



To get it roadworthy so far it has had:

Drivers floorpan
Both outer sills
Windscreen
Plugs, leads, points, condenser, dissy cap.
Rear Foglamp
Bootlid seal
Wiper blades
LCB and RC40 Twinbox Centre Exit.

For the turbo conversion, which will likely take me till 2037 to complete at this rate I have a 1380 Metro Turbo unit which is to be rebuilt, Avonbar Stage 3 head, 6 psi actuator (might lower this as 12psi a bit high - hence why it blew up). I'm not going to fit S/C drops + gears at this point as I'm on a tight budget, but I'll likely fit an uprated diff. Adjustable bottom arms and tie rods will go on the front, fixed camber brackets on the back with uprated gas shocks all round and 5 x 12 revolutions.

[Jordie]

Looking good, so any parts coming off?

Any interior changes or ICE?

[Alburglar]

I think blown 1380's sound awesome. That and an arden 8port/manx 7port were my favourite options for my project.
I can't understand why they are not used more often.

Plus I reckon your gear box will last 5 minutes, unless you drive miss daisy style till you can afford the straight cut's.
But where's the fun in that.

[vasi]

With respect to the straight cuts, I know the box wont last too long, but word on the street is the helical MG stuff holds good till about 120hp provided you dont give it balls in every gear and keep the boost ECU stepped. The previous owner blew the engine doing 110mph at full chat up an incline. Dont think I'll be doing that.

This is a second car (toy) and is on a limited mileage policy. I figured seeing as I'm 25 now I could get back into mini's + do something silly without relying on one for my main car. Only cost £127 to insure so far!

Interiorwise I'm stripping the GTA interior from the metro. The front seats should be easy enough to fit and I'm getting my dear ma to take off the material from the backs and modify it to fit the mini ('cept she doesnt know I volunteered her yet). Also the material from the metro doors and rear will be used on mini door cards.

Various gauges will be fitted to a custom dash which I havent fully decided on yet, may go for the usual 3 clock affair or for a twist a centre binnacle with all the "important stuff" mounted infront of the driver, rpm, oil pressure, boost pressure etc.

For ICE, with the car came a Pioneer CD tuner, there are 6x9's under the seat and a couple of 5" speakers on the back shelf. No doubt a sub or two will find their way into the boot by the time I'm done though

[Alburglar]

Sounds Good.
Luckily my car won't really need an interior.

[vasi]

I was stuck for ideas on what to do next to get it on the road, so I took it for an MOT to seek inspiration. And inspiration I got... lots and lots of it. Should keep me inspired for many weeks to come.

Failures:
Nearside front wheel bearing excess play.
Nearside and offside front wing corrosion within 30cm of shock absorber anchor point
Nearside and offside rear subframe back supports, and inside rear panel pockets corroded and holed within 30cm of rear subframe front anchor points
Nearside and offside rear inner wheelarches corroded and holed within 30cm of shock absorber anchor points.
Nearside rear boot floor well corroded and holed within 30cm of rear subframe rear anchor points
Nearside rear floor section front subframe anchor point corroded and holed to excess.
Nearside and offside rear handbrake efficiency low.
No reserve travel on handbrake
Nearside front seatbelt inertia reel inoperative.
Excessive CO 7.11%
Excessive Hydrocarbons 1508

Advices:
Front numberplate cracked but still secure
Nearside and offside side repeater lens dirty but still visible
Rear subframe corroded but not holed or weak to excess
Rear boot floor and inner valance corroded but not holed or weak.

Soooooooooo I'm ordering me a shiny rear beam axle and coilovers tommorow

[F1 Mini]

Ooops, that's the next few weekends sorted then....

[vasi]

Ooops, that's the next few weekends sorted then....

So true... I gotta learn how to use this welder I just bought first :S