33 replies to this topic

[josh.goddard]

Hi,
I currently own what's left of a 1992 Austin Metro Van, my plan is to restore the van using a brand new genuine rover shell I have tracked down, and adding all of the mg turbo body components, and on mini lite wheels. Engine wise the plan is to build a 998 turbo, bottom end is already built, using an mg metro cam. I also have a ported and polished 12g295 cylinder head, all I require now is the turbo set up and I'm away. possibly in the future I will add an 8v twin cam bike head along side the turbo, but will be sticking to a standard 5 port head for Now. I will up date this thread as progress comes will add some pictures but comments and opinions are welcome.

Thanks Josh

[Chance]

Awesome already

How have you managed to find a brand new van shell :0

[rally515]

Sounds fantastic and looks like you're already well under way collecting parts.

Following intrigued :)

 

Cliff

[leeuk]

Sounds like an awesome build mate does this, I can only imagine that there cant be that many new Metro van shells about  Fantastic find  

I shall look forward to seeing it take shape...

[josh.goddard]

No not many metro van shells left at all !! The shell was very rotten so the shell was stripped. The shell I have got hold of is a nos one that's been lying around a few years, it's a car shell but I will weld all the relevant van panels into it to turn it into a van shell

[Ben_O]

Sounds great!

[cradley-heathen]

did you say your switching it all onto a rover shell? they are quite different at the front.

 

looks like a good project there was a guy on turbominis who had a turbo van, but im sure you have probably already found that out for yourself anyway.

[josh.goddard]

No it's a mk2 shell exactly the same shape as the rotten original shell :) only trouble is it's a sunroof shell but I don't think I will find another nos shell

[megamini_jb]

Sounds good. Shame the shell isn't a proper van though

[cradley-heathen]

oh I see, a sunroof isn't the end of the world though, unless your going to use it for serious competition use, but then I guess you wouldn't really do that with a van anyway.

 

I think its a shame its not another van shell, but at the end of the day, if your saving a metro its good a good thing to do no matter how you arrive at the end result. lets face it there are thousands of minis out there with the "wrong" shell

 

make sure you keep us updated with progress mate

[josh.goddard]

It will be used as a load lugged for shows and track days, things like that ! So in that way the sunroof is no problem, the shell is one that's never been registered the current owner brought it from rover in 1991 and stuck it in the barn for future use, so effectively it's a heritage shell but not with the heritage price tag !!

[josh.goddard]

It will be used as a load lugged for shows and track days, things like that ! So in that way the sunroof is no problem, the shell is one that's never been registered the current owner brought it from rover in 1991 and stuck it in the barn for future use, so effectively it's a heritage shell but not with the heritage price tag !!

[Archived4]

why can't I find a minty original shell

[josh.goddard]

Helps being on the metro owners club committee and knowing people ;)

[Ben_O]

Have you any pictures of the new shell mate?