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Cooper Mpi Restoration - My Second Mini Project


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#1 LukeH

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Posted 18 December 2014 - 12:13 PM

Hi All

 

Well I have been a member on here for a few years and I had an old project thread for my last mini rebuild. I spent a lot of time working on the project but a change in circumstances meant it had to go. Luckily I kept hold of my 1997 Cooper MPI that was my daily driver at the time but a failed MOT meant it came off the road for what was meant to be a quick turnaround.

 

Fast forward almost 4 years and I have gone through a full rebuild including a respray. It went in for the MOT a few months ago but sadly failed on a few bit and pieces. Now that the winter has set in I have decided to do a few more changes. This project thread will be retrospective until I get it up to date with the latest changes.

 

This was the starting point when I purchased it 5-6 years ago;

 

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I picked it up locally via eBay classified listing for a bargain £1500. It had a problem with the gearbox specifically the idle/thrust bearing or whatever it is called. It looked fairly solid and I wasn't put off by a potential engine rebuild/swap


Edited by LukeH, 18 August 2020 - 07:22 AM.


#2 Ben_O

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Posted 18 December 2014 - 12:22 PM

Good luck!



#3 LukeH

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Posted 18 December 2014 - 12:23 PM

Engine swap

 

A low mileage complete engine came up on eBay so I decided to buy it and replace the whole lot in the Cooper. It also meant I gained a spare of most ancillaries. I recall having a nightmare 10 hour round trip to/from London to collect the engine including having to hire a van but it worked a decent price in the end.

 

Out with the old


Edited by LukeH, 18 August 2020 - 07:22 AM.


#4 LukeH

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Posted 18 December 2014 - 12:24 PM

Seat swap

 

Much better

 

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#5 LukeH

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Posted 18 December 2014 - 12:26 PM

Good luck!

 

Thanks. Its just about finished now. This topic will be getting 4 years worth of updates in the next couple of hours :-)



#6 LukeH

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Posted 18 December 2014 - 12:27 PM

Daily driver for a couple of years

 

I enjoyed driving the car around for a couple of years without doing that much to it


Edited by LukeH, 18 August 2020 - 07:23 AM.


#7 LukeH

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Posted 18 December 2014 - 03:22 PM

The restoration begins

 

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#8 LukeH

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Posted 18 December 2014 - 04:55 PM

Floor repair panel was welded in and given a coat of red hamerite

 

OSFloorAfter1_1024x768.png



#9 LukeH

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Posted 18 December 2014 - 04:56 PM

Off to the paint shop for a full respray

 

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Respray work in progress

 

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Edited by LukeH, 18 December 2014 - 04:57 PM.


#10 Ben_O

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Posted 18 December 2014 - 04:58 PM

Beautiful!



#11 LukeH

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Posted 18 December 2014 - 04:59 PM

Part way through the rebuild

 

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New wheels

 

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Floor treated

 

FloorUnderside1_1024x768.png


Edited by LukeH, 18 August 2020 - 07:23 AM.


#12 LukeH

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Posted 18 December 2014 - 05:03 PM

All of the running gear is either brand new or has been rebuilt. I have replaced the rear subframe, brake lines, radius arms, shocks, bottom arms, tie bars, rubber cones etc.....

 

Rear subrfame rebuild and fitting (before it went for paint)

 

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Edited by LukeH, 18 August 2020 - 07:24 AM.


#13 Ben_O

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Posted 18 December 2014 - 05:04 PM

Oversills  :nuke:  :nuke:  :nuke:



#14 LukeH

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Posted 18 December 2014 - 05:06 PM

Front running gear replacement

 

The rubber cones were long overdue replacement and would explain why it looked lowered :-)

 

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#15 LukeH

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Posted 18 December 2014 - 05:07 PM

Oversills  :nuke:  :nuke:  :nuke:

 

 

I know and with hindsight I wish I had cut them off and replaced. When I started the restoration is was meant to be refresh so I could sell it and raise cash towards a house purchase. I have now been in the house for over a year and still have the mini so I will probably revisit a few things and correct them before they become an issue.






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