827 replies to this topic

[inim_repooc]

With the car now running sweet as a nut, I decided to do some minor planning and collect parts! I've really enjoyed the ownership of this little car so far!

Bought a Mini 500 gearknob in need of some TLC. So. Got the drill out, stuck an 8mm drill bit and covered it in a cloth and rammed the gearknob on top. Que some 800, 1200 and 2000 grit wet and dry paper and 300rpm!

Before



After



With the hotter weather, I treated the car to a very basic compound polish and wax. Scrubs up well!





Oh yeh, a little change of plan for the engine. Just bought some low compression 1293cc pistons and one of these :twisted:



Overall idea is to use an SC MPi inlet system as this will simplify trying to program an ECU with the siamese style firing of the MPi's injectors. It will also mean i won't have to mess around with custom manifolds. I have just placed a large order for parts from the ever reliable Minispares :) and the ever present minisport. Oh yeh, still waiting for my new wheels 3 months on.

This will be... interesting to say the least!

[Steve220]

Goings on in the 220 world at the moment. Mrs220 and I have bought a house in Lincolnshire pending a future posting for me, as I have to move out of married quarters it means I have to give up my garage. The new place doesn't have one so Fyco has to live with my folks until we get one built at the new place. Whilst I was there my niece decided she loved it and wouldn't move.



So went to pick, up the removals van



Then once sorted, time for the mini to go into quiet storage until at least spring next year.





I should probably quickly explain the ride on mower. My dad always said he'd buy a Ferrari before he retired, as life has a horrible way of effing us over, his savings had to go elsewhere. So we bought him a ride on mower and plastered it with livery on his 59th birthday.

Edited by Steve220, 19 September 2015 - 03:30 PM.

[Steve220]

A very quick winter updat. The mini is still at my folks, however, after 8 months waiting I've finally got my wheels! I have little confidence in the company that sold them me and frankly will never deal with them again as far as I can help it. Poor comms throughout and a product I wanted at Easter, I get for Christmas. Anyway, here they are.



Because of the bare alloy finish, I got hold of a pot of very special rim wax from a friend when he started his company up in Scotland. This stuff has been used on my wife's Kuga wheels and brake dust just falls off the surface with a gentle soak. I'll leave it until tomorrow to remove to make sure it cures rock hard.



I also treated myself to the Black Friday deals that Minispares were having. First time I've visited the potters bar store and was very happy with the welcome, banter and layout. More bits to add to the collection ready for the restoration. Still in 2 minds about what direction of forced induction to go down, I've had petrol turbo cars since I was 18, although I like the linear delivery of the supercharger. Hmm...

[Steve220]

Hi all!

Well I've finally got round to doing a few things on the mini. One thing that has been on the MOT advisories for a few years is the rear N/S radius arm. Now I've had a bit of leave I've decided to tackle it! So off to the folks to start. Drenched all the bolts with penetrating fluid and left over night.

Jacked up and wheel off.



Grott, sand, mud, grease, oil... Pretty much everything under here!



Bracket off, hub off and found the slave cylinder is leaking badly. Good job I've got new ones ready to go on!



After much swearing, working out how the handbrake cable runs through the quadrant and one snapped bolt from the bracket later...



And the mini back ready to receive the reconditioned radius arm once I deliver this one to Minispares.

Edited by Steve220, 06 February 2016 - 03:46 PM.

[mk22door]

What an enjoyable, inspiring read.

 

Lovely looking mini.

 

I've been showing Mrs 2door the sportspack arch look - trying to convince her to get some for her mini during it's light resto.

 

Great eye for detail you have.

[Steve220]

Many thanks, chap!

[Zeemax Adventure]

I also have a red cooper sport (project ollie) on here....stripped the rear subby apart friday  while off the car and that was bad enough so you must of had loads of fun trying to access everything while on the car.  Everything on mine had seized, even the shock absorber wouldnt go up and down.  Cant wait to see your new wheels on...they are the ones I would go for if ever I changed from standard.  Cant see me doing that though

[Steve220]

Lol, I've a dad that has had mini's most of his life so knows the tricks on getting stuff off. Penetrating fluid is the key to a rusty mini most of the time, I sheered one bolt but it was because I couldn't get any fluid to it. Everything else came off perfectly! I realised how much I miss driving the car and also how much stuff I've actually collected. The garage is full of boxes with mini parts in now and I've not even started buying the panels for it yet!

[inim_repooc]

throw them crappy chrome wipers away and get some proper OEM ones.

 

You will soon see the difference (literally)

 

Ben

Old post I know, but for the record, the chrome wipers that minispares do are fine in their self, the rubber on the blades however is crap! it smudges and misses parts of the screen! I was going to fit landy ones but as a last resort we swapped the rubber for some good quality stuff from a new set of wipers that we cut to fit - perfect! as good as the wipers on any car ive known...

[Steve220]

Mine are in the parts bin now. The metal is half the thickness of the OEM ones which are now fitted.

[Steve220]

Bit of an update!

 

So after another visit to minispares, I've managed to get a replacement radius arm, however on arrival at my folks, I changed my mind as to how to attack this situation. Decided to remove the subrame, strip it and replace with a new one and new parts. So spent most of the day removing pretty much everything from the rear end! Also got myself a new boot lid as my current one had random holes in it to fit the silly badges and had started to go rusty.

 

 

Strip down began!

 

 

Boot floor has been fibre glassed at some point. I won't be addressing this just yet, but its something to poke at during the restoration!

 

 

Drained the brake fluid

 

 

Floor appears solid, however it has been painted at some point.

 

 

Almost ready to come off

 

 

Subframe out and looking a bit dirty and rusty.

 

 

Healboard needs some welding attention!

 

 

 

Tempted to get the old frame blasted to see how good it is underneath!

 

 

 

 

 

I love this next picture my mum took. I wasn't 100% sure on how to attack removing the subframe, but my dad (who has owned loads of Minis in the past) inbriefed me, plus shows massive amounts of interest in how the project is coming along.

 

[Jared Mk3]

Looking at that rear frame, I'm so glad I live in a dry climate. Keen to see how you get on with this.

[Steve220]

I envy those countries that don't have to suffer the consequences of road salt. Really looking forward to getting the new bits and building up a new frame!

[Jared Mk3]

Wait until you see what hides behind our front shock mounts.

[Zeemax Adventure]

I had my rear subframe blasted. Mines a 2000 plate and the subby looked to be the same condition as yours. Got my front and rear done and a few brackets and suspension bits for £80. It has made painting them up much more enjoyable. Plus discovered a couple of tiny holes to patch up. Much more economical than buying new, plus it's keeping the cars originality