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Project D R C.


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#1 mattmiglia

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Posted 17 August 2018 - 03:57 PM

Hello all, long overdue build thread, been asked a few times about this so here we go...

Early 2013 and decided I wanted another Mini so started to look around what was about, had no timescales about getting one so kept eyes peeled for a shell, didn't want much else as plan is do all or as much as possible new, no point paying for parts I would only give away or throw most likely.
Found this on ebay, had been broken for spares and apart from rear subframe which previous owner couldn't remove it was a bare shell. £110 later and it was mine. Car had a reg but no V5.

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Plan was to build a pure track car with doing some hill climbs thrown in too...but after my daughter (will be 4 soon) took an interest in playing in the car/pretending to work on it I decided to make it road legal so she can come out in it one day....or drive it herself at the rate I'm going! Hence the Project DRC, she calls it Daddy's Racing Car.

First job was to remove the body kit, which as expected were the worst areas for rot. Boot floor to heel board was the worst out the lot.

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I'd seen worse, nothing really I wasn't expecting, most panels were going to be replaced anyway. No plans to ever sell this so will be done as well as possible.

Edited by mattmiglia, 26 November 2019 - 11:05 PM.


#2 johnR

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Posted 17 August 2018 - 04:40 PM

looks to be in fairly good condition - what style are you going for?



#3 mattmiglia

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Posted 17 August 2018 - 05:02 PM

Apart from removing rear subframe and most of front end work then stopped for a good while due to my wife being diagnosed with cancer at 32.

I had planned on doing panel replacing myself but after realising it was never going to get done the car went to Cradley Heathen for;

 

Heritage full floor and outer sills

Heritage rear quarters

Heritage scuttle

Magnum floor cross member

Heritage A panels

Heritage top dash rail

Magnum flitch's

Heritage rear inner arches

Heritage door steps

 

 

 

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#4 mattmiglia

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Posted 17 August 2018 - 05:05 PM

looks to be in fairly good condition - what style are you going for?

 

 

Yeah wasn't bad, especially for the money I paid. Full on cage/lightweight race style, nothing fancy or ground breaking.



#5 mattmiglia

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Posted 17 August 2018 - 05:09 PM

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#6 mattmiglia

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Posted 17 August 2018 - 05:23 PM

While at Cradley Heathens, along with the panel work he also removed rear bins, cut back rear seat base, tubbed and turreted rear arches and replaced boot floor with a flat custom one cut out for low fibreglass floor.

 

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#7 mattmiglia

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Posted 17 August 2018 - 05:24 PM

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#8 johnR

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Posted 17 August 2018 - 08:45 PM

Sorry to hear about your wife, mine was about the same age when we had the same bad news - thankfully treatment is getting better all the time and my wife is still going strong.
What is your plan for the engine when you get to that stage?

#9 mattmiglia

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Posted 19 August 2018 - 06:56 PM

Sorry to hear about your wife, mine was about the same age when we had the same bad news - thankfully treatment is getting better all the time and my wife is still going strong.
What is your plan for the engine when you get to that stage?

 

Thanks mate.

Engine should be turbo a series, hopefully in the 200 club



#10 mattmiglia

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Posted 19 August 2018 - 07:07 PM

Now the V5 was back and in my name (turns out I have a 35 edition) I checked on hpi and with the police this wasn't stolen etc etc before I waste money pouring in to it, was all fine so carried on....

 

Next stage was the roll cage - I had initially thought about doing it myself but after being recommended to Cyclone Racing by my friend Shaun Tarlton, Mini 7 champ I contacted them and went from there, full weld in Miglia style cage

 

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Can't rate Cyclones work highly enough, anyone looking for a cage give them a shout, work is brilliant...

 

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#11 mattmiglia

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Posted 19 August 2018 - 07:11 PM

While the car was away having the cage done I had an idea for something to go on the garage wall....wanted a copy of the 33 EJB boot lid, so bought a fibreglass mk1 lid off Arc Angels, original lucas lamp and everything else repro, rattle can sprayed it and even found Paddy who signed it...

 

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#12 minimissions

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Posted 20 August 2018 - 05:30 AM

That is sum cage welded in there! Nice work!



#13 johnR

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Posted 20 August 2018 - 04:54 PM

That's a cage with a car welded round it!

#14 mattmiglia

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Posted 21 August 2018 - 10:53 PM

Cross member lightened after a visit to turbo nicks

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Edited by mattmiglia, 21 August 2018 - 10:56 PM.


#15 mattmiglia

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Posted 21 August 2018 - 11:02 PM

Next up I started on the front subframe, turned out to be a massive waste of time...bought this from one of the shows and had it blasted

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Then started drilling it out to save weight, anyone who’s done this knows how long it takes, measuring/marking out/pilot holes/drilling etc etc, got it close to being finished before I noticed it was badly twisted! No damage visible on the frame so maybe like this from factory but who knows. Subframe ended up in the scrap wagon




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