3 replies to this topic

[GreaseMonkey96]

Hi All

I brought my first mini a few days ago after wanting one for many years, she needs some work and has rust in the usual places. The interior is pretty shot and the engine hasn't run in a few years but turns by hand.

But my question to you mini experts is where do i start? also what are some of the best tips and tricks that you've been shown or told?

Looking forward to hearing any advice or information

Kind Regards

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Edited by GreaseMonkey96, 02 September 2019 - 06:05 PM.

[blacktulip]

Nice little purchase you made there. The first thing I would do is to assess what it's like structurally. Lift up the rear seat squab and look for rot in this area and in the rear companion bins. What is the heelboard, rear subframe, sills like?

Then I would take to the engine to get it running. Do some basic checks like fresh fuel, spark plugs, oil, water, brake + clutch fluids and set the static timing. Do the pedals work. Try to fire her up. If only for a minute. It it fires up I would then look at doing a basic service then letting her run up to temp. Try the clutch, gears and brakes. Have a play with the electrics and see if everything works.

It looks good in the pictures. I would take a guess and say it will fire straight up.

Edited by blacktulip, 03 September 2019 - 09:36 AM.

[GreaseMonkey96]

Cheers, I appreciate it. Think my plan is to strip out the interior and as you say see what's hiding underneath.

I think I'm going to drop both sub frames and start stripping and rebuilding them up along with the engine.

As things go along I'll add them to this page

[GreaseMonkey96]

.So its been a little while now and i've done some digging. 

 
Turns out there is a bit more rust than what was first expected but is still manageable, The rear valance and valance closeouts needs some attention as theres not much left on the drivers side. A few tiny holes in the boot Floor, battery box and foot floors. Both outer Sills and door steps need to be sorted after someone has attempted to repair them. Under side of both doors are in poor condition. There is also a poor repair on the driver side inner wing where someone has welded a patch panel over the existing hole. The front panel of the car needs a few holes to be repaired. 
 
I started by dropping the rear subframe, I stripped everything off the frame and begin to remove all the paint, crud and surface rust. once this was complete i coated the subframe with a few layers of paint. The radius arms needed new bushes and bearings on both sides. All the subframe brackets, Handbrake quadrents were cleaned and painted then installed back on with new purple rubbers and new hardware. The trumpets where in good condition so these were cleaned up and given a lick of paint then installed back onto the subframe with new knuckle joints and rubber cones.

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Edited by GreaseMonkey96, 10 October 2019 - 09:10 PM.