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Mk1 Mini Conversion

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#1 harryh0803

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Posted 16 May 2014 - 06:28 PM

Hi guys! I'm looking to convert my 1980s mini into a mk1 replica.... what do I need to give it that mk1 look and how do I fit them, and where do I get the parts/kits from? I want it to look like the real thing so no cutting corners!  Has anyone ever tackled this before?

 

Hope you can help!

Harry :)

 



#2 HarrysMini

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Posted 16 May 2014 - 06:38 PM

It will be a huge amount of work if you want it to look like the real thing:

 

-Different shaped doors

-Smaller rear windows

-Sliding front windows

-Different grille

-Different lights

-10" wheels

-Different front panel

-Different bonnet 

-Different boot lid

-Different interior

 

And after all this work, it'll still have an 80s numberplate.

 

There are more things, but I can't think of all of them right now. 

 

If you do a search, there are very detailed threads on the matter.



#3 harryh0803

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Posted 16 May 2014 - 06:49 PM

thanks! im changing the interior totally anyway but the main things I want on it is

-external door hinges

-mk1 boot

-mk1 bonnet

-sliding windows

-mk1 wavy grille

-rose petal 10" wheels

-mk1 rear lights

-traditional british racing green paintwork

 that's about it!

 I want to know how I can fit the external door hinges as I've heard they are a real pain to fit. Also I don't know whether a mk1 bonnet and boot will fit on a 1980s mini...?


Edited by harryh0803, 16 May 2014 - 06:50 PM.


#4 CityEPete

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Posted 16 May 2014 - 07:35 PM

You can fit fake hinges but imo they look terrible, im sure with some expert welding skills you could fit mk1 doors and a panels etc but it would be a right pita no doubt.

#5 Devo

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Posted 16 May 2014 - 07:52 PM

thanks! im changing the interior totally anyway but the main things I want on it is

-external door hinges

-mk1 boot

-mk1 bonnet

-sliding windows

-mk1 wavy grille

-rose petal 10" wheels

-mk1 rear lights

-traditional british racing green paintwork

 that's about it!

 I want to know how I can fit the external door hinges as I've heard they are a real pain to fit. Also I don't know whether a mk1 bonnet and boot will fit on a 1980s mini...?

Hello Harry, to your question about the MK1 Bonnet I think the hinges are different so its usually more straight forward to grind off the lip on your existing Mk3 bonnet if I recall right. The boot shouldn't be too difficult it pretty much just sits where your MK3 boot does.

 

You will need to buy some MK1 doors also but you can use the doors from the Mini vans too as they had external hinges. There's a few going on ebay at the moment so you might want to check them out. You may have to get some MK1/2 A panels also. 

 

Most of the conversion is pretty straight forward if you know what your doing the most awkward part tends to be the external door hinges that can be a slight bummer lining it all up but pays off in the end. Anyhow best of luck with your conversion if I've got anything wrong someone's bound to correct me so don't worry!!



#6 danny1

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Posted 16 May 2014 - 08:03 PM

With the doors it's not just the hinges the locks are different as well, plus the door curves instead of having sharp courners, I've fitted mk1 hinges on carbon fibre doors to my mini, I wish I'd not bothered. To much of a pain to do.
If you want a mk1 just buy a mk1 instead of chopping and changing the mini you have, it will prob work out cheaper in the end, as you will run into so many issues with trying to make early panels fit your older car

#7 harryh0803

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Posted 16 May 2014 - 08:49 PM

Thanks guys! Devo that's a big help thanks.
Danny, can you post some pictures of your external door hinges on your mini? Carbon fibre doors sound awesome too!

#8 ToM 2012

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Posted 16 May 2014 - 09:27 PM

hi i am going threw a big build atm on my mk1 i have had to weld new panels everywhere so far all thats been saved is the top half. look on project at mk1 rally build where cliff is doing this kind of conversion allready. and if you wanted to fit mk1 doors you need to change the b post what the door closes to and that is a panel you can not buy. you will need to get a rusty no good mk1 shell and hopefully save and chop the panels you need of it it will be a big job to do it. good luck thanks tom 



#9 rally515

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Posted 16 May 2014 - 09:33 PM

hi i am going threw a big build atm on my mk1 i have had to weld new panels everywhere so far all thats been saved is the top half. look on project at mk1 rally build where cliff is doing this kind of conversion allready. and if you wanted to fit mk1 doors you need to change the b post what the door closes to and that is a panel you can not buy. you will need to get a rusty no good mk1 shell and hopefully save and chop the panels you need of it it will be a big job to do it. good luck thanks tom 

 

 

No don't look at mine!!! :lol:  :lol: :lol:  :lol: . 

 

iAs above its a big job for little reward, but making it Look like a mk1 on the outside is a better option.



#10 danny1

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Posted 17 May 2014 - 06:52 AM

Thanks guys! Devo that's a big help thanks.
Danny, can you post some pictures of your external door hinges on your mini? Carbon fibre doors sound awesome too!

find my build thred and have a look at my mini

#11 harryh0803

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Posted 17 May 2014 - 09:21 AM

Thanks guys! Devo that's a big help thanks.
Danny, can you post some pictures of your external door hinges on your mini? Carbon fibre doors sound awesome too!

find my build thred and have a look at my mini

I can't find your thread Danny!!

#12 FlyingScot

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Posted 17 May 2014 - 11:00 AM

http://www.theminifo...ally-car-build/

Here you go

FS

#13 Ben_O

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Posted 19 May 2014 - 09:24 PM

Like has already been said above, fitting Mk1 doors will require replacing the door aperture frame and step, the b post, modifying or changing the quarter panel, fitting Mk1 inner and outer A panels not to mention all of the modifications to the shell to get these panels to fit nicely.

 

Then there is the headache of modifying the rear panel to take the smaller rear window, modifying the front panel to have the curved ends on the apron and a whole load of other bits and bobs.

 

Most people fit the mk1 rear light conversion panels, boot lid, remove the lip from the front ofthe existing bonet, stick on some 10s and a wavy grille and perhhaps overiders on hte bumpers and leave it at that. You will never get an authentic look without MAJOR surgery and as alot of the parts you need for the conversion are not available to buy, it would mean cutting them from a mk1

 

Look forward to seeing what you decide on.

 

Good luck

 

Ben



#14 Alex_B

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Posted 19 May 2014 - 09:47 PM

There is a huge amount of work fitting the mk1 doors in a later shell as detailed above.

Here is an image showing the difference
mk1inmk4door.jpg



#15 Guess-Works.com

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Posted 19 May 2014 - 09:56 PM

I wouldn't bother with the doors....

 

Just stick it down on 10's loose the arches.... take the lip off the bonnet and fit a mk1 grill & surround  then you have the mk1 look without too much hassle... and if you want, fit a MK1 boot and put in conversion plates for the rear light clusters, but make sure that you still retain a fog light as it's still a 1980's mini.

 

Even some over riders are a cheap way to get the period look..

 

If you want to start mucking about with the doors, it would just be easier to buy a Mk1 ( or mk2 )







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