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1969 Bmc Cooper "rally" Project


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#1 teveo

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Posted 24 October 2020 - 10:54 AM

Hello, Trond from Norway here with my first post. 

 

I picked up a 69 Mini Cooper some weeks ago and wanted to build a car that I can use in regularity rallies and just have fun with. Any rust was already welded when I bought it and I am left with more or less fun tasks to finish this car. Am into all kind of cars really but always had old Jaguars and Porsches. Had a '65 Cooper back in the '90s but never really used it. 

 

Well, the Mini seem straightforward enough even if the suspension is different from what I am used to. I am building a list of most bits I am missing / need to change out and have a question about wheels and arches. The wheel arches were already cut and I got a set of  approx 4 inch arches (measured on top of arch) with the car.  For me these are too wide and am looking to get the 1.75 - 2 inch arches. 

 

I am going to order a full set of fromt cooper S brakes, the hubs and everything. My car came without brakes and lots of other bits.

 

So, my first and hopefully not last question is; what is the better 10" wheel for 1.75-2 inch arches?

 
Finally a few pix, first when I collected it and today after I sprayed the underbody with bodyguard. 
 
I think the car was initially white but I will just stick to tartan red.
 
Attached File  IMG_6539.jpeg   74.53K   14 downloads

 

 



#2 Maccmike8

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Posted 24 October 2020 - 11:22 AM

Hi Trond. Great looking workshop.



#3 johnR

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Posted 24 October 2020 - 11:46 AM

Good colour choice!



#4 bpirie1000

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Posted 24 October 2020 - 05:01 PM

Looks a great project. Good choice with sticking to the 10" rims. They certainly drive the best..

Width size I would have to ask what you use the car for... I'll climbs make em fat n sticky.. road use keep em in a little.

Personally I would not bother with arches and go for the early style trim the length of the car..

That bonnet certainly is not an original 69.

I am sure you will nip that lip off the bonnet before laying down the tartan paint....
(Always like asking for tartan paint then see the assistant think am stooping before giving the paint code and prooving them wrong)

#5 GraemeC

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Posted 24 October 2020 - 06:33 PM

That bonnet certainly is not an original 69.

‘69 is Mk2 so the bonnet could be right



#6 teveo

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Posted 24 October 2020 - 06:41 PM

Hello and thank you everyone. Not sure at all about the bonnet but the car has has been welded up in the all the normal places. If the lip has to go for a 69 I will remove it.

 

The fender arches are already cut up and it will be less work to mount those 1.75" arches  than reconstructing original fender arches.

 

I am leaning on Minispares 4.5" x 10" 1960's original tech Del Minilite copy made in LM25 alloy." and Yokohama 008 165/70 tires and hope these will look fine with the small arches.

 

My plan for the car is some regularity rallies and just fun summer drives. The original engine seem to have been rebuilt and I will use as is next year, come winter I may look for a little more horsepower but nothing radical. 



#7 bpirie1000

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Posted 24 October 2020 - 07:43 PM

That bonnet certainly is not an original 69.


‘69 is Mk2 so the bonnet could be right

Looks like I could be wrong.....

At the end of the day..... you build the car the way You want to build it...

I believe there will be no minis on earth.... exactly the same.. all different with their own personalities......(qwirks)

#8 teveo

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Posted 24 October 2020 - 08:09 PM

The engine looks fine but I will tear off the head and check status. The castings seem to be correct for a 998 cooper. 

 

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#9 blacktulip

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Posted 24 October 2020 - 09:58 PM

Wow it looks all there. Love the workshop. Are you still running on hydro-elastic suspension?

#10 blacktulip

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Posted 24 October 2020 - 10:04 PM

Hello and thank you everyone. Not sure at all about the bonnet but the car has has been welded up in the all the normal places. If the lip has to go for a 69 I will remove it.

The fender arches are already cut up and it will be less work to mount those 1.75" arches than reconstructing original fender arches.

I am leaning on Minispares 4.5" x 10" 1960's original tech Del Minilite copy made in LM25 alloy." and Yokohama 008 165/70 tires and hope these will look fine with the small arches.

My plan for the car is some regularity rallies and just fun summer drives. The original engine seem to have been rebuilt and I will use as is next year, come winter I may look for a little more horsepower but nothing radical.

The bonnet looks right except for the white stripe. Have a look at the bonnet hinges if it's original the hinges will be closer together as per mk1 and mk2 bulkhead. The bonnet should have a lip and the 9 slat cooper grille.

#11 Tds76

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Posted 25 October 2020 - 12:10 AM

 
The fender arches are already cut up and it will be less work to mount those 1.75" arches  than reconstructing original fender arches.
 
I am leaning on Minispares 4.5" x 10" 1960's original tech Del Minilite copy made in LM25 alloy." and Yokohama 008 165/70 tires and hope these will look fine with the small arches.
 


I have that exact wheel and tyre combo on mine. I think the wheels will look a little lost even with those narrow arch extensions. On mine the wheel rim is flush with the body trim edge, so would be about 1.25” inboard of the moulded arch. Maybe go for the 5” wide wheel with the same tyre.

Cheers, Paul.

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#12 teveo

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Posted 25 October 2020 - 03:27 PM

Thanks for the image Paul. Yes wheels may be a little lost, will reconsider wheel width.

 

I cleaned up the fender seams and put POR15 paint on them today. The mouldings I have are new and they will take some work to fit. The old ones seem to have been fitted with seam sealer alone but I m thinking about using clips and seam sealer.

 

Was hoping to deliver body to paint end of next week but should I install the seam mouldings before sending body to painter?  If yes I will have to order those clips asap.



#13 teveo

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Posted 26 October 2020 - 08:44 PM

Tipped it over on the opposite side and brushed on a layer of POR15 from that side today. It dries out to a hard coat. I am going to spray a thin layer of rubberized body guard and then spray tartan red on the underbody myself before considering hauling the car to the painter.

 

Not planning on winter driving but it would be fantastic to do the Monte Carlo Classic Regularity rally in 2022. Up here where I live we take rustproofing seriously, they love to salt down the roads.   :proud:

 

Rustproofed the passenger side (LHD up here)

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Clean but I bought it this way and cant take much credit for that.

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Fenders were cut when I got it and I formed some sheet metal and welded and rustproofed, need a litte filler and sanding before paint.

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Cut arches (welded)

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#14 teveo

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Posted 21 November 2020 - 01:20 PM

Little work done last few weeks but the tub is finally done and waiting to be sent out for paint as soon as the weather allows. My other British project lined up for the picture. British Icons from the '60s.

 

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I have a question about the "vertical" seam mouldings, do you install these before the car is painted? Should I use both clips and some sort of Sikaflex or glue?

 

 



#15 sonscar

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Posted 21 November 2020 - 01:31 PM

Possibly contraversial but I personally do not fit them at all,I use plastic edge moulding.Ten years ago I epoxy primed,painted rustproofed then fitted the new seam finishers(which were a poor fit)with stainless clips.This summer I removed them for a repaint of the whole car and there was rust behind them.Admittedly this car lives outside and is used daily.Your car your choice.Steve..






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