Just thought I'd post up the start to finish of my bro's trackday car he's recently rebuilt.
He bought it as an uncomplete project, not realising that the Jet Black Mini's are quite as rare as they are. 1500 in total for England I believe. Well anyway, he bought it with one thing in mind. 1275 engine, trackday fun!
We went to have a look at it, wasn't too far from where we live. Some welding had been done, but there was still plenty more to do. Had the original seats, original wheels (red steelies!) and was pretty much how it came out of the factory, apart from the rusty front end.
We were in two minds to repair the metal front with new wings, or cut it off and replace with fibreglass. The decision was made to go fibreglass. 2 supports were welded on from the subframe up to the bulkhead and away we were with the 2-piece front end.
The front end was cut off within a couple of hours of getting the car back, sorted! Onto the next thing....
Strip it out, chisel out sound deadening, cut out rear pokets, and get on with the welding!
After the welding had been done by my bro's very helpful friend, it was onto the rebuild.
Engine, now, where would we get an engine from? We wanted to make sure it ran, and wanted to make sure all was well. Oh look! Handily there was a lovely looking Mk1 MG Metro for sale! Just down the road from us! Bid Bid Bid!
We won, and off we went to get our new purchase. Now, some people sell their mini's as original condition, but this thing was amazingly original. The number plates were the originals, the floor mats were original, there was even the original sticker in the rear window from where it was bought new! It had gone a bit crisp though, and theres a very small minority who want a rusty Metro shell, so off 2 heaven that went. The engine however, 70,000 miles original, didn't smoke a bit, just what we were looking for!
On to the bench in the garage, and get helpful mate No.2 to strip the gearbox in 5 seconds flat, stick a centre oil pickup in, and chuck it all back together in another 5 seconds. Luckily he did actually know what he was doing, very experienced at this he is!
Put it back together, and in it goes! New oil cooler added for extra cooling, and that good look! Lol!
Roll cage was bought off eBay, needed a repaint, so out with the grinder and special sanding discs it was! 1 day and we were ready to roack and roll! In that goes...
Now, what colour shall we respray this limited edition Jet BLACK? Urm.. lets go for WHITE! White! Yes, white! My bro had method in his madness though! We were all a bit unsure of a white Mini, they are reasonably common as Mini's go, but with the black bumper and stripes and bits n pieces it came out 1000X better than I expected.
Certainly unique though, a white Jet Black! I'd love to know if it's the only one in existance?
So now we have the Jet White Black sprayed up, it's onto the suspension. Hi-Lo's fitted, new shocks on the front (yet to do back) and off we go! Bucket seats that we swaped for the carpet go in, not the prettiest things in the world, but very comfy!
Polycarb windows from Dad's ACW Motorsport Plastics were the last thing to go in. Just to finish off that racey look, and lose a hell of a lot of weight! Just what you need in something with not masses of power, as lightweight as possible! It worked too! This thing certainly isnt slow! Lol
So where shall we test run the car now it's all together. How's about Castle Combe? Yup, never driven the thing and out onto the track it went! Not road legal yet see, so off we went. Had a bit of a hair raising moment as the accelerator stuck wide open going down the main straight! Lol! Poor little engine! standard engines aren't keen on hitting the 8000rpm mark are they as you downchange to 3rd to try and slow it down before we head for the barriers!? Never mind, unstuck it came and we carried on. Last go out and just to finish the day off on a positive note the backbox decided to rattle itself off the mounts. Black flag along with chequered it was! Woops! All caused by 2 nuts coming lose
! Atleast we didn't have a hole, and it didnt fall off! Miracle!
And here we are now, got it on the road last weekend to go off to Malvern Mini Show. Went like a dream! No break downs atall, the only thing that went wrong was the manifold gasket deciding to blow itself to pieces, so it sounded like a Military Tank all the way back!
Just deciding on the front grill at the moment, just to finish it all off!
Would be very interesting to find out if it is the only Jet White Black in existance though! I guess it's unique! Lol!
Edited by digi-cars.piczo.com, 01 November 2008 - 04:59 PM.
