Been on this forum for a while now browsing around and i thought i would finally get round to starting a project thread
Its been a long time coming this project as i first bought the car coming upto 2 years ago now (Christmas Time!) and ive only just started it. Not that i havent been planning and buying parts but its all down to storage and a place to do a proper strip down and rebuild project! But finally a few months ago now my Dad spoke to his cousin Georgy about using one of the run down sheds on his land which my Granddad used to use, after a while (years) of scratching our heads of where we could use a garage on the cheap
As the shed was run down he said Yes! So for about a month of weekends we went down to the shed and slowly cleared and repaired the shed, this included removing a load of manky old carpets and also jacking up one of the wooden joists supporting the floor and making it stable again, all very time consuming when you have a mini rusting away of the drive! 
Anyways we finally repaired and cleared it all and then some of the fun started, my dad went round trafford park near enough everyday looking for plywood to line the walls with which we eventually got and then painted it a light colour to help with the lighting and then i also got some like plasticeeky/spongey flooring from costco which is really comfy to lie on when working on the mini, so covered all the floor with that so even the mini gets the benefit of it!
I also got some new tools, a workbench and some shelves to put in which really finishes the place off.But the main thing to us was to keep the outside looking the same (run down) so it doesnt get any attention whilst my minis in there with all my new parts waiting to be put on/in it! So the shed itself is like a field sleeper, thats what i like to call it anyways
Now time for the mini, enough of the shed! The mini is a 1987 City E with a morspeed 1293cc engine in it, but does have problems which we now think we have sorted (only took 3 head gaskets to figure it out
) The plan is to strip everything last thing off the mini and start over reusing (but recondition first) stuff were i think necessary. The main thing is which i think should be made law is that all shiney stuff is to be replaced when going back on a new paint job. Rather than going through all aspects of what i am and am not (not many) going to change, i'll do a quick spec list of the mini which i think is quite impressive as most is present (not the important stuff though like suspension )-Diamond White Body with Black roof and arches
-W+P arches (genuine)
-Evolution suspension set up kit (minispares)
-4 pot callipers (minisport unless a bargin appears when i have cash in hand)
-12x6 deep dish ultralites with black centres (yokos to accompany)
-Twin tanks
-Curley Carbon Kevlar 2 piece Front End!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Thanks Ian Curley on the bargin price!)
-American Front End Hinges from Minitec!
-Mk1 Boot Lid
-New wiring loom
-New carpets and doorcards without saying really
-(Carbon effect) Headlining and other bits and bobs from bert998 eventually
-6-point Rollcage (from MGMT)
-New seatbelts (from minimadandy)
-Centre Binanical (Super Special one, look at piccies below)
-Leather Black Seats with White trim frm Newtonn (Periodic Buckets and Backseat)
As you can read, quite a spec, will probably chanage as i go on, it does every week! The engine is staying as is at the moment, will clean and play about with it maybe (alternator to be replaced) but eventually when all this is done and i use for a while i will feel the benefit of an even better engine!
Enough of the typing now, piccies time!!!! Already did a little work before i got the pics as the day i started on it my mum needed the camera for her dancing pupils but anyhoo....
Field Sleeper Garage
The Mini lurking in its Comforty Garage
Messy Workbench
Mini Parts Shelf
Mini Parts and Tools Shelf
Mini
Mini Interior (Lack of)
On Axles
Engine
Not to bad on rot but the Rear Quarters had its days
Boot
Minitec
Carbon Kevlar Front End
Super Duper Binnacle
Next jobs are to convince Georgy that we need this for storage
and also get this installed, its bloomin freezing!
Thanks for looking and I will hopefully keep you updated with pic heavy responses (no promises though!)
Chris
Edited by carboy001, 04 April 2009 - 09:49 PM.
