470 replies to this topic

[sharps555]

also the quality of the cut is alot to be desired
[quote]

i should show you a pic of mine think i could have done a better job with a bolster chisel!!!

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Sounds great! just read it all

[carboy001]

i should show you a pic of mine think i could have done a better job with a bolster chisel!!!

Yeh it seems to happen to all mini's at some point, really is one of the most annoying things done to mini's I think when for the sake of a tenner you can put a speaker board under the rear seat.

Thanks Craig, much appreciated, some boring updates in that lot though

[carboy001]

Not really much of an update but I like to keep you informed none the less.

Not spoke the Graham (spray shop man) last so not sure what they did last week but will be giving them a bell tomorrow to see where there at and also arrange to go down and take some pics.

Yesterday I just tidied up the garage for when dad gets back so that we can crack on playing with the engine and getting it painted for when the shell does come back Also need to re-felt the garage roof as there are few leaks and we can't be havng that for when the freshly painted shell comes back

Just put in an order at minispares for some bits that I need and take advantage of the last day of 15% off! Hopefully that will come through this week, but I do believe there a bit busy with the discount on at the moment so won't be the end of the world if its later

[benb12]

This is one most splendid project! Looking forward to seeing the freshly painted shell!

[carboy001]

Thanks Ben, should be spanking when its done!

Speaking of sprayshop, I gave them a call today

Work that has been done plus the work I mentioned earlier includes;

-Rewelded on the rear valance as it was loosely fitted
-Cut the Frontend off!!!!!!!
-The shockmounts area have been double skinned as it seems to be a weak spot for rot and rust
-Fitted and aligned the Carbon Kevlar Frontend
-Flitch brackets fitted

More work done than I expected

The only bit of bad news I sorta got whilst speaking to Graham over the phone was that apparently the frontend was a bit of bad fit, but Graham says he's sorted it so not worrying about it. Also arranged to go down on Saturday to have a look at progress. Exciting times!

[analogue_radio]

Take some photos!

[rick.spi]

justr read all the way through this and looks exellent, ill be checking up on this thread now

nice 1 !

[carboy001]

Cheers Rick

Yeh dont worry Luke lots of pics will be taken since I can't get daily progress pics

Been slow progress previously but once the body is done its pretty much full steam ahead

Still dont know what to do regards the wiring loom since I dont have one to start off from, would it be easier buying a stock one or creating my own? The problem with a stock one would be that I don't really have a standard of mini in the sense of age, plus I would like something other than tape to wrap round the wires like the stock ones. Any ideas to the loom?

Also could this project be moved to complete rebuild please TMF Team?

[carboy001]

Right well went down to the sprayshop this afternoon and I was very impressed with what they've done. First off though there was another mini in there who apparently heard of them off here, so who is it!? Was a very nice blue mini though, owner called Mike?

Back to the project, as I said I was very impressed with the work and they are really thinking through what they are doing and the attention to detail was immense, was buzzing when I left! Some pictures for you all;

Frontend on!!!!!!!!


Frontend flipped!!!!!!!!


Boot floor repaired and aligned


Airvents welded up


Latches setup


Frontend brackets bonded on


Reinforcement between the A-panel and scuttle



They have also cut the hole for the Right-Hand tank. They have had to bend the brace bars to the inside on the inner arch as they wouldnt fit very well to the outer as they obstruct the frontend brackets. Next job is to fit the bonnet in which it will have to show fixings on the outside but thats unavoidable, same as the locking catch that had to be bolted on so it was strong but they will put some sort of cap over the top and spray it the same colour. So pleased I went to them though, gonna be a minter when it comes back

Will be going down to the garage tomorrow to start on the engine, strip it down a bit and give it a good clean and some how get it rised off the floor a bit for it to be easier to work on.

Comments please!

Edited by carboy001, 06 September 2009 - 03:27 PM.

[camp freddy]

Right well went down to the sprayshop this afternoon and I was very impressed with what they've done. First off though there was another mini in there who apparently heard of them off here, so who is it!? Was a very nice blue mini though, owner called Mike?

Back to the project, as I said I was very impressed with the work and they are really thinking through what they are doing and the attention to detail was immense, was buzzing when I left! Some pictures for you all;

Frontend on!!!!!!!!


Frontend flipped!!!!!!!!


Boot floor repaired and aligned


Airvents welded up


Latches setup


Frontend brackets bonded on


Reinforcement between the A-panel and scuttle



They have also cut the hole for the Right-Hand tank. They have had to bend the brace bars to the inside on the inner arch as they wouldnt fit very well to the outer as they obstruct the frontend brackets. Next job is to fit the bonnet in which it will have to show fixings on the outside but thats unavoidable, same as the locking catch that had to be bolted on so it was strong but they will put some sort of cap over the top and spray it the same colour. So pleased I went to them though, gonna be a minter when it comes back

Will be going down to the garage tomorrow to start on the engine, strip it down a bit and give it a good clean and some how get it rised off the floor a bit for it to be easier to work on.

Comments please!

Like the bonnet catches , i'll remember them..

[analogue_radio]

I'm going to order my bonnet catches soon

It looks cool, front flips back really far! understand the gas struts aren't on yet, but I'd love it to actually flip that far backwards.

[carboy001]

Yeh the catches are awesome, got the idea off Oz (Matrix), nice setup and keeps the exposed fixings to a minimum.

Would be nice if the front would go that far back (without touching the body) as it would allow more head clearance but I don't think the struts are going to allow much but we'll see.

Went down to the garage today, didnt manage to do a great deal as I forgot I need a flywheel puller but hopefully I will have managed to get a email to Simon before my order is sent out

Stripped it as far as I can go though, next I will just be cleaning up the block, head and gearbox and painting the block and head. I will also be reading up on changing to a pre verto clutch as hopefully if money allows I will lighten some of the engine components including the clutch

Also question for someone who has refurbed engines before; how hard is to seperate the gearbox from the block and more importantly putting them back together?

[analogue_radio]

It's not hard at all, but I highly recommend a engine crane! I broke my back lifting the block off the first time, and have struggled with the help of my Dad to mate them back together today. Lifting them isn't a problem, but getting the gaskets & studs all lined up when it's going back together is a pain.

Just a case of undoing the bolts around the gearbox casing, draining the oil first of course, and lifting them apart. Might take some encouragement to brake the seal.

[carboy001]

Think i'll be doing what you did then Luke and giving it a good flush out, specially since last time I checked the sump plug it had a fair few filings attached could be a mistake opening it on second thoughts haha.

Put in another at minispares since I couldnt get the puller added on the current order, so added on a few other bits I wanted to get last time. Hopefully get it by this weekend but the other order has taken over a week now thus far but I know there getting through the back log of orders due to the discount they offered so i'll let them off