660 replies to this topic

[1275 SPRITE]

After owning and driving my mini for over 12 months I have decided to take it off the road to carry out some work to bring it back upto the standards it should be. It started out as a 1275 sprite with a few modifications, like suspension modifications and a few exterior mods like wheels and arches.

I drove it in that spec for about a month untill its MOT was due. It failed on a massive list which included wheel bearings, ball joints, suspension bushes and some holes in the body. Luckily with me being an apprentice mechanic i was able to fix it during my lunch hour over about a week.

I ran it for several months like that untill I started having engine troubles. The head gasket had gone, so i replaced it, ran it for about another month untill it went again, so i changed it, ran it again until it went again. I then decided to replace the whole engine, as having the head skimmed made no difference. A big bill later and a long wait I ended up with a 1293 engine with a stage 4 head which greatly improved the performance and driveability.

I then used it in its current state for a few more months, which takes us upto now. There are a few reasons why I decided to bring it off the road, and they are the things I have to fix. The list is something like this :

Fix the missfire
Sort the sub, amp and speaker wiring
Get the bodywork done (door skins, "A" pannels, wings and front pannel)
Tidy the interior


I bought a cheap car to run around in from work today, so I should have plenty of time at weekends and after work in the summer to get it sorted.


So, i'll put up some pics up when I take some and I'll keep you posted with the progress.

[sazal]

Looks like you've got a few things to be getting on with then!

Hope it all goes well!

[Down&Out]

best of luck! hope to see this all well and working again soon

[1275 SPRITE]

Thanks everyone, I'll keep you updated.

[analogue_radio]

That's cool man good luck with everything! what car did you get for a cheap runaround?

[1987_ParkLane]

Hey, you forgot a few things, like all the other troubles your had, i.e. the roundabout and loughborough duel carrigway lol. Anyway, I have pics of them so will post them up , anyway mate, give me a text anytime, and I will see if I can pop over.

[1275 SPRITE]

Oh thanks

Yeah, some things I left out intensionally lol.

The other car is a kia pride lol Not bad £50 for a taxed and MOT'd car. Should do untill I can get the mini back on the road.

First update:

I did a compression test to see if it was the head gasket causing the missfire.
Results: Cyl 1 = 200p.s.i
Cyl 2 = 150 p.s.i
Cyl 3 = 205 p.s.i
Cyl 4 = 125 p.s.i

So there is definately something a miss as both cylinders 2 and 4 are down. I am going to start with adjusting the tappets as they have never really been set 100% since the head was last put back on which was a rush job to get it back together in time for the rolling road session that was booked.

Edited by 1275 SPRITE, 17 February 2009 - 08:55 PM.

[1987_ParkLane]

So there is definately something a miss as both cylinders 2 and 4 are down. I am going to start with adjusting the tappets as they have never really been set 100% since the head was last put back on which was a rush job to get it back together in time for the rolling road session that was booked.

Man that was ages ago, so did you drive the Kia today lol? Will get some pics up later of all the adventures .

Anyway mate, hopefully the missfire thing isn't too serious and can be easily sorted, going to need some help soon anyway, 1.5 rockers going on mine, but might be able to do it myself lol.

[1987_ParkLane]

So I took all the pictures yesterday, anyway here we go:







That was all the rubbish and itereior we got out.





The final result of yesterday.



The present seats.

Edited by 1987_ParkLane, 22 February 2009 - 02:34 PM.

[1987_ParkLane]

Here is all the body work that need doing:









I could swear it was a 1293



There it:



And he wanted me to show you this, his home made water shield:

[1275 SPRITE]

Thanks for the pictures

Cant wait to get cracking on it even more.

Yeah, it should have been 1340 but thats another story lol

[camp freddy]

So I took all the pictures yesterday, anyway here we go:







That was all the rubbish and itereior we got out.





The final result of yesterday.



The present seats.

they'd look good in Ratty

[1987_ParkLane]

TURBO?

[1275 SPRITE]

Yeah, the seats would suit ratty really well, just the right colour.

And yeah, turbo is really tempting.

[1987_ParkLane]

turbo is really tempting.

Do it , but just make sure it doesn't go quicker than mine , still up for tomorrow?