109 replies to this topic

[Mojo Northampton]

Looking good mate, similar to yourself, i have my first car as a mini. '91 John cooper to be precise. brilliant first car. teach you everything you need to know. You may have already mentioned it, but what car are the seats from?

Tim.

[MiniLandy]

Looking good mate, similar to yourself, i have my first car as a mini. '91 John cooper to be precise. brilliant first car. teach you everything you need to know. You may have already mentioned it, but what car are the seats from?

Tim.

Nice! Yeeaah they're a great first car, you'll never take having a car for granted lol

The seats were from a 1996 mini equinox, they were advertised in the classifieds section of this very forum. Baaargain at £100 for the lot.

Cheers, Paul.

[Mojo Northampton]

Nice one, cheers. Im debating whether to modify or not. Mine's an RSP, so should be worth a small fortune in a few years. Its all standard at the minute and running like the clappers thanks to a bit of tuning from my dad. Might try and get my hands on a little spare one to do up. got the cash at the minute and loads of time.

[MiniLandy]

Nice one, cheers. Im debating whether to modify or not. Mine's an RSP, so should be worth a small fortune in a few years. Its all standard at the minute and running like the clappers thanks to a bit of tuning from my dad. Might try and get my hands on a little spare one to do up. got the cash at the minute and loads of time.

Nice, an original RSP?? I wouldn't make any irreverible mods to that, the only reason i don't feel bad about messing with mine is that someone had already changed it so much anyway, i can't really make anything worse.

If you've got the cash and room to make onehow you want it, then go for it. That's pretty much what i'm going for on this, cosy inside, but rallyish on the outside and (hopefully, eventually) fast.

[carboy001]

The mini sits a lot nicer now you have put the suspension on, dont think your need new alloys.

The interior looks nice but yeh id say the dash is the next port of call haha

Nice teddy bear

[MiniLandy]

The mini sits a lot nicer now you have put the suspension on, dont think your need new alloys.

The interior looks nice but yeh id say the dash is the next port of call haha

Nice teddy bear

Yeeaah, with the arches on properly, and the suspension somewhere approaching level, it should be all cool

As for the dash, it's generally there to hold the headunit down, doesn't really serve any other purpose... Occasionally a footrest, but not much else.

Lol, the teddy bear was stolen from a mate's car... He pushed Alexander onto the school green, since my handbrake is crap, and so i stole his spare car key.

Then stole his car, moved it into the middle of town, nicked the teddy and radio faceplate.

He only got the faceplate back, hence teddy lives in my car now.

[MiniLandy]

Not much progress really, gave the chap a clean, painted the arches roughly the same colour as the roof, and tried to level the suspension out a bit more. The arches have been well and truly trimmed underneath, so might lower and stiffen all the suspension again, i missed the days where i didn't know what understeer was...

Mmm cream arches...

Oh, and I bought new tyres! Kinda had to really, the Yoko's had no tread whatsoever, so i went for some Falkens in the exact same sizes as the Yokos. Wicked.

Not a great picture, but you get the idea.

[james962]

Hey! Nice mini, what are the arches? I think they look quite similar to the Wood and Picketts. Do they just screw from underneath into the wing lip?

Do you have anymore future plans for the mini?

James

[MiniLandy]

Thanks chap!

I think they're Wood and Picketts, but they came with the wheels (set of four wheels, with yokos, and arches for £80. eBay special ;]) so i can't be sure... They do screw into the arch lip, but i must say, unless the car's jacked up something stupid, then the arches catch a LOT, front and back.

Future plans are to first get it MOT'd (currently replaceing CV boot gaiters and patching rear subframe), insured and taxed (crunch time is next week ) and then source a 1275.

Spec will be: 1275, 276 cam (or similar), bit of porting on the head, cleaned up (flow wise, i mean) inlet manifold, HIF44 carb. I'll use the same K&N filter, and big bore exhaust that are currently on it. Exhaust is miles too big for the 998 anyway...

Cheers, Paul.

[MiniLandy]

Quick update on this one, he failed his MOT with flying colours last monday.

Failed on rust, ball joints, rear radius arms, handbrake, rear brakes, and front brakes.

I've welded the rust, and recieved a hefty order from Minispares today.

Shopping list was:

4 ball joints
New brake pads
New discs
2 rear brake adjusters
2 radius arm repair kits
4 front stainless caliper pistons
Caliper piston seals

Came to £120, not too bad!

However, this is a considerable pile of work to be getting on with. Bummer.

On a lighter note, i have sourced a complete 1275 engine! Well, it sort of found me...

Local mini expert/rallier/racer Peter Valentine lives close to me, and i had a good old chat with him today about rebuilding the engine with a 276 cam, lightened fly, and all consumable engine parts replaced. Things are looking up!

Cheers, Paul.

[phelan89]

hey paul, just read your whole thread, think the mini looks great. love the colour and interior

[MiniLandy]

Thanks very much, appreciated

The colour is one of the main reasons i haven't sold it and got another one, despite all it's problems, this car is now just a massive part of me... People recognise the sound and colour of this little car from miles away. The general consensus is, that selling this car would be a pretty big life change.

But i like this car, so he's staying

[MiniLandy]

Tried to do the ball joints today.

Can't get the passenger's side hub off, it's seized onto the driveshaft. And i don't have an inch-and-a-half spanner or socket.

So sod all progress today.

Stupid car.

[Teapot]

Your last two posts sum up everything we feel about our minis sometimes. Love it, hate it. It's a sign we're alive. Some people walk out to their ordinary dull car every day without noticing or caring what they're driving. How sad is that?

You'll soon be back in there and the ball joints will get fixed and the sun will shine. Until the next thing. Hey ho

[MiniLandy]

Your last two posts sum up everything we feel about our minis sometimes. Love it, hate it. It's a sign we're alive. Some people walk out to their ordinary dull car every day without noticing or caring what they're driving. How sad is that?

You'll soon be back in there and the ball joints will get fixed and the sun will shine. Until the next thing. Hey ho

Lol, weirdly enough, on saturday afternoon i went and borrowed an inch and a half spanner off a very helpful chap called Peter Valentine, and progress has been made once again!

All front ball joints have been changed, ground in, and shimmed properly.
Front passenger brakes have had a new disk, new stainless caliper pistons, and seals.
Front drivers side brakes have got a new disc, and the caliper's stripped and clean ready for new pistons and seals

EDIT: New pads too, duh...

Also had a chat with Peter about minis for a good while, concerning a 1275 engine that i'll be having off him, but mainly about his immaculate rally Cooper S Mk1... Beautiful car.

Cheers, i'll post some pictures soon, Paul.

Edited by MiniLandy, 14 March 2010 - 10:39 PM.