175 replies to this topic

[Tomf]

Im not really sure to be honest, iv got some 12" x 6" superlights coming on wednesday, so ill be using them. Decided i would try some bigger wheels with this project, but still didnt fancy 13"s.

Arches, im not really sure yet as it depends how everything sits when its all together.

Colour im not really sure either, ill be prepping the body and putting it in primer, then getting it all fitted and running, then ill worry about paint lol.

[RsSpyder]

I'm on the lookout for a cheap rotten one of these at the moment. Your project has made me want one even more! If you dont mind me asking, how much did you pay for the car in the first place? What should i be looking to pay for an estate with maybe rather shoddy bodywork (no m.o.t), but with an engine that runs?

Anyway best of luck with it, i will be following with interest!

[Tomf]

I paid £500 for the car, and that was in its rotten state with no engine....

Well today i wasnt planning on doing much to this due to being busy at work, but i got the change to give the subframe a quick lick of paint, its not great, but im in a bit of a rush now, as i think i have set myself a task that im not sure ill be able to meet, but ill give it my best.



After i pained it i fitted it back in place:





Then before i went home i decided to strip a few bits off the MFG, so i got some bits out the way and found a big plate that could be removed to revile the engine



And just before i left i got the back end up in the air ready for when i come round to get the engine out:



So i went home had dinner, etc.... then though what the hell ill go back to the unit for a couple of hours and make a start on getting the engine out, and my got this thing is worse than a mini on the rot side of things!!! I managed to sheer 9 bolts, which was good for me as it meant the job was quicker, but imagine you had to put that back together lol.

So i undid a load of pipes and plugs and labeled them up, then started to drop it out. Down it goes:



And now its down i can get to the last couple of wiring plugs:



Iv got loads on at work the next couple of days, so i doubt ill be able to touch this for a while

[Tomf]

Decided to do another late night tonight.

Started out by losing something :S



But soon found it again:



Then i got the engine bay loom out all completely labeled up:



Then i spent ages stripping out the rest of the loom, cutting off all the plugs i dont need (e.g. headlights, dash switches, etc...) so now i know once i get round to stripping the loom back those bits can definitely come off.



Then i split the engine from the box and running gear, so i can take the flywheel off now and swap for my 4 pole one from a 1.6





And now im left with this, but ill be using that for something else.



Also my single skin rear door arrived today:



Hopefully ill be able to get hold of a clutch kit tomorrow, so ill be able to build up the engine if i have the energy to do another late night.

[johnbest981]

Hopefully ill be able to get hold of a clutch kit tomorrow, so ill be able to build up the engine if i have the energy to do another late night.

I'll buy you a keg of relentless if it's energy you want...
These updates are pretty much what I live for.

keep up the fascinating project.
John.

[captainjack15]

Keep up the good work Tom.

Loving this as you know

[Saxo-Fiesta-Mini]

whos is the punto urrggg i really dislike those cars


great work

[kcchan]

Haa, he buys in puntos and brakes them, so if you ever decide to like puntos and need parts, he the chap to come to.

[Tomf]

LOL yea, i do a few puntos, there just easy and cheap.

Glad people are enjoying the updates, im afraid i didnt make much progress today as i was to tiered.

I did got the 1.8 flywheel bits off though and fitted one of my spare 4 pole 1.6 flywheels:



Also i managed to buy a new clutch kit (£88 out of pocket) and got that fitted aswell:



Finally i took the exhaust, oil filer and alternator off an tested the remote oil filter:



I tried to bolt up the engine side mount but as the mount it off a 1.6 its different, although the bolt holes are in the same position, the bore of the holes are to small, so ill have to try and find somewhere to buy a massive drill bit as its either two M12 or M14 bolts.

Once that is done ill be able to get that mount on, then ill fit the gearbox and have an offer up in the sub-frame. I would do this tomorrow, but there isnt much point really as im waiting for some solid tower bolts to turn up so i cant fit it to the shell anyway.

But i think i have decided for ease of things i will be cutting the front end off and having it removable...

Edited by Tomf, 16 July 2009 - 11:01 PM.

[Jordie]

excellent progress. watching this with keen interest

[Saxo-Fiesta-Mini]

hahaha sounds like me i want to get free but the mini just pulls me back in hahhaaa

[Tomf]

Well what a bugger, i went and spend £14 on a bloody drill bit, drilled the mount out, to find it doesnt bolt up anyway as they holes are in different positions Wish i had checked that before!!!

Anyways i had to go and pick up a couple of salvage motors, so popped into a scrappy whilst down there and got a 416 engine side mount.

So got back fitted that up and it was spot on

Then i got the gearbox fitted up, but i had to change the mount to match the mount that was fitted to the frame, but thinking back to it now the mount was the that was on the 416, so this makes me think that i might not be fitting a R65u box, so might have a higher final drive, which would be no good for the mini. So i think ill probably take it all back off now, wish i thought about that before!!!

Well anyway stepping back from that now, i got the engine into the subframe, and its very very tight like only a couple of mm clearance in places.

Engine sitting in place:





Engine side mount fitted:





Gearbox mount fitted:



The linkage all worked properly, although that doesnt really matter now im going to swap the box over lol.

Then i did this:



Not sure if i will fit the metal front back on or my fiberglass front, will probably go for the fiberglass front as its so much lighter and wont rot:





Well tomorrow i was planning on offering the frame in, but now ill be taking the engine back out and swapping the gearboxs lol.

[HARBER07]

Well done mate! Its looking Fab!!

[ad53ggz]

Well done mate! Its looking Fab!!

hi mate where did you get the take off plate for the oil filter? looking good mate

[Tomf]

Well done mate! Its looking Fab!!

Cheers mate, just hope i get it done it time for BH2N

hi mate where did you get the take off plate for the oil filter? looking good mate

It cam in the bits i brought with the original engine, but its a 5mm aluminum plate with two 10mm holes in position of there the oil leaves and returns, then these holes have just been tapped and the tack offs fitted, simple but effective.