32 replies to this topic

[Stubby83]

I got my mini back in 1999 for my 16th birthday. It was pretty much a standard mini 1000 except for a set of 10" alloys and full exhaust, and in pretty decent condition.
I eventually passed my test and started driving it, but after the first year I had to get something a bit more reliable. It was great fun to drive but I had to do a lot of miles, and the engine felt like it wasn't really bolted to the car. It felt like it was rocking back and forth, and in the year I was driving it, I went through 2 exhaust systems, and about 5 rear exhaust brackets. I also had a few close calls due to the really rubbish drum brakes.
So I sold it to my dad and bought a newer car, with the plan to buy it back from him. So it sat at the end of my garden for a few years, in the rain (with a cover on, but that didn't help) and eventually rust set in, with a hole in the floor, wings, the usual places.
I bought it back from him and I managed to get it fixed up ...... mostly (apart from the hole in the floor), and drove it for a few months, but you know how it goes, rust set in again, work commitments, blah blah blah, and it sat again, and now its buggered!
So with the 10th anniversary of owning it coming up, its finally time to fix it up...... and upgrade it along the way!
I have just spent loads on heritage panels, subframe, brakes, suspension, wheels, and its getting a full re-spray!

Photos to come as soon as I figure out how to upload them.

[Stubby83]

How it used to look.

 S73F1709.JPG   3.07MB   27 downloads
How it looks now


Drivers side floor

[miRon]

looks nice on the 10''s

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

nice

[Stubby83]

looks nice on the 10''s

Thanks, I thinks it looks cool on 10's, would be better on 6x10's, but I prefer the more modern look of the 13's.

[Stubby83]

Bought a rear subframe off eBay and spent a day just stripping the paint off, turns out its not quite as good as I thought it was.
Needs a bit of repair work, looks like someone broke off the bolts in the radius arm mounts, cut them out then welded in some new nuts (badly).

More work than I was planning, but still cheaper than a new one!

Edited by Stubby83, 24 July 2009 - 08:03 PM.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Sounds cool mate, well, kinda

[Stubby83]

Sounds cool mate, well, kinda

Ha ha, thanks!
Hopefully it will be once it's all done, but at the moment it seems like it will be a long time before I get it back on the road!

[Stubby83]

Since the last update, I have removed the rear subframe and re-built it using a new heritage one. Every part has been sand blasted and re-painted, new radius arm bearing kit, and fitted ajusta rides and spacer'd rear drums.
Pulled the engine out too.
Loads of body work to do now!

I have put photos up on Facebook if anyone is interested in checking them out, but they are pretty un-interesting so far.

[minimininut]

Hey Stubby,

Good luck with continuing to get rid of the rusty bits, and great to see your first car being saved by you, keep us posted

Edited by minimininut, 19 June 2010 - 07:41 AM.

[Stubby83]

So its been a little while since I have updated this so.....

I've pulled out the old subframe, got a new heritage one and re-furbished all the old parts and re-assembled it.
I have also pulled out the front subframe, sandblasted it and repainted it and also re-furbished a set of disc brakes that I bought from e-bay.

I had bought a load of new heritage panels, but after stripping the car down it looks like there is just too much rust to repair. It is do-able, but I would just end up going round in circles chasing rust.

So the project is on hold now until I have the money to buy a new shell.

I have uploaded more photos to Facebook.

[Stubby83]

Just bought a new shell!
Managed to find one on eBay at last!

Time to get the project going again before I go off round the world for a year!

[Stubby83]

The "new" shell has now been almost completely stripped, and a trolly has been made to move the shell around while it is bieng worked on.

It is booked into the bodyshop for painting after Easter, just need to pick the colour!

While it is bieng painted I'll be getting started on re-furbishing the engine.

[Stubby83]

I would love to be able to write more about the work I have been doing on my mini like some of the other project logs on here, but working full time, while trying to organize at trip skiing round the world for a year and re-building a mini takes a lot of time. By the time I actually get on here I forget what I have done.

I have uploaded more photos to Facebook

So this week I have made a trolly for moving the shell around the workshop. It attaches to the front subframe mounts and the rear suspension mount. The shell has now been completely stripped of every nut and bolt so that the painters can get every spot when they re-spray it.

The Mk1 rear light conversion will be put back to the later style (loads of people have told me I am crazy for doing it, but I don't like them) and all the extra holes will be filled including the ariel, extra wiper holes and fog light mounting holes.

After cleaning the shell the paint job looks really good. Its almost a shame to re-spray it.
I'm still undecided about the colours. It will definately be black, but I cant decide between metallic or pearlescent.

There will be some unwanted parts from the new shell going on eBay soon. Links to follow on the eBay links forum.

[xBR4DLEY]

What happening with the black one then mate?