. I've used my Cooper daily since i bought it 3 years ago and its starting to show signs of being a real mini, lol. By that I mean its got a bit of rot and the engine is slow, haha. So i'm going to rectify those problems:DI'm currently running a 1275 with SW5 cam, Stg 3 head, 3.1 FD, lightened flywheel and Maniflow exhaust. Currently standard brakes and suspension, minus the hi-lo's.
As you can see from the photo's she really is looking a little worse for wear.
Bodywork wise she needs a complete front end, wings, front panel, a-panels, and scuttle. Also needs new sills, rear valence and possibly a battery box, not great considering she has only done 57,000 and 33,000 in the last 3 years! I've managed to get my hands on a new MPi front panel and passengers wing, both of which are genuine- I'm going to use genuine panels throughout for proper panel fit and gaps. Although i could do the work myself i'm going to have Sleaford Mini Centre do the bodywork and paint as i just don't have the time to do a third project!! (I've currently got my '72 1000 engine and front end rebuild, and a moggy minor that has too much rust to shake a stick at, lol) Might fit a fibreglass bonnet aswell.
Apart from the bodywork i will be doing everything else myself:D
I'm keeping the hi-lo's and adding GAZ shocks, Adjustable bottom arms and HD tie rods(because the standard ones are made from chocolate! lol) Maybe fixed -1.5 camber on the rear. I'm probably going to rebuild a front subframe and have it powdercoated, and then i will swap it when i do the engine, i might do the rear aswell because i need to replace a radius arm. As for brakes i might rebuild a set of AP 4 pots i have sat under the bench, and stick some green stuff pads in them
![=]](https://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/sideways.gif)
.As for the engine, my current set up is just not fast enough
which means i need to add something, some more valves to be precise!! So i'm going to be building a 16v engine with a package from Specialised Components. I've got a head(thanks Dave/mini93 
), and i collected a complete rotating assembly from MED yesterday, along with pistons, X-pin diff and a couple of other bits.The spec i have pretty much decided on is, 16v head gasflowed with LT cams, +20(1293), MED rotating assembly which is an ultralite flywheel assembly(AP plate), N/T X-drilled wedged crank, lightened rods with ARP bolts, All fully balanced. Gearbox and drop gears will be standard helical cut items, diff is a x-pin type and FD will be 2.7. All controlled by the SC Typhoon
Should be fun.My plan is to keep it as standard looking as possible, minus the alloys. It'll basically be the same externally, maybe with some Grp 2 arches and 4 spots on the front, but not entirely sure on that. I have been toying with the idea of sportspack arches and wheels but i think i've decided against it
I will be changing the seats for full leather ones and a 3 clock dash, but they will be standard sportspack items, keeping it looking standard.Hopefully i will have the bodywork done in the next month and the engine in the next two, but this is a mini project and from my experiance they take alot longer than you plan on!!
Hope you enjoy the photo's, there will be a load more to come aswell
Looking very rough around the headlight.
Yes that is tank tape holding the a-panel on!!
And then the other
Mmm a little more rust
Stuff from MED
I just liked this shot:)
Head
Edited by mini.rich, 09 November 2012 - 11:32 PM.
