217 replies to this topic

[ashbogg]

Quick update, its on the road!!! Still pretty much how it was, just the bodywork has been sorted. I wanted to go to a few shows this year and actually in a mini=P

So it's on the road for the next 3 months then its coming back off the road for the engine swap and the subframes to be rebuilt over the winter, a cunning plan i believe=P

In the end it had a complete front end(wings, front panel, a-panels and scuttle), passengers door skin, rear valence, passengers side sill and drivers side inner/outer sills, all heritage and all very expensive!!! Boot and bonnet are both fibreglass from Arc angels.

Current wheels will only be on for a few weeks then they'll be up for sale. I have a set of 5.5x12 Superlites that i'll be refurbing in the next week or so.

Pre paint-



Post paint-



A few bits bolted back on, i was going to put some banded black steelies on but 12's are more in keeping with the look i was after.









And this is the latest photo, i took this evening -

i want them banded steels haha

[blackbelt1990]

This is aaaaaace! :)

Makes me want to dig my cooper out of storage though... grrr lol

[mini.rich]

Good to see this is still ticking along :)

Still going, just about

Quick update, its on the road!!! Still pretty much how it was, just the bodywork has been sorted. I wanted to go to a few shows this year and actually in a mini=P

So it's on the road for the next 3 months then its coming back off the road for the engine swap and the subframes to be rebuilt over the winter, a cunning plan i believe=P

In the end it had a complete front end(wings, front panel, a-panels and scuttle), passengers door skin, rear valence, passengers side sill and drivers side inner/outer sills, all heritage and all very expensive!!! Boot and bonnet are both fibreglass from Arc angels.

Current wheels will only be on for a few weeks then they'll be up for sale. I have a set of 5.5x12 Superlites that i'll be refurbing in the next week or so.

Pre paint-



Post paint-



A few bits bolted back on, i was going to put some banded black steelies on but 12's are more in keeping with the look i was after.


And this is the latest photo, i took this evening -

i want them banded steels haha

Lol, not selling!? They're going on my clubman

This is aaaaaace! :)

Makes me want to dig my cooper out of storage though... grrr lol

Thanks, reading this makes me want it back on the road even more

[mini.rich]

Even if your mini looks rust free it never is!? ha. Aswell as the boot floor being a bit rough the channel for the battery cable is awful and needs a bit of attention and painting.

These are just after I removed the subframe, it's now in primer and seam sealing it tomorrow. Saturday it will be painted

The subframe is all shiny and sat waiting to go on.

[mini.rich]

Finished tidying the boot floor, painted it today. I'll get the subframe bolted in, then I just need to take the radius arms to Surf Blue and get the bushes reamed

I need to strip the engine now, as the SC gearbox I'm fitting has 5/16 sump fixing and the block has standard 1/4 at the moment

Hopefully by the end of March it will all be back together and on the road

[mini.rich]

So, Easter Bank Holiday weekend for me was spend building the engine and installing it, In between the drinking, lol. I managed to build the engine up over Friday and Saturday, and install it Sunday and yesterday.
Today went out, did a few final checks like fluid levels checked the timing wheel at TDC and made sure everything was tight.
After about 10 seconds turning over and on part throttle she fired back into life!! So happy right now, as it means I've very nearly completed this entire build!

I now have the added bonus of a S/C C/R box and S/C drops, because I had them lying around from another engine

I still have jobs to do on it like swapping the 'S' discs for 7.9 KAD 4 pots and setting all the suspension up, running the engine in, building a cat for the mot, finding a leather interior, changing the radio, lol.

Here's a piccy of the engine anyway

Engine - 10th Apr by guitar.surf, on Flickr

I've edited it in Aperture as I've used it as part of my 365 project

[mini.rich]

Update! engine is in, running and driving!! I've done a few runs on a 'private' road, last one was on Sunday, but, it did stop/break the trigger wheel for the crank pick up somehow came loose and spun out so it wasn't firing when it should, however been and sorted it tonight and fired up no problem whatsoever On another positive note the engine/gearbox sound like a monster!? lol, can't wait to give her the full beans

I'm hopefully going to MOT it in the next two weeks, need to find a friendly MOT man(or woman) around here, does anyone know of one upto 25 miles of Grantham Lincs??

Here's a couple of photo's for now -



XOA11 by guitar.surf, on Flickr



XOA4 by guitar.surf, on Flickr

[Artful Dodger]

thats one wiked mini!!!

if you were closer to me and my folks garage, im sure this would have passed its MOT, if you understand me right ;)

[james94]

i have just read from start to nearly finished ;), i am so jelous :), your ca ris beautiful andf that engine is a beast, keep up the good work

james

[RayBoogs]

This is awesome mate. I'm looking at a similar engine set-up to yours.
Would you recommend SC?

Jack

[mini.rich]

Thanks for the comments!?

This is awesome mate. I'm looking at a similar engine set-up to yours.
Would you recommend SC?

Jack

Yeah I'd definitely recommend them, very helpful, I rang up a few times to find things out I'm not sure if there is anyone else doing this conversion? There is KAD I guess, but I didn't doo much research into them

i have just read from start to nearly finished ;), i am so jelous :), your ca ris beautiful andf that engine is a beast, keep up the good work

james

Thanks!

thats one wiked mini!!!

if you were closer to me and my folks garage, im sure this would have passed its MOT, if you understand me right ;)

I think I do I do need to find somewhere!

[Austin]

I really like this! Big power without shouting about it. A proper sleeper.

[RayBoogs]

Thanks for the comments!?

This is awesome mate. I'm looking at a similar engine set-up to yours.
Would you recommend SC?

Jack

Yeah I'd definitely recommend them, very helpful, I rang up a few times to find things out I'm not sure if there is anyone else doing this conversion? There is KAD I guess, but I didn't doo much research into them

Cheers dude! Yeah, I've looked at both, for some reason I seem to prefer SC. Going to start getting the bits for the conversion the buy their conversion kit. How have you found their Typhoon ECU?

Sorry for all the questions mate!

[mini.rich]

I really like this! Big power without shouting about it. A proper sleeper.

Thanks! Unfortunately, not quite a proper sleeper as soon as the engine is running it's pretty obvious there is something under the bonnet, haha.

Thanks for the comments!?

This is awesome mate. I'm looking at a similar engine set-up to yours.
Would you recommend SC?

Jack

Yeah I'd definitely recommend them, very helpful, I rang up a few times to find things out I'm not sure if there is anyone else doing this conversion? There is KAD I guess, but I didn't doo much research into them

Cheers dude! Yeah, I've looked at both, for some reason I seem to prefer SC. Going to start getting the bits for the conversion the buy their conversion kit. How have you found their Typhoon ECU?

Sorry for all the questions mate!

No worries, ask away! To be honest I prefer the look of the BMW head, but the full engine kit I bought with ECU, exhaust manifold, all engine work done, throttle bodys, etc etc cost the same as what the KAD head and webers do, so the BMW way is cheaper, I think.
The ECU seems fine, when it's MOT'ed I'm taking it for a rolling road session to get it checked over and set up fully, but the map in it now seems ok.
Also, I do think the fact I've done this in an MPi have made it an easier conversion in some respects, as the loom that came in the kit just plugged into the standard loom and it already has the fuel lines and tank in place

[RayBoogs]

Cheers bud!

Yeah mine is an SPi so I guess it would be much in the same for an easier conversion.
Yeah KAD stuff seems more expensive to me but I guess its just because it's bespoke I suppose. Ok cool I shall be eagerly awaiting your rolling road session, and I'm going to start hunting for a BMW head .