26 replies to this topic

[miniJJ]

Hello TMF!

I had been looking for my first car for about 4 months previous to buying this; and when this one turned up at the right time reasonably local to me, I had to have it! (I sold my downhill mountainbike to be able to afford it) I've booked myself a load of driving lessons in the half term, and can't wait!

It's a 1985 mini mayfair, which has had in the past:

New front end, restored a few years back apparently. (the underneath is spotless, beautifully undersealed) Sills are mint, new again I believe.

stage one kit (maniflow cooper manifold etc)
k&n cone filter
electronic ignition

Starts every time

When I got it: (although it had no badge)



And how it is now, 1 (week later):





I've stripped the paint off the bumpers (still need polishing up), replaced the awful steering wheel with a original leather cooper one, added an original gearknob, ashtray etc. Oh, I also finished the parcel shelf speaker board. This is covered in cream carpet, and houses the amp and two speakers. It is a thick hollow block in the exact shape of the the parcel shelf, meaning all the wiring is hiddin inside it, it means it's level with the rear seats too.

On the immediate to do list:

Fix rev counter
Remove headlight peaks
Polish the newly stripped bumpers and chromework
Get a head unit
Remove the roof gutter trim

But I do have some big plans for this little car, once I've passed my test and have payed for insurance!

Thanks, any comments welcome

JJ

Edited by miniJJ, 10 October 2009 - 07:26 PM.

[minimininut]

Hey minijj, lovely little mini you've got yourself there by the look of it!

[mighty mini jack]

Lovely little mini you have there. really nice colour too!

Have fun.

[miniJJ]

Thanks guys! I really love this little car already.

I'm already contemplating a fiesta brake conversion, together with 10x6 wellers, black arches and roof. I know I can get most of the parts for the brake conversion from my local scrapyard, which is what is tempting me.

But I think I'll put it on hold until I've passed my test. That may be more important!

Thanks!

JJ

[miniJJ]

Update for you guys! Merry Christmas! My driving lessons are going very well, and I should have my full licence within a few months.

I've moved the wiring loom for the rear lights etc to behind the dash, so tidier engine bay. I've also made a custom dash from mdf, which will house the 3 clocks, headunit and my megajolt for tuning. Maybe some extra gauges. Yes, I bought myself a megajolt kit! Soldered it all together myself, tested it and it works! I now have all of the parts I need to fit it, so I'm now getting stuck into removing all of the standard ignition.

Parts to fit:

Megajolt ECU, MAP sensor option
Megajolt sequential shift light (very pretty)
Ford EDIS Module, Ford coil pack
Trigger wheel, will be mounted to standard 998 pulley
Trigger wheel bracket, homemade, bolts to radiator lower mount

So last night I removed the radiator (more involved than I thought) and I'll be removing the pulley tomorrow in order to mount up the trigger wheel.

Very excited with how this is progressing, should be a fun little car to drive! pictures will follow as soon as possible.

JJ

[jameslb101]

Looks like a neat car. What are your plans once you've passed your test?

[miniJJ]

Basically get as much fun and driving out of it as I can! Like I said in the first post, I have a style in mind, which will hopefully materialise over the next year. After a year or two with the 998, drop in something a little more exciting, when insurance is more bearable.

I bought the megajolt mainly for increased reliability, not performance. No dizzy's etc to worry about, should be pretty much a maintance free ignition system, can only be good in the British weather!

JJ

[rasputin22]

Let us now how the engine runs after you have fitted megajolt to your 998. Be nice to find out what difference it makes for you.

[miniJJ]

Update:

Megajolt in and running: and first impressions are good! Even on a basic stage 1 998, the engine feels much more resposive and smooth throughout the rev range, (and sounds much better!) although I've only given it a short drive at the moment. I'm using a map I found on the autosportlabs website, for a stage 1 998 mini another user had mapped. (lucky eh? feels much better than on the dizzy, but I'm sure it could do with some fettling)

Anyway, pictures: (note extra wires in glovebox are for the sequential shiftlight, which will be fitted inside the glovebox soon)









Other updates (not pictured) include homeade dash, using walnut clock face and glovebox from a scrapped mini; and black carpets from a scrapped cooper. (£10 for a mint carpet set! )

To come: black seats and doorcards, black bonnet stripes along with a external aerial (wing or roof mounted? I prefer wing mounted on a mini but should I drill a rust free wing?) remove dizzy, fit blanking plug.

Thanks!

JJ

Edited by miniJJ, 24 January 2010 - 08:57 PM.

[BenH]

really nice mini youve got there. those wheels look pretty cool and in good nick.
how much was that megajolt kit?

[rasputin22]

Very neat installation, any chance you can put some pictures up on autosportlabs too please??

Did you have to richen the mixture up at all? Alot of people find they do going to megajolt.

Don't do either with the aerial. You can get ones which stick on the windscreen and provide a much better signal. They have an in built amplifier so require a 12v supply which isn't really a problem.

[miniJJ]

Hi, Thanks for the comments guys.

The megajolt cost me about £120 all in, but I saved money by sourcing EDIS parts locally, buying the MJ in kit form (soldering it myself), and getting a local machinists to weld a trigger wheel to the standard pulley for free.

I haven't adjusted the mixture at the moment (never done it before, to be honest) as it seems to be running OK as it is. Saying that, a neigbour give me a colortune kit the other day, so may have a go with this.

Hmm, I had a internal arial but was never impressed with the reception.... I'll have a think.

Cheers, JJ

[miniJJ]

Long overdue update. Since last time I've stripped and resprayed the rear valance, sorted out the boot floor repairs, and generally give her some attention. Should be on the road in May, providing I pass my test at the end of the month.

Car as it stands:







Waiting for some parts to arrive now, KAD quickshift (thanks to R1minimagic) , hevay duty adjustable tie bars and polyflex bushes for the front suspension. Also, I decided the route I want to go with it, RETRO RALLY! so I'm looking out for:

MK1 grille and moustache
works light bar with 7" spots
fiesta brake conversion and 10" wheels
dished steering wheel, some comfy buckets
works replica dashboard or fibreglass (unsure)
RAC Dural sumpguard, (looks the mutts nuts)

Cheers, JJ

[arris]

Looking great nice plans for it, hows the megajolt workin?

[miniJJ]

Cheers, Megajolt seems to be working great, although the cars only been around the block a few times with it. Will give a proper review of it when it's on the open road. Happily, the reliability has improved so much with it, starts so easily and quickly; you never have to worry about a wet dizzy either!

JJ