72 replies to this topic

[guywithvan]

nice choice should make a nice motor for the summer ,keep the old a series and re build it for a spare in future use

[JordanRaisbeck]

love your car, the black is stunning, i bet its not half as bad for rust in the US than it is in the UK, hope u achieve all your goals,

jordan!

[rogue]

nice choice should make a nice motor for the summer ,keep the old a series and re build it for a spare in future use

The mini is definitely be fun on sunny days ripping around the canyons. Its a daily driver for me more than anything. With the R1 it will have about the same amount of low torque/hp around town like the current motor, yet if I feel like winding it out, I can do so. Love the idea of that, and if I could build an A series capable of winding to 13,500 I would.

I will most likely sell my motor here in the US. Its a 99h 998cc with a 1275cc head I think?

[rogue]

love your car, the black is stunning, i bet its not half as bad for rust in the US than it is in the UK, hope u achieve all your goals,

jordan!

In California we have minimal issues with rust. All 3 of my classic cars are CA born cars and rust free. Gotta love that. The mini has been redone by someone previously, and the paint/bodywork is pretty damn good. It actually has a purple candy base with the black sprayed over it. Its VERY subtle and no one even knows but me and the previous owners. I don't think whomever painted it got as much purple as they had hoped. Who knows. Or maybe the car was purple at one point all together?

This is a great project for me because I'm sick right now. So it keeps my mind busy when I'm home sick for 3-4 days at a time. Its amazing how much support the mini has aftermarket wise.

Reminds me of my old beetle but even more fun.

[Chris C]

You're 6'5" and used to have a bug too?

I'm fairly certain you're a Chris C doppelganger.

[rogue]

You're 6'5" and used to have a bug too?

I'm fairly certain you're a Chris C doppelganger.

Us tall guys LOVE small cars for some reason. I love the Shelby Cobra as well but don't fit....

[rogue]

I've been feeling pretty sick lately so I've had a lot of down time at home. Decided to strip some of the front end of more paint and reveal some more stainless...

With the newly stripped grill.

off they come..



A quick scrubbing of the lenses and it appears as if the previous owner has sprayed the lenses with black paint as well... damn.



Before trying the stripper on the plastic, I tested it on some scrap plastic first


Spray down the headlight trim


Everything ready to wait


After about 45minutes the paint just slides off with my finger. Pretty cool


After putting them back on, I think I need to strip the inner headlight trim as well. It looks... cheap, like a rubber gasket or something



Blinker trim and lenses done. The lenses fogged up. I will order some new ones. No surprise there.

Pardon the poor image quality, it was nearly dark

[rogue]

So I have a bunch of parts en route from Minispares. My order from Moss Motors was half-assed and missing half of what I ordered. I ordered a new grill, new grill surrounds, new blinkers, new bumpers, new tail light lenses, new demister vents, all new Austin Mini MK1 badging front and rear and some new shocks because I believe the current ones are blown.

I also ordered replacement brackets for the bulkhead where the upper steady bolts to. Both the upper and lower bracket. I attempted to repair the existing bracket by welding a washer in, but it cracked within a few days of driving. New engine mounts are going in as well, along with the shocks and brackets.

I have noticed driving around that Los Angeles drivers do not notice me, so I've decided to upgrade the lighting to HID. I got these 'projector' headlights and have ordered a 6000k HID kit as well.




If the lighting is too 'blue' I will swap out the bulbs with 4300k. Visibility is my main goal here. I want people to notice me so I don't get killed by a big SUV.


This should get the car driveable for the next month or so while I wait for Pro-Motive to get the subframe kit. I also shipped them the R1 wiring harness for conversion.

I have spoken to a couple shops locally about an R1 motor and finding one is not difficult at all. Finding one without damage on the other hand seems to be quite a chore. I will be going with the 2003 R1 5PW with injection so I can wire in a start button like this:



I'm getting excited about this.

[mighty mini jack]

Nice update there Rogue, look forward to seeing more!

[Robert]

Lovely car! It is looking so much better now that it is a little less black.

I reckon the previous owner must have stuck it in a spray booth and blown black paint all over it!

[rogue]

Lovely car! It is looking so much better now that it is a little less black.

I reckon the previous owner must have stuck it in a spray booth and blown black paint all over it!

Thanks. Yeah I'm pretty confident it was just a sprayover. The contrast is making it a lot more classy.

I just ordered this nardi wheel and a hub as well...

[rogue]

Wheels came. Minor rubbing on the front of the sport pack flares. I need more flare over the front tires I believe. Carbon Miglia arches may be in my future...

Some pix...







This is my 2nd time under the car and my first time with the wheels off... Surely AP racing brakes aren't standard nor ever were?

Edited by rogue, 12 February 2010 - 01:53 AM.

[rogue]

Also, out of curiosity, these aren't adjustable hilos are they? It'd be nice not to have to spring for a set...

[Chase]

yep ap racing brakes standard

doesnt look like you have hi lows.


Great looking car man. Love the wheels. where did you pick them up from?

Edited by Chase, 12 February 2010 - 09:04 AM.

[MateyTheMini]

Wow, i'm liking it.. looks very mysterious and i love the interior!