427 replies to this topic

[MJWarren]

Right well ive already started this project off on my local mini forum but thought id copy it over to this one too. im i started doing this at the start of march so ill update from the start.

It was originally a 998 city E when i brought it at the age of 16 and after tinkering around with it it looked like this.

 Mini_1.jpg   47.51K   170 downloads


I then decided to do some bits and bob to the engine to get more power so put a stage 1 kit on it. Then after this the craving for more power came and i uprated to a 1330cc lump done by smart performance and a stage 3 head with fast road cam.


 1330_engine_bits.png   179.34K   116 downloads

Was said to be making around the 90 bhp marl but never properly ran it in before i started stripping the car down again.

So i dont really know what happened next other than it was coming up to winter and knew the car wouldn't get much use so i started stripping it down. I knew some panels would need replacing but at this stage i thought id be able to do them myself.

 Mini_2_2.jpg   1.28MB   87 downloads

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[MJWarren]

Well i then had stripped it right back to the bare shell and didnt really know where to start because as everyone will know you find some rust then more, then more and then more. So i decided to get it sent off to Old Skool minis in birmingham

 shell.jpg   78.23K   27 downloads

The first idea was to get it sprayed in ford Nordic green but that later went off my mind and jaguar F! racing green soon became the colour which also has had its problems.

after this point i brought a fiesta ST which was the worst decision of my life, so then the project came to a hault a bit.

I started work on the subframes and looked at the rear one and couldnt quite believe the state of it, so it had to be binned. i brought a new one for the rear and the front one seemed to be ok, probably because of all the oil slick coming out of the engine.

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 Front_subframe_primed.jpg   1.43MB   25 downloads


 Rear_subframe_primed.JPG   149.82K   33 downloads

Attached Files

•  shell.jpg   78.23K   19 downloads

[MJWarren]

i then brought some new bits and bobs for the subframes

 Adjustable_tie_rods.jpg   47.81K   14 downloads
 Goodrich_hoses.jpg   51.18K   19 downloads
 new_suspension_bits_1.jpg   58.13K   51 downloads

[MJWarren]

I then saw a dash i like and went to collect it from essex and it has come out of a mini miglia racer. i believe its a Curley carbon dashboard.
 carbon_dash_2.jpg   76.46K   36 downloads


 carbon_dash_3.jpg   81.94K   45 downloads

 carbon_dash_1.jpg   66.65K   62 downloads

[MJWarren]

I then started back on the subframes by buying all the bolts i needed.

 new_subframe_bolts.jpg   59.41K   20 downloads

 Primed_drive_shafts.jpg   58.7K   19 downloads
 primed_ball_joint.jpg   60.93K   20 downloads
 rear_arm_assembly.jpg   63.41K   25 downloads
 new_subframe_bits.jpg   52.89K   10 downloads

[MJWarren]

 Front_subframe_nearly_complete.jpg   51.22K   11 downloads
 Rear_arms_totally_complete.jpg   82.41K   36 downloads
 front_brake_set_up.jpg   88.6K   33 downloads


This is the stage where i sold my fiesta to free up some cash for the project.

[MJWarren]

So i had a 1330cc engine that was great but it was just a question of whether i wanted to put it back in the car. I really wanted something special and now because im a bit older and have more money to spend i decided on a KAD 16 valve build. This was not something i decided with no research it took quite a few months to review all the options i had and speak to a number of different engine tuners. If anyone is doing anything like this i really do suggest they set up a budget thed like to spend because you are definitely going to get more and more things need doing and uprating the further down the line you get.

so i needed to find a crank because i didnt have a spare at the time so i just started stripping down the 1330 engine to see what we had to work with.

I then later thought that stripping down a perfectly goood engine to make another would be a bit pointless so this engine will be made up and sold.



 1330cc_engine_1.jpg   70.89K   69 downloads
 1330cc_engine_2.jpg   66.7K   39 downloads
 1330cc_engine_3.jpg   69.83K   65 downloads

[MJWarren]

so I went to the Himely Hall mini show with my dad

I ended up buying a 1275gt crank for my new engine. Also i have spoke to a few people about what diff i should be use with the KAD engine im aware that itll have to be a cross pin diff but wasnt sure on the gearing. in the end i went for a 3.2 which should be a good balance between the 3.44 weekend warrior diff and the 2.9 boggy one.

I really really really didnt want to go for straight cut gears on this new engine but it really does need them and with all the power im not risking going for standard ones.

Can anyone recommend good straight cut gear sets?

also brought a central oil pickup from guess works and a screen wash bottle.

i will be using the 998 gearbox casing and some of the gears as these arent in bad condition at all seeing as though theve not had much power going through them.

Got the carbon bonnet too!

 998_gearbox.jpg   64.94K   51 downloads
 Carbon_fibre_Bonnet.jpg   77.33K   46 downloads
 crank.jpg   68.45K   18 downloads
 Central_oil_pickup.jpg   66.96K   18 downloads
 Diff_3.2.jpg   61.58K   11 downloads

[MJWarren]

This was last week when i went to see my car at old skool minis, coming along nicely.
 Mini_replacement_front_2.jpg   78.7K   102 downloads
 Mini_front_end_replacement_1.jpg   73.51K   73 downloads

[MJWarren]

I then packaged up the block crank rods and standard cam to be sent to KAD with a trustworthy mate haha.

I will be taking the gearbox down myself when it is built up
 1.jpg   72.23K   19 downloads

Now we are up to date on where i am in my project.

had a bit of a problem this week, i started trying to find the paint code for Jaguar f1 pearl racing green the colour i really wanted the car but i couldnt find the paint code anywhere on the internet or any place in derby. so i knew the colour was used on later TVR's too but also couldnt find a correct paint code for the colour on the TVR forums either.
 tvr_f1_green_attempt.jpg   31.92K   13 downloads


another little problem ive had is that since im using the gear transfer case off the 998 engine i used to have ive had to drill and cut it to take the crankl case breather. 998s have only one breather on the tappet cover 1275s have two one on the transfer gear case and one on the timing cover.
 transfer_gear_case.jpg   58.28K   23 downloads

[Midas Mk1]

Looking Good, love the carbon bonnet, but I thought when using the kad twin cam head, you had to use their bonnet with the clearance bulge in it?

[MJWarren]

Looking Good, love the carbon bonnet, but I thought when using the kad twin cam head, you had to use their bonnet with the clearance bulge in it?

Yeah i think that will be the case, the bonnet i had before the rebuild anyway so im going to try and see if it fits or with a bit of cutting maybe? if not ill have to buy the KAD one

[Jayme 1275]

Il be keepin a eye on this thread.

Have you tried asking in a jaguar garage? Why dont you just stick with the red and black it's hard to beat

[MJWarren]

Il be keepin a eye on this thread.

Have you tried asking in a jaguar garage? Why dont you just stick with the red and black it's hard to beat

Yeah i didnt get very far though, they said they had never heard of the paint and that it was a one off. i thought i might as well change the colour as everythng else is being changed.

[MJWarren]

Got a new bit today only a small bit but its good to gather the parts up, the engine is going to be 8 weeks so plenty of time to start the rebuild.

Got this for DSN classics after seeing it in a mini mag.

 IMG_0135.jpg   987.25K   37 downloads

i think im going to get my pedals powder coated and get one of there billet accelerator pedals too

Also the 1330 engine is now up for sale if anyone is interested, pm me for details