28 replies to this topic

[2Black]

A picture....

There is hope for repair but the front is quite bent...

[MaxAndPaddy]

.....Hope you can get her sorted

[jral4328]

Such a sad sight

[2Black]

This morning we made an immediate start on assessing the extent of the damage.
Took large part of the nose off and searched for traces of the impact through the subframe and chassis.
There is actually a mark left by the wheel in the wheelarch behind the door..., front edge of the chassis has been pushed inwards by the subframe. A sort of bubble 2 centimeters deep.
We've already tried straightening the car out. If we manage to get that sorted then restoring Bam Bam is a viable option.
Will take quite some labour and effort, not to mention cost.

We'll see....

Damage visible after removing the front bumper


Trying to straighten fron subframe beam. It is bent backwards and curled upwards.


Not very clear on the picture but the fron edge of the chassis has taken quite a hit. It is bent inward.

[2Black]

We're getting somewhere... still far from ready but my Mini has a new front.
Unfortunately the damage was so extensive that I can't afford a complete overhaul of the entire front of the car.
It's a case of getting it back on the road. For now that's the only goal.

[yellowmonster]

Oh man what a shame Collin..( me is http://www.axclub.ne...php?f=9&t=20132 or http://www.miniseven...rofile&u=106023 by the way)..
I was really looking forward seeing this Mini in real life during the "Achterhoek-rallye" ( http://www.miniseven...php?f=4&t=49215) this weekend..
Hope you can fix her and next time you cross paths with hares...

Edited by yellowmonster, 16 November 2011 - 06:57 PM.

[2Black]

Thx for the support Yellowmonster!
Today some replacement parts came in (bonnet, grill, spotlamps etc.) so I hope to be back on the road again a.s.a.p..
Due to the cold respraying the front will probably have to wait till spring.

nice too see this Citroën AX / Mini friendlyness... we're not the only ones

Edited by 2Black, 16 November 2011 - 08:52 PM.

[yellowmonster]

AX, CX, Mini...I'm a 'jack of all trades' haha.
Get her fixed (and resprayed) and perhaps till some Cit/Mini-meet!

[2Black]

Well, finally getting somewhere...
Due to the cold weather progress on getting Bam Bam back on the road has been very slow these last couple of weeks.
Everything from kit to primer and paint takes ages to dry.

But, today we finally got started on putting the car back together again and hopefully we'll finish that tomorrow.
After that we'll find out if we have succeeded in getting Bam Bam straightened out after the accident.
Can't wait to drive the thing again!

Picture taken this morning, at the moment only the grille is still missing.

[2Black]

I'm finally driving again!
It's not perfect yet, the rest will have to wait till spring.

[2Black]

Last post december 7th... that's a long time ago!
Well, got through the (relatively mild) winter just fine.
And then spring arrives and you can start fiddling with the car again...

So a couple of weeks ago I was with my Mini-specialist and we were talking about the oil that was leaking from various places around the engine.
Mmm..., maybe this is a good moment to put the 12G295 head on he said... then I can have access to the engine better anyway.
So sort of accidentally 'tuning' operations began. I had a inlet manifold, LCB and RC40 lying around since september last year destined to be used with that 12G295 head.


But then the troubles began... with fitting the RC40 exhaust.
You buy the exhaust and order a set of fitting clamps 'specially made for the RC40' and find that not 1 of the parts is the correct size for the RC40! Stupid and very frustrating. In the end fitted it with thing we had lying around and bought 2 extra clamps in the correct size.



Then the trouble really began, somehow we ran into every problem imaginable with incorrect thread sizes, incomplete gasket sets, not enough space for the ramstack (fits on all Mini's!!!) and all kinds of small setbacks.
In the end we could'nt get it running because we simply did'nt have a SU-needle that came close to what was needed.
Ordered 2 new needles that are supposed to be ok for this type of stage 1½ tuning, along with a bigger spring (red) and took it from there.
When these 2 needles also didn't work in lower rpm ranges we took exact measurements of all the needles we had and finally found one that offered a sort of 'best of all worlds' size which we then adapted a bit more. That needle finally got the engine running.

Also I've now fitted a braking servo which in tandem with last years brake upgrade results in a car that also stops with comfort.

Happy again! Lots of extra power and more agility when passing or joining faster traffic on the highway.
Am now planning too participate in some Mini events in my area, joining with fellow Mini owners.

[2Black]

O... and by the way... I also have this other project waiting... going to be quite a job I fear.
Getting this 1980 Van back on the road.

[station31]

Love what you've done with Bam Bam, do a project thread when you start doing the van, I'd love a van myself

[2Black]

@station31: http://www.theminifo...-1980-mini-van/
just opened that topic. Hope too update it soon.
Have reasonably wild plans for the Van...