72 replies to this topic

[RayBoogs]

Well I thought it was about time I started a thread, as the car blew up about a year ago...

Right a little back story to fill you in, this is how i got it, bought off my dad when he got his Audi 80 wagon





It looked pretty decent, but 2 years on the road as a daily drive had taken its toll on the old girl. Turns out aftera bit of a poke around from me and then the MOT man it need new floors and a new front end. After all that I got it some nice new wheels and brakes, and this is how it was







Until this happened







So after this happened I thought it would be a good idea to get a new mini so I happened across this little'un


(1275 metro engined mini 25)

done a bit of work on it to tidy it up and made it look like this




But I found myself tinkering with this one more than my Cooper and I was getting annoyed with mini's draining all my money so I sold it, with the best intentions of getting something modern and more reliable but....


(1.8 8v 90's mk2 GTi)

I got this and bought some coilovers and dropped it, and thats how its stayed as I've been working on the Cooper.

More updates to come, with a little less blabbing on hopefully,

[RayBoogs]

So my plans for the Mini

Body:

RUST, yep still got some... rear end mainly.
tube the rear arches
other than that keep it looking simple

Wheels:

Definitely 10's not sure whether to keep wide wellers or get some narrow ones and try for some tuck (most probably won't work haha).

Engine:

Keep the SPi injection and tune it, thinking to start off with:
sw5-07
Big valve 12g940 head
standard rockers
Lightened flywheel
and strengthen the bottom end.

eventually want something similar to this: http://www.theminifo...57#entry2027257

[RayBoogs]

Another update,

Started stripping the engine




I got this far and realised that with my limited knowledge of engine building, it'd be easier to buy another unit and strip and build the fast engine out of the car, also giving me a chance for a re-bore and more time to learn about engine building rather than rushing it :)

so I bought this unit, from R1minimagic, same engine as my old one so its just a straight swap with the injection system.





So hopefully I'll be dropping this one in in the next month or so, maybe with a new cam and head if I can afford it!

I'm aiming to get it going again in time for L2B so got a few months yet!

Edited by RayBoogs, 17 January 2012 - 11:20 AM.

[RayBoogs]

A bit of bodywork

engine bay at the moment



Want to try and "smooth" the engine bay hiding as much of the wiring as possible, and possibly mount the ECU inside the car next the the instrument panel.

Rear end, stripped out the lights and the petrol tank,



found this...





with help from my new favorite toy



Basically the boot floor has detached itself from the rear seem all along the rear, so I have this, the first of many panels I imagine



and this on the rear valance



its the same both sides, forgot to photograph the other side, but it was worse where the fog bracket was mounted and rusted to it and rusted a huge hole in the panel.

started on the doorsteps not too bad just some surface rust that needed tidying up



stripped out the interior as well, nothing bad in here, probably the only place!!



more updates soon!

[RayBoogs]

More progress.

Cut out the rust in the boot




The leftovers




Found a bit more rust on the box section at the end of the valence nothing too serious!




And I started to clean the engine ready for paint and got it inside, keep it out of them rain!
Before:



After:



More soon.

[mini_man_dan]

Nice thread! The cooper looks so good on tens, going to lower it at all? im currently modding a spi and have pretty much the same engine plan as you going on, be very interesting to see how this goes!

p.s: love the golf! cant beat a slammed vw. well a mini can

[RayBoogs]

cheers mate! Yeah I got the vw to help with not having a mini!

Yeah will be lowering it, tube the rear arches too get it lower. Use lowered shocks as well so it doesnt scrub out! And oh yeah got to love 10's just look so good!

[RayBoogs]

Another little update!

Haven't done much as it was too cold, my plan was to start painting the engine, but the paint was frozen , turns out paint freezes at -9.... haha.

So decided to do some more poking and pulling and grinding at the rear valance, and it has seen better days, and instead of trying to bodge a repair I decided to cut it off and order a new one!

Also I have got the car on a solid grounding and got it on axle stands and started stripping the running gear ready for some nice new suspension bits :)

Placed an order with minspares for:

2 radius arm repair kits
full car wheel bearings
-2.0 lower arms and bushes
tie rod bushes
rear valance panel

I'll get some photos up soon of the progress, maybe tonight, who knows!! haha

[RayBoogs]

Right some pictures

got these in the post today




My dog being very interested in my rear valance..

Will be stripping the suspension this weekend and finding what else I need, then, hopefully it will all be going back in soon, with some hi-los and some lowered shocks

[RayBoogs]

Got a good load of work done this weekend on the mini!

Got it onto a firm ground not just mud.




Then got the car on axle stands and started stripping the front suspension




Need a cone compressor to get the top arm and front cones out

All the old stuff!



Will be re-using the tie-rods, just tidy them up a bit!

Now the rears and the radius arms...



Got the shock off, then got a bit stumped and turned to the haynes manual.






All this for a radius arm...



The radius arm bracket bolts have seen better days! Good old rust!



One arm ready for stripping..





And thats as far as I got, Hopefully will get the other radius arm off this week, remove the rear valance, prep for welding them on and prep for tubing the rear arches. Stay tuned!

[miniman24]

Looks great, how did it handle on the wide wellers? Did it stay in a straight line on bumpy roads (ie no bump steer)? Ive just bought a set and they look very wide Great work!

[RayBoogs]

Cheers mate! I really should update this again soon!!

When I bodged them on with an inch spacer over the 8.4" discs the handling was ok, suffered a bit from bump steer and tram lining, but felt like it was on rails on a smooth road, I converted to cooper s setup and it got rid of the bump steer etc and still handled awesome, its really forgiving with the big tyres I love them!

[RayBoogs]

Well I haven't updated this in a good long while! So here goes!




Finally got both radius arms off, but instead of repairing them, I'm going to get recon'd ones.




Bit of rust repair on the rear quarter, luckily this time no holes



Spoke too soon





Rust under the servo mount (now been primed and sprayed). Had to wrestle this bugger off though...



Wasn't fun

Cut the rear valence off



Old and new!



Oh and a little sneak of something I got given as well.



Since these photos, I've got off the front cones and top arms, and got some hi-lo's, lowered spax adjustables and adjustable rear camber brackets! But silly old me forgot knuckle joints so waiting for those till I can put them in. Also waxolyed front and rear arches and painted the rear subframe after de-rusting it. So hopefully when I get the new radius arms, Which I'll be ordering this week, the rear suspension can go back on and it can come off the axel stands! HOOOOOO-RAAAAYYYY

Stay tuned, maybe I'll update sooner next time!

[nev_payne]

Keep up the good work chap, be sure to treat those rust areas thoroughly.

[RayBoogs]

I will do! Can't remember the last time I had a drill bit in my drill and not a wire brush attachment!