427 replies to this topic

[Artful Dodger]

hey there:)

got myself another project! the red one has gone but id much rather have this! it is a mk2 cooper S that has been prepared to run in the 1980 mini mig championship. I bought off a member on here, Pikey7 a few weeks ago but had a few race meets i was working at, so this was waiting untill today!

anyway, pictures:P



finally arrived at its new home:)



full john aley aluminium roll cage 8) polished or resprayed matt black as per original??



the tyres it was running on! 1980 dunlop racing tyres, used once! unfortunatly too gone to use but may keep my hands on them to fit them at shows, as i intend to restore this right back to as it was racing



in its garage, look at the tyres!!

testing fitting steels8)





and the strip down begins! should have it stripped tuesday ready for sandblasting at the end of the week:)









a little jack plug to start the car when racing, battery cut off switch in its recessed hole ( very well done!!)



steering rack bar ( will be replaced with a steel one, a little ally tube just cant cut it) and a weber box with air feed



routing of brake lines ( exellent)



end of day

and no more, until tomorrow:)

Edited by Artful Dodger, 30 September 2012 - 08:50 PM.

[alex-95]

Look's like another great project there, Have you found any history on it?

[afrance94]

looks awsome carnt wait to see it fuly done, do you have any pictures of what you want to get it looking like never seen a 80's miglia before, and good look aswell

[rich2]

That's a really interesting car! Does it really have no boot floor, or has it rusted out? I love the holes cut in the valance to save weight! It would be great to hear about its history. Do you know if it won anything?

[Artful Dodger]

This is what it looked like! Just no rust 8) it dropped a valve at a race and had the engine removed. It was stuck In a barn and sat ever since:) t has not got a boot floor, there is a fuel tank sitting in its place:) its been completely cut out, and there is holes drilled EVERYWHERE! It has all gone rusty at the back but I will be drilling the valence holes etc. when i rebuild the rear end. I plan to leave the boot floor out, but brace the rear subframe mounts so it regains the strength. It will be in effect a space frame rear end.

There is a complete history of this car because the man who owned it right from the word go is still around, and I am awaiting a write up of its history:). I do know that some of the parts were modified at longbridge, such as the very lightweight and unique door hinges. The machining is a work of art! Also, every sharp edge where the seat pan and boot floor was cut out has been rolled over, love attention to detail!

Edited by Artful Dodger, 30 September 2012 - 10:27 PM.

[jaydee]

Wow thats a nice find!

[Artful Dodger]

Thanks:).

Removed the brake lines and rear subframe this evening. The rear subframe has been massively lightened!! Holes everywhere, not sure on strength but it sure is light!! Its got proper BL ST camber brackets on it and a wierd bump stop set up on the radius arms, pics tomorrow:)

[jaydee]

I've heard about the radius arm bump stops its a mod the racing guys did years ago, if you ask roy (bmcecosse) he'll know the details.

[Artful Dodger]

yeah, looks like a good idea, just a plate thats bolted to the radius arm:)

anyway, bit of a pic heavy one, more of a reference for myself than anything else



















mum was none too pleased about this outside her kitchen XD tough!





who needs a boot floor??



holey moley its been lightened, but i wonder about the strength of the rear end after all that cutting??? certainly having some mode before thats going back in!









mega - super lightweight metal doors!



some colour chips we knocked up at work, matted blue and a lighter blue for the roof, all exactly matched to the faded paint!







the matte effect paint!! looks exactly the same as 30 year old faded blue! if anyone wants a real matt black paint job then look no further!



cut the sills off before blasting



all original, very good for a 40 year old car!



why is there a bracket in the sill with a bolt in it??





rescued a door sticker







rose jointed bottom arms, exellent 8)


someone been jacking on the tie rod? naughty!


and its off for blasting now, dropped it off this evening. should be back next week but i really would like to finish the clubman before i plough on with this, as it has to go to the garage to be welded, as our welder and sport welder is there, and having 2 of my cars there in a 7 car repair garage cant be none too good for buisness 8)

that is all folks!

Edited by Artful Dodger, 04 October 2012 - 07:33 PM.

[Minidarren83]

hope you dont mind i borrowed one of your pics for reference on a technical question

looks like it will be a very interesting build ill be watching. darren

[afrance94]

carnt wait to see it after blasting, hope its not bad enough too not repair it

[Artful Dodger]

No problem at all:)

And yes i can't wait! The shell is incredibly solid for its age, I'm expecting there to be some holes but apart from that it's just replacing what isn't there!! The floor is very solid even when it looks like what it does in the pictures

[afrance94]

if its been a race car wouldnt of been in any salt and cleaned regularly, whats the engine spec guna be?

[leaky]

Also are you planning on using this on the road or just as a track toy?

[Artful Dodger]

engine should be a good, fast 998. hopefully, if the man sells me the engine, a 998 miglia 8)

roady track toy:) less hardcore as my clubman but still a quick car:P

I got it back from sandblasting today looking very good! iner sills were to be expected but the floor pans were a bit worse than i expected..





























managed to keep the stickers on!! aaw yeah!

and some of me clubman, had a sudden love of my wheel / arch combo 8)







hells yeh:P

oh, and i destroyed a mini! mwahahaha na its just the rear end of a scrapped mk2. anyone need a mk2 / mk1 rear bulkhead let me know:)

Edited by Artful Dodger, 11 October 2012 - 06:59 PM.