6 replies to this topic

[MRD1984]

So i thought i would post a few pics and write a bit about my 1983 ex-police mini van...

I bought her off a friend at work as he needed some cash to emigrate to Australia...

Originally he had a 1992 mini saloon. the plan was to do a complete resto on it. but digging deeper into the shell he noticed that it would have been a big welding job.. like a lot of minis the tin worm had really set into it... so with a garage full of spares and no shell, a friend of his dads came along and offered him a bare (ex-police) van shell... upon reciept of the van it was sent to the grit blasters to get rid of any unwanted rust. what came back was a bare shell needing outer sills, doorstep panels, front panels, rear doors and main doors..

the car was then primered, painted and rebuilt and did a london to brighton a few years back...

this is how it looked when i bought it

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im sure a couple of you might recognise it as i know my mate was a member of this forum...

So the plan is to get it back on the road...


step 1: Paint
after sitting in a garage and being used as a parts shelf the car adopted some fairly sizeable scratches and was begining to rust.. some migh say that the van is perfectly ok and should be given a blow over in the spray booth... but me being me. Im going to respray it..

so in to the booth she goes:

 IMG_1625.JPG   124.13K   6 downloads
all rubbed down and ready for a coat of primer

 IMG_1631.JPG   55.07K   6 downloads
coat of primer on and flatted back

the doors and bonnet are waiting to get the same attention but i just have'nt had the time...

Step 2: Engine
The 1275 engine that came with the van was from the 1992 saloon that my mate was going to restore... it looked filthy and oily and crusty... so i set about rebuilding it.

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with everything stripped it was time to clean, machine and buy new bits... for all my machining work i am using JONSPEED in Nuneaton... they have been a great help and very informative.

here is a list of the things have had done to the engine so far:

rebore to 1310cc
SW5 camshaft
lightened and balanced flywheel
reground and balanced crank
i balanced the conrods end on end to 0.1 gram
+40 thou high compression pistons
new big end bearings
new main bearings
CNC'd combustion chambers
New bigger valve seats cut
new valve guides
double valve springs

nothing on this engine has been left untouched and everything external has been grit blasted, enameled and lacquered..

i just wish i could load more pictures!! the ones taken on my phone are too big!!

can anyone help??

for ignition i have just bought a megajolt system...

the only thing is that im a bit afraid to do the first fire up on this system as its unformiliar territory for me...

has anyone here ever done their first fire up of a new engine with this system? please let me know!!


For now anyway the engine is built. i had to order a 4 degree offset woodruf key to get my cam timing just right but apart from that its pretty much there...

next stop

the paint shop!!! cant wait!!!

[alex-95]

Looks like a great project, whats your plans body wise?
for picture's upload them to photobucket and copy the IMG code into your post. http://www.theminifo...mages-onto-tmf/

Edited by alex-95, 08 October 2012 - 08:08 PM.

[MRD1984]

Thanks!!

Body wise i am going to repaint it the same colour that i got the car in. Its called Diesel green and i a fiat colour... and just fit some legal arches to cover up the 13in wheels....

i was going to fit an original van front panel but as the van never came with one originally i am going to stick with the standard grill...

ill get some more photos up in a moment

thanks for the help!!

[MRD1984]

right!!

heres the engine!!

http://i1261.photobu...zpsc34b78ed.jpg

[minimikej]

Love the original colour, do you know what it was?

[SAL 821X]

Hi MRD,

With your new photobucket account, you need to copy the IMG link when you hover over the picture, then paste into here to show the picture without a link.

Where about's you based? (pm if you don't openly want to say) I'm over near Hinckley and used Jonspeed for my engine, Tony's a great guy always happy to have a chat and answer your questions, which reminds me I need to ring them actually.

I'm also doing a van build at the moment would be good to compare notes sometime if you fancied it.

Here's my labour of love if your interested.
http://www.theminifo...-metal-rebuild/

Will follow this one and welcome to the forum.

Cheers,

Matt

[MRD1984]

Hi Matt!

Small world!! 2 van projects very close to each other... I am just north of you by about 10 miles! But moving house next week to the big smoke (London) next week...

Your van looks great! I feel so lucky that mine is rot free!! You really have had a big job on your hands there! Great results though!!

Keep up the good work mate!

Mine is on hold until I have found a new home for it... Currently it is chillin out at a mates farm... Painting it in 2 weeks!!

All the best!!