66 replies to this topic

[JamesGodfrey1992]

Its been 4 years since my little mini has seen any daylight and i have decided that now its time to get it looking exactly how i want with maybe some unique touches along the way. 

This is how it was looking 4 years ago : 

 

 

And This is how its looking currently: 
 

 

 

My Plans are to completely strip and the interior and start from square one again and resorting to a 2 seater with a neat looking install where the rear seats would be and replace the current rover tomcat front seats for more supportive bucket seats. Currently the engine is a 998cc, but i have a 1380 metro turbo in the garage that i would love to get fitted by next year, i just need to get more knowledge on whats required to do so. 

Parts on the way this week are : 
new radius arms
1.5 negative degree lower arms
Complete polybush kit
New 8.4" brake discs and pads
Ngk spark plugs

8mm Ht Leads
4x New shock absorbers
2x Ball joints
2x Track rods
Service Kit 
Adjustable Tie-arms
Wipac Led Angel Eyes with Hid Bi-xenon kit
Wax oyl to

I'm also considering Vinyl Wrapping it for a fresh new look, however the imperial blue when polished looks stunning 

[the beasts]

wow ! Great bones to start a restore with, Im watching this thread constantly , awesome mini you have mate.

[HarrysMini]

Looks good, I'll be following.

 

Is that that the Ford Imperial blue?

[steven]

Looks like a nice mini

Will be better if it's got a turbo engine

Good luck !

[JamesGodfrey1992]

wow ! Great bones to start a restore with, Im watching this thread constantly , awesome mini you have mate.

 

Thanks mate, its a solid shell just the underneath stuff needs refreshing more than anything 

 

 

Looks good, I'll be following.

 

Is that that the Ford Imperial blue?

 

Thank you, 

Yeah thats the one 

[HarrysMini]

Nice, that's the colour mines going to be. Looking forward to some pictures of it polished up (if you're keeping it, that is).

[JamesGodfrey1992]

The Stripping down has started and so far its going really well, there's been a few trouble some nuts and bolts, nothing the angle grinder cant sort out though. 

I've started on the rear and once that whole area is complete i will get the front subframe and engine out and start the whole refurbishment on that area. 

1st job was to drop the complete subframe ready for stripping and ready for the new radius arms, rear drum assembly's, all bushes replaced for powerflex ones and to complete seal the underneath with anti stone chipping paint then wax oyl. 
 

Next up was to remove the radius arms and rear drum assembly, both of these are being replaced with new parts which will hopefully be here by tomorrow. 

 

Next up i wire brushed the subframe to find its in solid condition with light surface rust. 

 

Then primer'd it ready for a coating of anti stone chipping paint and after that i will paint it in black hammerite. 

 

 

Coated with anti stone chipping paint. 

 

 

And whilst all that was drying a gave the underneath of the shell a clean and a thick coating wax oyled, making sure the arches are completely sealed. 

 

 

I will be given them another coat once its all dry. 
Hopefully i will have more updates by sunday evening 

[JamesGodfrey1992]

Been a few weeks since i updated this as i was waiting on a few parts arriving. Thankfully they turned up before the christmas and that let me continue with the refurb of my mini. 

All the new parts compared to parts getting replaced : 

New Radius Arms:
 

 

Replacement rear assemblies: 


 

New brake drums to replace the tacky red ones :

 

 

Before fitting the parts i gave them a protection coat of black hammerite: 

 

 

____

 

Next up was to get the subframe back onto the shell and start reassembling it  : 

 

 

Hi Lo kit fitted and you can see the replacement polybushes fitted:

 

 

Next up the radius arm, Alloy handbrake quadrant and 1.5 degree camber bracket :

 

 

Where i got to before the end of the day was fitting the shock absorbers, rear assembly's and the hubs: 

 

 

 

So far so good 

[wilz1234]

Looks fantastic! Very tidy

[JamesGodfrey1992]

Thanks mate :)

[JamesGodfrey1992]

The stripping of the front has started and so far everything has went really smoothly.


I started by removing the Calipers and then the Swivel hubs as there getting new balls joints and painted up to look good as new.

 

 

Old Ball joints compared to new ones :



Next up i drained the engine of all of its oil, most it was over the gearbox anyway due to the seals being perished in every possible place, as your be able to see in the next couple of pictures where i'm removing the gearbox rod




Finally i removed the last pieces around the engine which will allow me to remove it with ease. (Manifold, brake servo, distributor cap, leads, alternator, engine steady bars etc.)




And now the little 998cc is already for me to remove it

[JamesGodfrey1992]

Once the engine is removed i will likely start the rub down of the body work and get it all prepped for its fresh new look which i'm hoping i can pull off :)

[JamesGodfrey1992]

Well i got the engine out this morning along with the front subframe which came at the price of some slices in the fingers.  mini's! 

Engine tied up ready to be lifted :



In progress :



And its out 




Next up to get the subframe out:





Next up is to get bodywork prepped for painting and to strip down the subframe, repaint it and get the polybushes fitted 

[megamini_jb]

Cool, looks like you're making good progress. Will be following

[JamesGodfrey1992]

Cool, looks like you're making good progress. Will be following

 

Thanks mate :)