575 replies to this topic

[minivanman]

Your just jealous that I'll be done before you

[RacingGreen]

You're going to be done a long time before me too, you fancy coming and doing my RSP? Since you're getting on with yours so fast

[Dog]

Your just jealous that I'll be done before you

Ohhh I don't think so
building my engine atm... so further than you

[minivanman]

Ha! running one mini and restoring another is more than enough of a challenge! Had to have a drive flange replaced on the blue one today ( lucky I hoard spare parts )and two tyres on the front. Victims of enthusiastic cornering I think :'(

Hopefully this weekend should see the welding about done, then I can start fillering it. The guy who has the unit next to ours reckons I'll need a readymix truck full of filler to get it looking okay. Mind you, he said that we'd be run out of petrol before I got it back on the road. Nothing like a challenge is there?

*edit*

building my engine atm... so further than you tongue.gif

My engine is already built! just need to switch the head on it and its done. So na na na naah

Edited by minivanman, 09 February 2007 - 11:59 PM.

[Dog]

Oh you bitach!
How dare you sneak past me!!

I'm at the sanding stage on the shell thou... but still got things like doors, front, boot, and then the dreaded wiring

Anyways, what you hoping the Van to look like now?
Colour wise etc?

[minivanman]

Its gonna be a close thing! If work stays quiet like it is atm, I wont be very long finishing the bodywork off. As it stands the plan is almond green paintjob, possibly with a cream roof, wood and picket arches. Trying to sort some brakes out for 10" wheels as well, but thats not really important. Basically an innnocent looking old mini van. But with a concealed flip front and a nice poky little motor. Inside I'm going more for comfort than stripped out style. The wiring is the bit that scares me too. I'll be using the MPi loom and chopping it about to fit the carb model. At least most of the work is done for me then!

[RacingGreen]

Any reason you're using the mpi loom?

[minivanman]

I'll have one from the car I'm breaking, and its in perfect unmolested condition. I'm using a few MPi bits as well so it will have the right plugs and everything on it as well. I'm going to cut all the injection bits out of it and remake it to fit exactly what I want. Thats the plan anyway.

[minivanman]

Whoohooo! All the panels are in! Finished the rear valence today. All thats left is some little patches and to fab up a tow bracket. We welded some nuts on the inside of the rear valence to mount the fuel tank to, instead of those crappy little plastic bungs. Repaired each end of the rear step, where some 'tard had abused it with a welder. I also think I've got some 4 pot brakes to fit under 10"s. Life is good!

[minivanman]

Ok then. Its official. I'm a complete pillock. Had a look at my twin carbs today to start getting them on an A series manifold. First task - get the old spacers off and the asbestos heat shields. Two sharp cracks with the BFH and a bit of levering, job done. Out of curiosity I measured the bore of the carb - 1.5". Bugger. I've been saying they are 1 3/8" cause thats what the air filter side is. oops. Next job - make em fit the a series manifold (thanks for that Dog) Cut the linkages down by 1/2", and the fuel pipe at the bottom, wonderful - right width. The studs on the a series manifold are about 2mm too big for the hole in the carb, so bang, bang, widen the holes with the pillar drill. Oh feck. Guess who drilled the two holes on the filter side of the carb? Followed by about 10 minutes of solid swearing.
Anyway, they go on the manifold, and thats the important thing.

[Dog]

Told you they we're 1.5"
That manifold "should" of fitted right on, as they were on mine, before I got my Wood & Picket one...
But Congets getting it on!

I just can't wait to get mine going!!

[minivanman]

Well, I think I may have had a rapid change of plan... Just picked up my mates MPi cooper, and damn its nice to drive. I'm really seriously considering just whacking the MPi into the van, its gonna save so much farting about. I'm keeping the other 1275 and my nice twin carbs as well so I can put all that into my blue mini when the insurance comes down a bit. Should get the van on the road much quicker as well.

[MINIMON]

how have you got them calipers to fit mate im intrigued and its looking amazing keep it up

[minivanman]

I'm buying them off Nikilah on here- they are metty four pots that have been machined to fit 7.5" cooper discs. I'm not entirely sure how its been done, but Nick ran them on his 1380 for a while so they arent a bodge job. I did hear something about someone like FRA converting these brakes to fit 10s, so they may be those ones. I'll get pictures up when I pick them up next weekend hopefully.

After loads of thinking and debating what to do, I still havent decided on what to do with the MPi. I'll see what surf blue have to say when I see them on Friday. The offside rear quarter has taken the hit, and its closed the door gap right up. From what people have said about MPi engines, it doesnt sound like they're too good, and working on them is a bit of a bu99er as well. So, if I do scrap it, I'll have the nice shiny MPi bits n bobs and flog the engine.

[not so mini]

Whoohooo! All the panels are in! Finished the rear valence today. All thats left is some little patches and to fab up a tow bracket. We welded some nuts on the inside of the rear valence to mount the fuel tank to, instead of those crappy little plastic bungs. Repaired each end of the rear step, where some 'tard had abused it with a welder. I also think I've got some 4 pot brakes to fit under 10"s. Life is good!

If you have got 4 pot calipers and they do fit 10in wheels please let me know what they are? what size disks do you have?

Ignore that I just got to the last post.

Edited by not so mini, 23 February 2007 - 08:11 PM.