17 replies to this topic

[weeally]

Evening,

 

Well before I start this thread thought Id start off with a bit of information on me, so gives you an idea of where I'm coming from.

 

In short, I rebuilt a mini when I was younger with my dad, he died and I sold it and it was a big mistake and ever since I said I would buy another one a rebuilt it myself. 

 

I have the tools and the space to do it. With only the knowledge I learnt from my dad, YouTube, and the vast knowledge on this I jumped back into It. Everything I have done is self learnt with some disasters and some successes. Its all a journey so I'm going to enjoy it. I try not to look at my bank balance though haha.

 

I bring you 

 20200919_140843.jpg   62.3K   3 downloads

 

Some of you might already have seen this but more information is posted in another thread if you wish to read. I did not pay anywhere near what they wanted so got a good deal on it in the end.

https://www.theminif...e-on-local-car/

 

 

 

[weeally]

Well the fun has already began. When I was looking around the car there were many problems which allowed me to haggle it down to a good price. I will start off by showing you some of them. I like a challenge and this will be one. I had to remove a few things to get a closer look as some of it was suspect.

 

Drives side rear wheel arch area

 20200926_121710.jpg   33.33K   0 downloads

 

Passenger side rear wheel arch area

 20200927_105025.jpg   45.96K   0 downloads

 

Inside boot area 

 20200926_154440.jpg   53.2K   0 downloads

 

Driver side A panel area 

 Drivers side 04.jpg   39.95K   0 downloads

 

Passengers side A panel area

 Passangers side 03.jpg   31.98K   0 downloads

 

I was able to remove the whole front without any damage to it so I could reuse it as the wings were new. But obviously whoever renewed them decided not to pay attention the flinch panels, closing panels and the door hinge panels as you can tell.

 

Front cleaned up slightly

 20210529_143707.jpg   115.91K   0 downloads

 

 

 

[weeally]

So I decided to start on the front no idea if this was the correct way but it worked out.

Again there is another thread to help me with my door hinge panels I thought id link into this thread

https://www.theminif...or-hinge-panel/

 

Passenger side in a dirty state

 20201212_125331.jpg   32.96K   1 downloads

 

Drivers side even worse 

 20201212_125339.jpg   42.41K   2 downloads

 

Driver side cut out

 20201227_154556.jpg   45.12K   0 downloads

 

Door hinge panel fitted in

 20201227_134451.jpg   46.42K   0 downloads

 

 

 20201227_164249.jpg   46.66K   0 downloads

 

I'm afraid that is all the pictures I had on this but all done.

[weeally]

Time to clean up the engine bay as you could probably tell its going to be a removable front (Steel not fibre glass), so had to install the bracing bars after the welding and clean up was done.

 

 1.jpg   32.62K   0 downloads

 2.jpg   35.43K   4 downloads

 3.jpg   28.65K   2 downloads

 4.jpg   50.61K   1 downloads

 5.jpg   46.35K   0 downloads

 

 

[weeally]

Removable front, A panels and bonnet all lined up and bits welded

 

Plates welded into the body on the corners to hold bonnet pins. Welded it into the frame using the metal trim already there to allow the water to run into the wheel wells.

 Front Bonnet corners.jpg   77.38K   1 downloads

 

Cleaned it all up fettling and making it more presentable to fit nicely with the removable front

 Drivers side.jpg   42.58K   2 downloads

 Passenger side.jpg   43.66K   0 downloads

 

Once all this was done, I continued to sort out the front making a panel for it to connect to the A panels and to the top of the corner pieces.

 Removable front.jpg   70.74K   0 downloads

 Removable front side.jpg   84.71K   0 downloads

 

Bonnet and front all on to make sure it all aligned correctly and fitted nicely one last time before removing it all again the prep for paint.

 Forward.jpg   54.79K   0 downloads

[weeally]

I know these have all been updated one after the other but this was of course all done over a long period of time.

I moved onto cutting out some small rust parts on the back panel near the arch and welded in small panels and cleaned up and then epoxy primed the metal areas before putting on some high build primer to get a good level before rubbing the whole car down to then cover it in high build primer 2 coats so i can all been smoothed and made even. Sorry I did not have any pictures of the welding i cannot seem to find them.

 

 Bonnet.jpg   51.81K   1 downloads

 Bonnet 01.jpg   49.37K   0 downloads

 rear.jpg   45.63K   0 downloads

 Driver side.jpg   49.29K   0 downloads

 Passanger side.jpg   50.11K   0 downloads

 driver.jpg   30.83K   0 downloads

 passenger.jpg   38.44K   0 downloads

 

 

[weeally]

As for the engine itself, its just a standard 1275 that was already in the car and ran sweet so not changing it just yet until I have the car completed and MOTed. I have 3 engines in my garage I can strip and have a turn at building one later down the line.

All that was done to the engine was cleaned with degreaser and power washed to make it oil free. Had it running few times now and no oil leaks as yet, good start.

It's run on a megajolt which I had a new harness done by WiredbyWilson (much appreciated, definitely recommend his work)

 

 20211107_115009.jpg   53.95K   3 downloads

[bpirie1000]

Bravo

[weeally]

As im looking to keep this tidy, when i ask questions I'll make a thread in the relevant areas on the site and then link it to here save bouncing back and forth.

 

I don't like to be doing nothing so always looking for the next job to get done whilst waiting on other jobs. I work away from home so having to use my time wisely and get as much done as possible to set me up for future jobs.

 

So looking way ahead i have these engines sitting and many engine parts, so i have a few question on this on how to get to look at what I have and how to store it once stripped.

https://www.theminif...fter-stripping/

[weeally]

Well festive antics are over and I've still got a few days off before disappearing with work. 

 

Went into the garage done a cleanup was going to prime the doors but the weather here was freezing so did not go down that route. Finished off the cars main body rubbing it down to 500 grit, just need to finish off the roof. Hopefully tomorrow the temperature rises so I can spot prime my doors and get them rubber down in a couple of days time. That should then be the body work complete ready for a respray. 

 

This whole process has killed my fingers block sanding is a nightmare and I really need to invest in a DA. Any recommendations for a hobbiest?

 

 20220104_153358.jpg   36.2K   1 downloads

 20220104_153410.jpg   54.56K   0 downloads

 20220104_153416.jpg   47.33K   0 downloads

 

 

Once this is out the way I will need to get the engine out and have a look at some of the seals, after running it today i have a found a leak from the timing cover area most likely oil seal. 

 

[weeally]

So wee update.

 

Finally got all the hard work out the way and body and parts were prepped ready to go away and get sprayed.

I really need to invest in a DA my fingers are hurting from block sanding. I don't want to be doing that again for awhile, takes up so much time and energy and resources.

 

Had some good conversations throughout the prep with the gentleman who sprayed it which made it more manageable.

 

here are few pictures of it getting unloaded ready to get sprayed.

 

 20220128_160143.jpg   41.41K   1 downloads

 20220128_160143.jpg   41.41K   0 downloads

 

And just got some photos through today of the progress. Once I'm back home on Friday I'll pick it up. He recommended I take it home put everything back on it and then he will polish it all up, so if I do scratch it anywhere whilst putting parts back on he has material to play with to fix.

 IMG-20220131-WA0000.jpg   70.59K   0 downloads

 IMG-20220131-WA0004.jpg   54.38K   0 downloads

 IMG-20220201-WA0001.jpg   43.61K   1 downloads

 IMG-20220201-WA0003.jpg   60.29K   1 downloads

 IMG-20220201-WA0000.jpg   88.35K   1 downloads

 IMG-20220201-WA0006.jpg   88.51K   1 downloads

 

 

[weeally]

Quick update. Spent a few hours putting things back together and looking not bad.

 

 20220212_152226.jpg   47.55K   0 downloads

 20220212_152239.jpg   36.03K   0 downloads

 20220212_152248.jpg   34.62K   0 downloads

 20220212_152256.jpg   28.73K   1 downloads

 20220213_151127.jpg   49.05K   1 downloads

 

[Viktor]

Awesome!

[weeally]

Well finally done.

Just need to go get tracking done and headlights aligned then MOT.

 

 20220317_111943.jpg   51.74K   0 downloads

 20220318_114812.jpg   64.8K   0 downloads

 20220318_114824.jpg   55.03K   0 downloads

 20220318_114833.jpg   60.35K   0 downloads

 20220318_164620.jpg   39.18K   0 downloads

 

Hopefully pass the MOT and enjoy her for a bit.

Next stage will be rebuilding one of the spare engines I have, so need to dig into that no idea what I'm wanting as of yet. 1310 or go down the GT17 turbo route, ill need to dig around and look at the information. 

[weeally]

Not had much time of work but got a week off in a weeks time so car is booked in for its MOT.
In the meantime I stripped down the two engines I got a good few years ago to have a look at what I can and cannot use for my first engine build.

First engine stripped
 20220409_173628.jpg   90.84K   1 downloads

Block is in a not bad condition bores have little marking and all threads are good. There is no engine number plate on it so ill assume its be skimmed.
Standard timing change
Cam bearings seem ok and cam does not seem to have any wear I can see on the lobes, and cant find any markings so assume its a metro cam as these engines came out of metros
Mains bearing look ok too
 20220409_173655.jpg   54.97K   0 downloads

Pistons are 20831 L2 STD with A in the centre
Crank is scrap deep gouges in the end. The end float was 0.010 thou with STD and 003 thrust washers but seemed worn.
 20220409_173716.jpg   52.34K   1 downloads

Second engine stripped
 20220409_173635.jpg   100.29K   0 downloads


Block again is not a bad condition and all threads are good. Again this does not have the engine number so assumed it has been skimmed.
Duplex timing chain
Cam bearings look ok and same again cam does not look to have much wear on the lobes and cant find any markings so again assume its the metro cam.
Main bearing look ok too
 20220409_173707.jpg   57.88K   0 downloads

Pistons are 20831 +20 with B in the centre
Crank looks in good condition all with STD bearing end float was 0.03 with STD thrust washers on both sides
 20220409_173712.jpg   54.4K   1 downloads

Here are the cranks
 20220409_173647.jpg   55.34K   1 downloads

Here the heads, stripped down and gave them a quick clean. The top head has a T scribed in it near the heater valve does anyone know what that means? Had a look around possible metro turbo head?
 20220409_173940.jpg   64.34K   1 downloads
 20220409_173925.jpg   59.51K   1 downloads

Here are the two gearboxes one has slight rust on it but there other is well oiled and looks good
 20220409_174108.jpg   60.42K   1 downloads


I have no ideas what i want to build so need to have a good think, and do some more research

Edited by weeally, 09 April 2022 - 11:05 PM.