14 replies to this topic

[Mk2Brett]

Hi All,

 

You might remember me from my Clubman project

https://www.theminif...d-mini-clubman/

 

This new project is a bit more involved than that, starting with a bare shell of a 1966 Mini Deluxe and hoping to turn it into a Group N race car.

 

This will be a slow project as the body needs quite a bit of work. But I'll start with some photos.

 

 

I have full floor and sill replacement panels that will go in over time and then work from there.

 

 

Stay tuned!

[Mk2Brett]

This week I started cutting the floor out. Both left and right floors need to be replaced, the tunnel section is thankfully good.

 

 

 

 

 

I've got the replacement floor/sill sections for both sides and a new crossmember. I'll likely spend the next few weeks just cleaning up the floor area and prepping for the new panels to go in and then hopefully do the second side.

[Mk2Brett]

Edit: deleted as duplicated post while submitting

Edited by Mk2Brett, 07 September 2025 - 11:07 AM.

[Mk2Brett]

More work cutting out rust the last week.

 

I will need to drop the rear subframe out to replace the heel board section with the subframe mounts.

 

 

Fully stripped the doors back and gave them a coat of epoxy primer. Some small touch ups required but otherwise they're nearly ready for paint.

 

 

 

[Retro_10s]

looks like a pretty great shell really, certainly would be hard to find a '66 shell over here in that condition where the rust wouldn't have spread from those areas and condemned it!

 

What sort of Aesthetic style will the finished car have? something like a 60's tribute racer, or something more modern?

 

thanks for sharing!

[Mk2Brett]

looks like a pretty great shell really, certainly would be hard to find a '66 shell over here in that condition where the rust wouldn't have spread from those areas and condemned it!

 

What sort of Aesthetic style will the finished car have? something like a 60's tribute racer, or something more modern?

 

thanks for sharing!

Thanks! The plan is a Group Nb car here in Australia, so that is all original Mk1 cooper tribute to fit the regulations.

[Mk2Brett]

Got a step closer to fitting the new floor panel in today. I made some more cuts and started cutting the new heel board piece to size.

Ready to weld in soon and then I can start cutting the floor to fit.

[stuart bowes]

are you using some sort of jig to position the subframe bolt holes? last thing you need is get that all together and have to adjust it again

 

sorry if that's teaching to suck eggs

[Mk2Brett]

are you using some sort of jig to position the subframe bolt holes? last thing you need is get that all together and have to adjust it again

 

sorry if that's teaching to suck eggs

Before cutting the old piece out, I added some datum points to the wheel arch closing bracket so then I aligned the new piece to that point.

Appreciate the pointer though! So with any luck when I test fit the subframe back up it should hopefully still fit.

Edited by Mk2Brett, 20 September 2025 - 12:33 PM.

[Mk2Brett]

Got the RHS floor welded in now. Need to do some more patching and a lot of grinding to make it look nicer.

 

 

Then took a break from the grinding as I need to grab some more grinding discs, and tackled this rear seat panel.

It was while I was seam welding this in that I ran out of welding gas so looks pretty horrible.

I'll have to put a pause on any more welding until next week when I get some more welding gas and grinding wheels.

 

 

 

p.s the welds are not the prettiest, but nothing the grinder cant fix 

[Mk2Brett]

While waiting for the welding gas I've started on the LHS floor panel.

I need to cut it all out again like the RHS ready for the new floor and sills. 

I also will need to do another heelboard repair for the subframe mounting.

[Mk2Brett]

Took a break from the floor and worked on the roof.

There was some surface rust, so I spent a few hours with the grinder and wire wheel removing the rust, then treating it with rust converter, and then grinding again until it was all gone.

 

I then hit it with a couple coats of 2k epoxy primer

[68Deluxe]

 

Took a break from the floor and worked on the roof.

There was some surface rust, so I spent a few hours with the grinder and wire wheel removing the rust, then treating it with rust converter, and then grinding again until it was all gone.

 

I then hit it with a couple coats of 2k epoxy primer

 

My shoulders hurt just looking at that 

[Mk2Brett]

Been a while since I have posted an update but the work did not stop.

 

I've now got all floor panels in and the seat crossmember.

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There is still more stitch welding to do on the heel board to the floor for additional reinforcement, but otherwise its starting to take shape.

 

I've also started adding in the companion bins

 

Next big milestone now that the floors are 90% done is the boot.

Original plan was to juse use a spare wheel section replacement and some small rust repairs, but it turned out the floor was too far gone, it was completely rusted apart from the tail section and rear valence.

 

So now I have the fun job of cutting the whole boot out and drilling all the spot welds so I can put my replacement boot panel in.

 

Edited by Mk2Brett, 20 October 2025 - 10:21 AM.

[68Deluxe]

No messing round there, coming along nicely!