135 replies to this topic

[CanadianMiniFan]

looks like your doing a proper job

[gavfoz]

Another shinny bit


Looks like you can wire up a shift light from this unit as well. . . . which is nice.

Edited by gavfoz, 27 October 2007 - 12:52 PM.

[gavfoz]

Look what came in the post today!


MRA Dizzy blanking plug, Specialist Components trigger wheel and handbrake quadrants just for that added spingle-spangle.

Beautiful!

Edited by gavfoz, 27 October 2007 - 03:58 PM.

[gavfoz]

Finally got around to painting the other radius arm. Its currently hung up in my shed drying.

Managed to strip my 8.4 disc assemblies down to individual components (anyone want calipers, disc's and drive flanges?). The hub nuts were awkward. I ended up beating one with a chisel + lump hammer whilst the other came undone by hand after a little heat. I think I will get the hub casting powder coated the same colour as the subframes. . .

Is it going to rain tomorrow? I do hope it ain't. . .

[Spannermonkey6464]

Inside the bulkhead box section is rusty I think I will blow some red oxide or waxoyl down there. Hopefully it will slow that down. Not sure how to treat that otherwise and defo don't want to cut it out.

Despite all my efforts to remove vast amounts of metal from the shell it remains rigid and has not destorted yet sat on its axle stands. At least on the whole its solid.

Hi great project you have but interested on how you solved that problem?!?!

[gavfoz]

to be honest I have not done much to the shell since I took that photo. In fact I spent most of August and September avoiding doing any work to it. I scrubbed that bit the best I could with a wire brush and then coated it in red oxide and then sprayed acid etch primer down the box section but in all honesty I am keeping my eyes open for a decent taxed and tested shell (preferably pre 1980 or tax free). For now, seeing as the weather is going to be C**p most wkends now until April, I will concentrate on building the subframes and engine up so once the fair weather comes and the shell is fit it should just be plug and play.

Cheers

Gav

[Spannermonkey6464]

That should be alright then alot of it did look surface in there, after 1980 did they start using diffrent steels? coming on good tho!!

[gavfoz]

That should be alright then alot of it did look surface in there, after 1980 did they start using diffrent steels? coming on good tho!!

Not sure on steels but cars built before April 1980 don't need neither fog nor reverse light so make ideal MK1 look-a-likes.

[gavfoz]

Finally found somewhere sheltered and dry to work on little tasks.

Block as removed

Head studs and rear covers removed

Pistons out, crank out.
All the mains look pretty clean considering the car has done over 80000miles. All the shells are standard size.


Block cleaned up and its yellow! When rebuilt I think BMC green is on the cards.

Pistons look a little "peachy". Rings on the piston 2nd from left are shot.

Crank does not look too bad.

Water ways behind water pump look a little crusted up.


So, I guess now is the time to put my money where my mouth is. My ultimate aim is to plonk a supercharger on this unit and get somewhere up in the 80odd banana area. Considering JonSpeed managed to get 64horses out of a blown but mechanically standard 998 I don't need to go too radical with my engine spec to attain my target.

So I am going to have the block bored out 60-thou to create a 1046cc lump. Considering a steel centre main strap but will talk to the engine expert when I hand him the block. I am going to use dished pistons as they will lower the compression ratio to suitable level for a blown engine. Head wise I am looking for a 12G295 to use. Camshaft will be either a Sifttune SW05 or a Kent equivalent. I think the crank will need a regrind but it will also be lightened and balanced. Rods and flywheel also will get lightened. What else? Standard rockers will be retained, I will be using the Megajolt set-up obviously and initially the lump will be sucking through twin inch and a quarter SUs. Straight cut drops into a refurbished box will also make a nice noise.

So who's going to do the machining? Well, Rob Walker is just up the road and Morspeed is quite near work so I may flip a coin later. . .

[minivanman]

Talk to Dave Yardy (icklemini on the forums) about the gearbox. He is the man! Engine wise I'd be looking to use Rob Walker rather than morspeed - Simons a great bloke, but don't expect to see finished work anytime soon. He's had the head from a friends car for a year now...
I'd go for a mainstrap while you're at it as well. Might as well make it as strong as possible while you've got in pieces.

[gavfoz]

Progress, well none to report really.

Schizophrenic weather has not helped.

Shell - still sat in the corner on it's stands, no further work done.
Engine - in bits awaiting a day off to sort out.
Wheels - my restored D1's have gone funny so back to the drawing board with them I think - maybe I should of lacquered them.

In a vain attempt to beat the weather I have tidied my shed and bought some shelving units. Using a bit of old worktop I plan to make quite a decent work bench out of them. That will help me do the indoor bits but the outdoor bits will still have to wait. . .

I have cleaned up and started collecting another batch of bits to get powder-coated. Sadly I can't find the rear subframe mounts anywhere which is a bit of a bugger. Must be in a box somewhere. . .

MiniSpares Rear anti-roll bar purchased. Some 7.9inch discs also put into storage. Contemplating running an internal gear linkage.

[Jon1739]

Hi Mate, nice to see the project is still coming along. If anyone else has a project that they would like to be considered for a feature in Mini Mag drop me a line on here or email me at [email protected]

[gavfoz]

Its been one of those days. Day off work, reasonably dry so off outside I went and got through angle grinder number 3 and 4 today. Cheap Tiawanesse tosh. . . Angle grinder number 5 is sat awaiting its initiation as I type

Still tackling the drivers side. I have removed most of the rotten flitch only to find one of the previous owners has cut through the lower front door post and not even patched it up. The panel effected is what I can only describe as the inner a-post. I can visualise a nice Mini arse trailer. . .

Gav

Edited by gavfoz, 14 December 2007 - 05:12 PM.

[miniboo]

oh dear that doesnt sound good

[gavfoz]

Its not too bad I suppose, just another bit to weld back in. To put it into prospective I am more narked I can't find a CD that I know I have in my collection somewhere.

Easy day:


Dismantled, cleaned and rebuilt clutch cover. . .not taxing nor exciting but another "warm" job crossed off the list.