108 replies to this topic

[Sam]

Hell yeah !

[Sam]

A panels on and doors alligned

[leaky]

MOT'ed yet?

[Sam]

Not yet

I'm out in the workshop most nights now, making good progress and actually enjoying it too.

[leaky]

PM me your mobile number. I only have Bens. I'll pop over one night and see how every things going. If you need any parts let me know. Clearing out my garage to get the mini in it.

[Sam]

Big milestone this weekend.

I've been working on this car pretty much every day since the last update. Weeks and weeks of rubbing, filling, rubbing, rubbing... took forever.

The car had it's first coat of primer yesterday. 2k not cellulose.







Should be getting a second coat of primer next week after the flatting back is done.

[Sam]

Oh, I also made up some brackets so I could run standard seatbelts as I had removed the bins. When I started this project, I wanted a rollcage, harnesses and buckets, so didn't need the bins. But now I'm much older I just want some comfy seats and standard belts!

[leaky]

Also need to get rid of the 17 year old chavy 13s and get it on some nice classy 10s! HAHA. Its looking good man! You want a hand with anything let me know man. I'll pop over one evening.

[Sam]

I know what you mean, but it don't look bad with them on

I still prefer 10" Rostyles!! But I need some badass rims for when I visit the LP!

Bought some GRP 5 arches to cover the wheels which look OK. Took a few hours to prep those though!

[Austin]

Aha, I remember this from years ago, good to see your cracking on with it.

[Sam]

Small update:

The bodywork has been flatted back and corrections have been made to any flaws etc. It's ready for the next coat of primer, but the weather is really holding me back - it's just too cold!

So I thought I'd make a start on the engine. I do have all the bits to make a high powered turbo engine, but for now I'm going to build a standard-ish engine for simplicity and just to get it on the road. I also have other cars to go fast in, so a fast Mini isn't of much interest at the minute.

I thought I'd build an engine with stuff I already have to save money.

I found an old block under the bench.



Dragged it out, and its a 1275 A+ that had been bored out +30 to 1301cc



Stripped it down further, and the pistons and bores are excellent, so it will be a great basis for an engine.

Unfortunately, the big end and mains shells weren't perfect, and the crank had a few marks, so I want to replace that.

I found an MPI engine in the corner of the garage.



Stripped that & found a perfect crank



The shells weren't 100% however, so I have these on order from Minispares and should be coming this week.

I dug out a cylinder head from the shed





Cleaned it up, lapped the valves in and fitted new stem seals. Guides are in good condition.


The gearbox from the MPI engine will be used with this engine. The dog gears on the 2nd and 3rd gears weren't amazing, so stripped it and I'm building a good gearbox from all the spares I have



The mainshaft is now built up (no pics) but the box will be back together this week.

Edited by Sam, 25 March 2013 - 12:25 PM.

[leaky]

Mate! You so need to teach me how to build a gearbox! That's the next step I need to go after its painted really.

[Sam]

Geabox finished. It's been rebuilt as standard, but with a Metro Turbo 3.21 final drive. Took a few evenings to clean the casing it was a state !!



Engine didn't get finished over easter like I hoped. Turns out A+ engines before 1985 used pre A+ mains bearings. So of course I had bought the wrong mains bearings, which stopped the engine build Got some coming from Minispares.

Pulled new cam bearings in though



The car had it's 2nd and 3rd (final) coat of primer this weekend!







And then colour in the door shuts, rear of doors, boot and interior

[The Matt]

Looking good Sam!

[jagman.2003]

Looking good. Will be nice to see it in full colour. How are you going to finish the cam bearings? Do they have to be line bored?