31 replies to this topic

[Hekmat]

After about 18 years absence from the UK and mini market, I have decided to return to good old days of having a Mini.
So first thing first, I bought this mini which is not in a bad state. It requires some TLC and clean up.

Some background: The car has been used for track and was stored in a farm (full of dry grass and hay attached to the car).
It has been idle since July 2008 (last MOT). It has been re-sprayed twice (both time done badly).
You can see the original Green, the added Yellow and the black.

 2581.JPG   708.16K   56 downloads

(It is a VFR 800 Vtec, may be one day I will swap engines ).

 2588.JPG   635.79K   59 downloads
Half the buttons do not work

 2587.JPG   674.02K   49 downloads
Nice hole in the floor

 2592.JPG   617.8K   50 downloads
Anyone fancing swimming in the boot

Spec:

1971 Mini (Registered in 72)
1300 Metro engine Standard gearbox
Twin HS carb
Front Metro disk breaks
Twin centre alloy exhaust
Start button with complete ignition bypass
Extra dials for RPM, Voltage and oil pressure (not all wired up)

After buying the car I decided to give it the first service and a detailed inspection, to my horror I found some interesting bits that needed immediate attention.

Here is a full list of things that I have found (so far):

1. A hose pipe is being used as full pipe (to connect the 2 HS carbs). Resulted in fuel leak once the car was driven for about 10 miles
2. Wrong Stabiliser arm ( plenty of engine movements)
3. Spring Cones worn out and need replacing
4. Front break disks/pads and rear shoes worn out
5. Distributor cap and spark plugs needed replacing
6. Rust and hole in the floor (I did see that before buying the car)
7. Rust bubbles in the doors and around the windscreen area (same as 5)
8. Front panel need replacing (even the filler is rusted now)
9. Rear subframe needs attention (deep rust in some places, will need to sort it out for MOT in July)
10. Messed up and tatty interior (I do not like the metal look)
11. Seats do not fit properly (from a metro)
12. Leak in the rear wind screen, hence the water in the boot
13. Big hole in the battry box


Not a bad list after looking at the car for about 1 hour. More pics are available on Visit My Mini Website for progress pics

So far have managed to sort of the fuel leak (after getting high with about 40 minutes driving) and replaced the carb with standard HIF 44 till I sort out the twins.


Here is the plan for the future and will update you with the progress:

Replace the front breaks with 4pot Alloy caliper and grooved disks, install new shoes and use alloyfin drums on the back.
Change the spring cone and put hi-lows.
Put new Gaz shocks all around.
Replace the rear w/sreen seal
Replace the battery box
Sort out the holes and rust in the floor
Sort out other rust bits
Replace the front panel, may be I will get a flip front one.
Respray the car, not sure what colour so watch this space I might surprise myself
Sort out the wiring/buttons and ignition
Replace the buttons with stylish push buttons sold here by Mark@LCS Custom Switches
Change the interior to Walnut (Dash, center console,s/wheel and door trimmings) home made, so will be looking for templates to use
Replace/re-cover the seats with black and cream colour combination
Change the carpet, the current one is begining to smell due to water leak in the passenger side

So I think I have my work cut out, not as bad as some other cars I have seen. Still a fair amount of work to be ready for L2B, that reminds me I better chase them for my ticket.

More update this weekend when I will get a chance to do some more work.

[Hekmat]

Made the decision to tackle the most important parts first:

The fuel leak: Replace the host pipe with proper fuel pipe, then started a new leak from the carbs, so decided to replace the carbs with the good old HIF carb,
I know the twins look better but I need to get it on the road and other things sorted out before fixing the twin carbs back.

The breaks: Took the front wheel apart to notice a reasonable amount of corrosion on the caliper and the disk. Decided to replace them with 4 pot alloy calipers and grooved disks.

While waiting for the disks to turn I thought (foolishly) I might as well take out the spring cones and trumpets and replace them
with new cones and adjustable hi lows. and here comes the problem,firstly I could not get the compression tool to grip to the cone.
Next I could not separate the trumpet from the cone (they are truly stuck) I even tried the chisel approach,being very clever I thought
well I have to take out the upper arm, so started working on that. The nuts are seized, tried for 2 hour of WD40 and force and got nowhere.

Left the soaking for overnight and got the nuts and the seal plate off, the damn pivot shaft is stock in the upper arm and can not remove it. Tried leveraging it with
a spanner and not movements.

Not sure what I should now, there are 2 choices:

1. Lower/remove the front subframe which will give me access to the pivot shaft and should be able to push it out
2. Take it to a garage and ask the to do it (expensive).

Will see what I can do tomorrow.

[Hekmat]

Firstly, I would like to say thanks to liirge for his help with the upper arm pivot shaft.

Finally managed to saw off the old pivot shaft on the upper arm, the shaft and the bearing had siezed in the arm, it took around 45 minutes of sawing with an inch gap.

I have cleaned the arm and refurbed it with the kit from minispeed. Now I am having difficullty putting the shaft back in to the arm (it has been greased) but will not got in, I have another rebuild kit and when I try the shaft with loose bearings it fits fine.

I thing I will have to take it out again and see I can exchange the 2 shafts.

Meanwhile have managed to change the lower mountings on the front subframe. Got myself and an angle grinder since I do not want to waist another 45 minutes on the other side if it is stock the same way.

PS I have alot of viewers and not commenters, a bit of encouragement can go a long way. So come on people give me your feedback, advise or just say hello .

Edited by Hekmat, 02 March 2009 - 08:19 PM.

[Jupitus]

Looks quite a list, but nothing too daunting, I would hope!

Nice project, keep it up!

[feybrand]

good luck looks like i good project fo you

[Hekmat]

Just a quick update, I have been ill for the past 2 weeks and have not done much on the car .

I have had to search all over all the place to look for the right wheel nuts, the wheels are Cobra supaslot which suppose to be replica of Wolf.. slots.

Should start on the car again soon.

[mini mark]

looks like youve got your work cut out for a while

[widerim_pickup]

Wheres these update pictures???? lol

[Twincam]

Looks like a fun project, make sure you keep us up-to-date!

Nice VFR too, I have a Pre-Vtec on a '98 - picked it up for £400 many moons ago...

[Hekmat]

Here are some updates. Thanks to widerim_pickup, we have managed to fill thoese holes and get ride of the rust patched all over he front. Widerim managed to remove most of the front floor panel and the inner wing and replaced it with new panels. I was busy cleaning the rest of the floor and closing my jaw every time I looked at the wiring.

Here are the pics of the current progress:

Wiring maze (Thanks widerin_pickup for forcing me to remove the dash). Jupitus if you are reading this, widerim suggested I ask you where does the red wire go (see pic).

 wiring_mess_1.jpg   469.04K   21 downloads  wiring_mess_2.jpg   554.93K   23 downloads

Driver side welding
 driver_side.jpg   453.61K   36 downloads  driver_side_2.jpg   625.36K   43 downloads

New A Panel

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Sill to be done next weekend
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Passanger side welding
 passanger_side.JPG   556.11K   44 downloads

Edited by Hekmat, 15 April 2009 - 03:30 PM.

[Jupitus]

Ewwwwwww at that wiring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice welding though

At a guess I'd say it looks like someone has run a permanent live through to the stereo (and other items) possibly directly from the battery - have a look at the battery for anything other than just 2 terminals connected ... I got your PM and I'll try to hook an answer together soon!

[Hekmat]

Ewwwwwww at that wiring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice welding though

At a guess I'd say it looks like someone has run a permanent live through to the stereo (and other items) possibly directly from the battery - have a look at the battery for anything other than just 2 terminals connected ... I got your PM and I'll try to hook an answer together soon!

The wiring in the bonnet is as bad, I will take some new pics just to share the nightmare with everyone. I will check the battery feeds, as per wildrim_pickup suggestion I think I need to redo the entire wiring.

Wish me luck with the haynes manual and their diagrams.

I will have to get that new dash and console sooner than I thought.

[Hekmat]

It has been a while. Been busy with work and some family commitments, so have not been able to do much.

Thanks to widerim_pickup (welding) and the kids (painting), have managed to make some progress. As with every Mini you start on one thing and before you know it you have started 5 other things without finishing the first one.


An update on what has been done:

Most of the welding is done now, the only part left is the de-bumpering the rear and a bit in the boot floor. Hopefully that will finish tomorrow and on to painting the whole boot.

The inside of the car has now been cleaned out and painted. I will be laying down some eDead during this W.E. I have also started on the new dash that I am designing which will include savage switches and a new 3 peice clock.

The rear subframe and radius arms have been replaced (strange I have 2 peices that I can not remember where they go?? ). Hopefully widerim_pickup will know what they are.

I have started striping the wheels and they are now ready for primer or polish. Have not decided what to do with the.

The new doors are painted and lacquered. I just need to move all the window mechanisim from the old ones.

Ordered some Rust-oleum paint today which should be here on Tue. I have decided to change the colour to Racing Green. by the way, the paint is coming from Avenue Coatting, if you need any paint they are excellent.

Right, I will let the pictures do the talking from now, so here is link to the all the new pics.

[feybrand]

that wiring looks a state i was fortunately very lucky with my project other than the courtesy light wires wich were cut the wiring was in pretty good shape
course that doesnt mean ill remember where it all goes when i put itr back in the car
looking good keep up the good work

[Hekmat]

Been busy weekend doing alot of the small staff that realy do not show but need doing.

Sealed and painted all the welded area.

Cleaned the entire boot from old paint and had the kids paint it with Hammerite smooth and paint brush. I do not mind the paint lines since it is being covered with eDead.

Cleaned and painted the Petrol tank and strap.

Did some of the eDead stuff on the inside. But thanks to the weather I had to stop, the car is covered but it too dark to work in there.

Here is the boot now:  IMG_2856.JPG   765.98K   64 downloads