326 replies to this topic

[apbellamy]

Me and minimadmotorman have been doing some stirling work in the name of ridding the world of Metros. A worthy cause I'm sure you'll agree.

By the end of next weekend we will have broken 3 - A 83 1275s (55k on the clock), a 87 MG Turbo and a 86 MG (with a nice engine and jack night box ). Good progress for a couple of northern eegits.

This has left us with a small problem. We have limited storage and loads of nice Metro bits. What to do???

Then we saw this and a plan was formed...

 home1.jpg   125.35K   64 downloads

So, 400 miles later he was back home

 journey8.jpg   150.41K   87 downloads

The general plan is to make it as sporty and as rough as possible. So he'll be getting a mixture of red and black MG doors, boot, bonnet, spoiler, body kit, bumpers, turbo/GTa/Advantage wheels and the MG interior. Should look nice with the brush painted yellow hamerite. Under the bonnet he'll be getting the low mileage 1275 with John's (minimadmotorman) spare stage 3 head and MG exhaust.

He's lacking an MOT at the moment. He has a few hole's in the floor, a wobbly headlight, saggy suspension and his indicators are 'too faided'.

But what to do when it's done???? A charity banger rally accross eurpoe, winding up in Amsterdam for my stag do. What else?!?

We made a start the other day, before rain stopped play.

Started of on the easy bits on the front:

 van1.jpg   120.67K   36 downloads

Then we took out the poo brown interior, replaced the dash mounted ignition toggle switches with an actual barrel and key (it's been stolen 7 times so far and the previous owner's middle name was bodge, good old London!) and moved about half the floor pan and chasis onto my garage floor.

 van2.jpg   180.34K   27 downloads  van3.jpg   163.22K   23 downloads

So... the new floor pan is on order. More rambling to come...

[Pitcrew6464]

Metro van yey!!! some have survived not seen one in years!! i'll be watching

[apbellamy]

Metro van yey!!! some have survived not seen one in years!! i'll be watching

I think I know of four van's left. There's probably a good few knocking around, but I don't think the number would make three figures.

Just of to buy a floor pan...

[apbellamy]

Seen as the van is sat in my garage taking up a spot where a mini should be, I though I'd get on and do something with it.

So out comes the grinder and out goes the rotten floor along with a very big lump of Jam....

 floor1.jpg   193.38K   37 downloads

New floor panel trimed to fit.

 floor2.jpg   157.3K   40 downloads

Then stuck down with yorkshire's finest pidgeon banana.

 floor3.jpg   112.06K   52 downloads

Still a bit to do on the sill and arch.

 floor4.jpg   135.02K   47 downloads

I guess the MOT man won't like seeing daylight through the floor.

Also picked up some hyrogas fluid today, so hopefully we can get the suspension pumped up high enough to get a jack under so that I can weld up the underside.

[Pitcrew6464]

nice work apbellamy, cant belive how little are about! good luck with the suspension

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Woah thats, ermm, WELL NICE.

[apbellamy]

The bonnet and boot are of and on the scrap pile (a red MG Metro rot box as it happens..).

Going to get the doors of and carry on welding tomorrow.

Hopefull they'll be replaced with some nice black ones at the weekend.

[John H]

A little pic to wet the appetite

[stickycreambun]

Thats brilliant! A metro van falls into the category as a mk1 Sierra, so odd and retro its well cool!

[John H]

just wait until its sporting alloys and a turbo bodykit!

[apbellamy]

Thats brilliant! A metro van falls into the category as a mk1 Sierra, so odd and retro its well cool!

That's right!

It'll be even more fun when it's got a stage 3 1275 motor in it!

[John H]

don't forget the janspeed exhaust and K&N filter.

not to mention the GTI seats

[Alexanderx]

can't wait to see te next pics,
good luck with the project looks mint.

[apbellamy]

I haven't been sat on my arse doing nothing. Well... not all the time. Here's some pics.

 floor5.jpg   127.12K   20 downloads  floor6.jpg   124.64K   22 downloads  floor7.jpg   90.69K   15 downloads
 floor8.jpg   113.97K   21 downloads  sill1.jpg   152.93K   19 downloads  sill2.jpg   125.32K   23 downloads
 sill3.jpg   129.44K   20 downloads  sill4.jpg   104.16K   19 downloads  sill5.jpg   104.43K   21 downloads
 sill6.jpg   102.59K   16 downloads  arch1.jpg   149.35K   18 downloads

We've also got the doors rebuilt, the passenger side fitted and the new bonnet on. It doesn't open, but that's life...

More bodgery and spannering to come...

[cambiker71]

Love this project, got plans for mine too, turbo kit etc..