301 replies to this topic

[Down&Out]

Well hopefully you'll be back on track soon .

It's a lovely mini, hope it gets finished in due course.

[1984mini25]

Progress has still been slow and limited, mainly due to the fact the 25 is still throwing it’s toys out of the pram, this time being the ball joins that had only recently been re-placed.

But the one bit of progress I have made was, I finally decided to give up on the mk1 boot lid as it never seamed to fit as well as I’d like. It was all twisted and had gaps all over the place, so after much messing around I came up with plan B. which basically consisted of chopping out the old number plate recess of the original Mayfair boot lid and grafting in the mk1 number plate surround, bit of filler and you’ll never notice it’s two boots welded together.

I’ve still got some filling to do on the new/old boot and I’m still undecided as to whether I should transfer the inner skin from old mk1 item, as it was one of the early double skinned variety.

I’ll also have to see if I can pull the mini out of the garage (the door is still bust) and try and get some decent progress picks, which are a bit hard to do with the amount of junk that’s accumulated.

[1984mini25]

Some progress at last, after god knows how many months I’ve got all 4 tyres onto all 4 rims and bolted up onto the mini. thanks dan6061

I’ve uploaded the picks to the flickr account which is linked to in my sig, I would upload them to the forum but my internet/pc is dieing on its arse and I’ve run out of forum space, so it will have to do.

The only downer on the day has been and you’ll see from the picks, is the driver’s side rear wheel is visibly on the *male chicken*; don’t know if that’s just me? Only problem is then the subfame was measured before it was fitted for squareness and checked out good, so I’m a bit stuck as to what to do.

The front I know, the hi-lows need winding down, but there’s also the fact there’s no weight up front yet, although I think a pair of negative camber bottom arms won’t go a miss.

Oh and you would never guess that the boot is 2 welded together, would you?

Edited by 1984mini25, 01 December 2009 - 07:57 PM.

[1984mini25]

My front splitter that i only bought off e-bay and paid for on the 6th on November finally turned up today, about the only day since that not one has been in to take delivery. So i found it on the doorstep when i got back socking wet, it’s only a strip of plastic though, so no real damage done.

I’ve been down to the garage and offered it up to the front end of the mini and after playing around with it for a bit in the dark and taping it in place. It looks like it won’t take much work to fit and will give the desired look I’m after, even if not every one will like it, but it’s different.

[1984mini25]

Got a bit more done after having to swap wiper motors over on the 25, as the wipers wouldn’t turn off Lol.

Not as much as I had hoped but it’s progress, been working on a another set of hinges for the front end, Basically a case of suck it and see were it leads. The last ones had way too much flex in them for my liking, especially as I’m using a steel front rather than fiberglass one.

I’m also trying to get the pivot bolt lower down so when the front flips the valance doesn’t catch the tie bar front mountings. As I would really like the front to open all the way, with the headlamps just off the floor and the wings almost vertical.

[1984mini25]

and update of picks.

[1984mini25]

And some of the front splitter after having to wait weeks for it to arrive and then when i did, i ended up with two, but one of them had been snapped in half by the royal mail so was completely useless.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

That looks nice mate not seen one like that before.

[1984mini25]

That looks nice mate not seen one like that before.

What the splitter? It’s actually meant for a mk1 golf (non-gti), it will be blended in once all the welding to the front is done, same as the arches. As I still need to do a bit more tiding up for the front valance and the welding of the hinges on the back.

I would also like to find a cheap 2nd hand grill surround so I can fit that and blend that in as well, as I think it loos odd without some sort of surround.

[1984mini25]

Well I’ve been thinking about this mini recently, as I’ve had nothing much else to do.

I’ve been going round in my had the list of work that still needs to be done, the work I have done and what’s left to buy for it.

I’ll start with the welding….
·Front valance needs tiding
·Flip front hinges need finishing
·A coupe of little tacks of the brackets on the tops of the wings
·The other bonnet vent needs cutting and welding into place
·Finish welding in the bulkhead box
·Plate over a few areas on the bulkhead to smooth it out a bit more
·Cut out and box the drivers side air vent for more space behind the dash
·Weld in the a panel brace
·Weld over the jacking point holes in the sills (I’ll never use them anyway)
·Chop out the old parcel shelf and weld in the new (2nd hand) one
·Possibly weld the mk1 inner skin from the old boot lid to the original 89 lid
·Chop the rear valance off and replace it because I don’t like the idea of the lamps anymore
·And if I can find some steel plate, weld up the chopped down rear stubby to be used as a rear beam
Then it’s just as case of grinding down all the welds, slapping a bit of filler on to smooth everything out and a lick of paint

Mechanical work
·Build and engine from the collection of bits I’ve bought over the years, that’s the biggie
·Refurbish the pedal box, servo unit, master cylinder and pipe work
·Refurbish the gear shifter unit and possibly try and make it internal
·Work out why the rear offside is on the *male chicken*
·Stick the fuel tank back in and that’s about it Lol


Interior/electrics
·Carpet the inside of the roof
·Fully carpet the inside
·Make and fit new door cards along with the elf/hornet door pockets I picked up months ago
·Find some seats, I’m not re-using the standard Mayfair ones I have
·Stick the dash in
·Re sort all the wiring out, part of which I had started but still don’t know if it all works
·Find a replacement set of indicator and wiper storks thanks to the ones I was going to use now no longer belong to me

And the stuff I would also like to do but is not essential
·Rear beam conversion
·Mk1 grill surround, but smoothed in
·In car dvd/ps2, although I’ve already got that stuff
·A centre console in the style of the 1100special ones, that’s if I can find one cheap
·And a decent head unit and speakers and possibly a sub as well

That's about it, not the biggest of lists, but I have one (ish) slight problem… lack of motivation and funds

I know what I’ve got to do, just can’t seam to bring myself to be able to do it and it’s not a recent problem. I was fine when I was working on the ex’s mini, although that might have been for other reasons?

Although that leads me onto the lack of funds again, a lot of the stuff I had saved, not just parts but general stuff like welding wire, grinding disks etc as well. I ended up using on hers and thanks to me still not having a job; it’s going to be a while till I can re-buy all the stuff and then the stuff on top that i still need to finish it.

But then I also need to keep the other mini one the road, although without a job and no one to keep running after I don’t really need it anymore.

I’m just not sure, I’ve come this far and spent far, far, far too much, but then I don’t want it stuck in the garage for another year with nothing happening to it.

Edited by 1984mini25, 29 September 2010 - 10:27 PM.

[analogue_radio]

Really like that front splitter idea!

Motivation isn't hard to find, although when you've got that big cloud over your head of having no money to spend it really is. I just think of driving into mini shows and everything that used to put a smile on my face when I had my mini on the road, keeps me going

Good luck mate.

[1984mini25]

The splitter is a bit of an after thought Lol, I found with the hinges I made first time round the front valance catched on the tie bar mounts on the front subframe when flipped.

So I worked out that if I made another pair of hinges, but this time move the pivot points lower down, I would then be able to flip the front without it catching.

The only problem with that though, is the bottom of the hinges would then be visible, which is not what I wanted.

Hence why I’ve gone through all the hassle of chopping off the old front valance, welding a rear one in its place and fitting a spoiler to the bottom, all just to hide the hinges Lol

It took me quite a few months on and off researching of how to achieve the look for it I wanted. As I really like the look of the ones on the Japanese’s minis that pop up in the mini mags, but I couldn’t find anything off the shelf, so had to find a way of making something.

What I’ll do with the number plate I haven’t quite worked out yet though Lol, still I’ve got a while still to figure that one out.

And as far as I can work out, the lowest part of a mini is the bottom of the gearbox/sump, so I shouldn’t have too many problems with speed bumps. It will be raised up slightly ride height wise anyway, as I’ve got it sitting on the bump stops for now so I know the wheels wont catch the arches, don’t want to go ripping them off Lol.

As for the motivation, ah… yes… those long summer days… me and the now ex out in the mini, going to all the shows together (not just minis) or just out for a drive.

Just keeps making me realise just how much I loved her Lol

Apparently according to her, the 25 and me are well matched, in that we both throw all our toys out of the pram at once on a regular basis Lol
Or it could be she found it so relaxing (can’t have been my driving Lol) what with the open dash layout, the re-foamed standard velour seats, the thick carpets and standard (quiet) air box and exhaust.

She never did like this mini though (thought i was being a chav), still convinced me not to try and sell it though and that because i started it, so I must finish it.

The money side of things though, I can afford to do bit’s to it, but is trying to decide what bits as I can only spare to buy one thing at a time.

So if I bought some welding wire, I would have to wait a week or two till I could then buy something else, which just delays things further, if you get me.

Edited by 1984mini25, 28 December 2009 - 05:14 PM.

[1984mini25]

I’m trying to come up with a list of what i need and could possibly get at Bingley hall at the end of the month, unfortunately I can get it all in one go as i can probaly spare 200 notes if i'm careful for the next month after (no going out for me)
Don’t know if anyone can help me with any of it?

To finish the rolling shell I’ll need.
·A set of pads for the metro 4 pots
·Metro braded hoses
·Turbo era metro calliper bolts
·Braded rear brake hoses, long ones if possible?
·Braded hoses for the master cylinder to bullhead valve
·Possible full copper brake line kit, depending upon cost?
·1.5 negative fixed camber bottom arms
·Drivers side rear radius arm, possible new rear subframe (I hope not)
·A fuse box
·Indicator and wiper storks (I have nothing)
·Clutch master (unknown condition of the one I have) slave and braded hose
·And a wiper motor park switch

That’s all I can think of for now on that one

Engine wise.
·Standard piston rings for a 998
·Crank main and big end bearings as well as thrusts
·Cam bearings, as I have tooling to replace them
·Cam followers
·Coolant and oil plugs
·Oil pump, would be stupid not to
·Clutch and possible flywheel, it’s got some scoring which might make it not worth bothering with
·Then it’s just all the various gaskets both 998 (block) and 1275 head ones

And the extras I could do with are.
·A cheap but decent parts washer, would make cleaning the engine stuff a lot easier (Might be able to get a cheap on off my bro as a late crimbo present)

·Welding wire (will have to wait on that one)
·Flappy sanding disks for grinder
·And fibre glassing kit/fiberglass paste

So i can finish the body work grinding off.

Edited by 1984mini25, 29 September 2010 - 10:28 PM.

[1984mini25]

I’ve been making a mess playing with fiberglass to blend in the front spoiler Lol, I’m hoping to have another more successful attempt tomorrow and will post picks is it doest *male chicken* up.

[mighty mini jack]

Haha, Good luck with it mate!