29 replies to this topic

[MiniMe01]

Ok so here goes.....after never ending trouble with my mini only after buying it after 2 months i think it is i wasnt planning on having to restore it but hey its all worth it.....ok so abit about me.....my name is sarah im 20 years old unfortunatly i dont drive as of yet...still learning and my mini was going to be my first car but thats not going to happen for a whille now lol...i have a lovely british racing green mini cooper 1275 H reg its the carb one......im bloody rubbish at all the technical talk but this is what i know so far my mini needs:

N/S Top and bottom swivels are worn
O/S top and bottom swivels are worn
O/S rear radius ATL/TIE BAR
Top tie bar bushes worn.
O/S & N/S front sub frame mounts
front panel corroded O/S
Boot floor corrosion
suspension tie bar bushes worn
corrosion lower R/valance
Handbrake travel excess
exhaust system rattle
Drive shaft
breaks
stering colum

so far iiv had done the radiator removed and new one fitted, new water pump and fan belt, themo switch and wiring loom found to be missing (so no electric fan working!) fitted new switch and loom/conmector. flushed out cooling system and reassembled, filled with anti freeze mix and fit new rad caap. run engine and bled system. repair top bracket and fitted new bushes. fit new 0/s front flasher lamp and repaired wiring, fitted new hazzard switch and flasher unit, cleanned corroded wiring plug to switch.......this was all done after buying the mini 3 weeks ago and i thought oh this would be the end of the bad luck but then came the list of work needed doing and then went the driveshaft and breaks and then i discovered more welding that needed doing.....funny thing is when i bought the mini it had a recent MOT so im thinking how the hell this mini ever got a mot is beyond me so im guessing its dodgy......



Proof that looks can be deciving






Broken down on the m25 the day i got it overheating like mad then electrics went



then a couple days later my exhaust fell off...do you like my modification? scarfs work quite well when holding it on lol



in the garage getting the exhaust done.....i was quite amazed as it was at my mates work garage and he works on coaches i was amazed we got the mini on a coach pit

OK SO HERES THE HORRIABLE BITS........



My lovely hole in the boot



more rust in boot going along the edge that flakes away when touched



rust underneath mini ...next to the rear left passnger side



passenger door



drivers door



so lovely filler work the guy done ....grrrrr



left indicator



My BEAST LOL

not great pictures i know..........
Right so my next move is to find a garage to store it in then completly strip in out and do a full look over...then work my magic and bribe some people to help me

Thanks for looking guys please feel free to add comments etc all ur help is really appreciated as i dont have a clue where to start lol
ill keep u updated as and when i can
cheers
Sar

[Saxo-Fiesta-Mini]

so bought a pup hahhaha lol

Your going to have a alot of fun restoring it and 1275 are the future hahaha

good luck and i hope the resto goes ok

[MiniMe01]

so bought a pup hahhaha lol

Your going to have a alot of fun restoring it and 1275 are the future hahaha

good luck and i hope the resto goes ok

they sure are...cheers gonna need all the luck i can get lol

[jaydee]

Sarah..yours is a RSP Cooper, and isnt in bad conditions, definately worth to restore, so good luck! =)

[MiniMe01]

Sarah..yours is a RSP Cooper, and isnt in bad conditions, definately worth to restore, so good luck! =)

what is a rsp lol im totally useless when it becomes technical lol

[jaydee]

then a couple days later my exhaust fell off...do you like my modification? scarfs work quite well when holding it on lol

Thats a classic fix, whos got a centre exhaust knows..

Looking at your pix i cant still understand why your mate said it needs to be reshelled.

[MiniMe01]

then a couple days later my exhaust fell off...do you like my modification? scarfs work quite well when holding it on lol

Thats a classic fix, whos got a centre exhaust knows..

Looking at your pix i cant still understand why your mate said it needs to be reshelled.

i didnt think the shell was too bad either so i dont quite understand i mean its got some welding it needs doing and the rust well some of the pannels can just be replaced like the doors ill prob just get new ones..... iv seen much worse looking minis too......im thinking im going to get someone else to look at it and see what they think as i dnt really no because im no expert lol

[jaydee]

Probably he said reshell it cause someone fitted sportpack arches cutting away loads of steel..

[MiniMe01]

Probably he said reshell it cause someone fitted sportpack arches cutting away loads of steel..

i think the arches are standard because the guy i bought it off gave us some sports pack arches the wheels are far to wide for it i remember the guy saying that because he couldnt get it on his trailer

[jaydee]

Sarah..yours is a RSP Cooper, and isnt in bad conditions, definately worth to restore, so good luck! =)

what is a rsp lol im totally useless when it becomes technical lol

RSP stands for Rover Sport Production, it is a limited edition of the mainstream cooper (sunroof, signed bonnet stripes, red interiors..) produced in 91/92.

i think the arches are standard because the guy i bought it off gave us some sports pack arches the wheels are far to wide for it i remember the guy saying that because he couldnt get it on his trailer

If its actually a RSP, car originally come out the factory with 12" wheels and rover arches.
Then someone modded to 13".

My advise is to get rid of those 13" because if the conversion wasnt did in the proper way, you car can have a very bad handling and very poor grip on the wet and not to mention the hard steering when parking..lol.
Bigger wheels also add extra stress to suspention, causing ball joint wear and wheel bering issues.
I've had a sportpack mini, and you cant imagine how happy i was when i swapped the 13" for a set of 10" minilites..better handling, no more bearing issues, better acceleration etc.
And yes, they fill those big arches lovely..
(To fit minilites you need spacers and 7,5" front brakes, but if you get 6jX10" like wellers or mbs, you need only to change the brakes)

[MiniMe01]

Sarah..yours is a RSP Cooper, and isnt in bad conditions, definately worth to restore, so good luck! =)

what is a rsp lol im totally useless when it becomes technical lol

RSP stands for Rover Sport Production, it is a limited edition of the mainstream cooper (sunroof, signed bonnet stripes, red interiors..) produced in 91/92.

i think the arches are standard because the guy i bought it off gave us some sports pack arches the wheels are far to wide for it i remember the guy saying that because he couldnt get it on his trailer

If its actually a RSP, car originally come out the factory with 12" wheels and rover arches.
Then someone modded to 13".

My advise is to get rid of those 13" because if the conversion wasnt did in the proper way, you car can have a very bad handling and very poor grip on the wet and not to mention the hard steering when parking..lol.
Bigger wheels also add extra stress to suspention, causing ball joint wear and wheel bering issues.
I've had a sportpack mini, and you cant imagine how happy i was when i swapped the 13" for a set of 10" minilites..better handling, no more bearing issues, better acceleration etc.
And yes, they fill those big arches lovely..
(To fit minilites you need spacers and 7,5" front brakes, but if you get 6jX10" like wellers or mbs, you need only to change the brakes)

it does handle pretty rubbish but i put it down to the ball joints and wheel bearing needing doing but it does make sense that it is also the wheels......i havent changed them since getting it but that will be added on my list of things to do...how would i no if it is a RSP?

[jaydee]

As far as i remember theres a plate with the nr inside the bonnet or screwed to the floor..
Have a look at the engine number, if it starts with 12A 2AF you're the lucky owner of those magic MG metro engines fitted to the RSP coopers.

Theres a register somewhere on the net, i'll google it and send ya the link asap.

[mk1leg]

Hi..the RSP coopers were the first of a new generation of mini cooper's and there were only 1000 made and were produced in 1990 these had colour coded wheel arches, white painted mirrors, and bonnet stripes with John Cooper Sig, there after they were Known as roover cooper...

[jaydee]

Here you go:

http://www.rsp-coope...out_the_RSP.htm

[MiniMe01]

Here you go:

http://www.rsp-coope...out_the_RSP.htm

cheers for the link i think it could be as it is a 1991 mini has the strips and sig...the engine is a 1275cc but i will look at the engine number when i go visit it as its not even at mine its still where it broke down in oxted lol it has a sun roof too and apparently they are quite rare but its a pain because all it does is leak lol