157 replies to this topic

[Bash Master]

my reconditioned crank has turned up from minisport after a 3 month wait so i've finally started putting the engine together.















i've ordered a set of new omega pistons so they will be here on thursday hopefully. i'll have to get the rods and rings fitted at the machine shop at some point.

in the mean time i've continued my work on the shell. the front end is now de bumpered and primed in red oxide. have also started trial fitting the W+P fibreglass arches too.

[Bash Master]

the rear end has now been de-bumpered. also put some high build etch primer on the the remaining 2/3 of the shell that wasn't painted in red oxide.





then fitted the passenger door and got the gaps right before starting on the filler. really not looking forward to the many many hours of filling and sanding ahead of me but it has to be done i suppose.

[Bash Master]

front end is starting to come together now after a lot of sanding.





engine is also coming together. my omega pistons turned up last week so i took them to the engine machine shop and had them fitted to a set rods. also had ARP rod bolts fitted too.







here they are fitted into the engine:





gearbox fitted:





cam timing is on the agenda for tomorrow

[Bash Master]

Another update

managed to get the cam timing sorted out yesterday after a lot of trouble. turns out i was a tooth out on the chain but silly me adjusted it the wrong way.... twice! once i figured out what i was doing wrong i fitted the timing chain correctly and used a dti gauge to get the timing exactly where it needed to be.

so today i continued working on the engine. got the straight cut drop gears and oil pump fitted followed by the clutch housing. just need to buy a clutch oil seal and then a clutch at some point.





meanwile, my mk1 fibreglass bonnet has turned up from arc angels. i have a set of bonnet pins to hold it down but they need corner brackets fabricating and fitting yet. gave it a trial fit and the gaps aren't too bad

[jakenglish]

nice project will be a solid car when its done them lights look like vw beetle lights nd what happened to that car in the scrap yard?

[obiwan riley]

nice project but be weary of lots of filler over those seams

[analogue_radio]

3 month wait from Mini Sport

[evansisgreat]

Great build mate, all coming together nicely. How long did you wait for your bonnet? I've been waiting 5 months for stuff from arc angels!

[Bash Master]

Thanks for the compliments guys.

It took about a month for the bonnet to turn up. bought it on ebay and it said there was 4 available at the time however they didn't have any in stock and had to make one.

Don't know what happened to the mini in the scrapyard. he wouldn't sell it to me. think it got scrapped as it wasn't there when i was there last.

[Bash Master]

todays updates

continued fitting more parts to the engine. just waiting on a head gasket to turn up and then the cylinder head and roller rockers can be fitted.





i have also made a good start on the fitment of the fibreglass bonnet. fabricated some corner brackets and welded them in.





lastly, some pictures of my new 6x10 minator wheels/tyres and corbeau bucket seats. i've had them for a while now but didn't realise i hadn't put any pictures up of them. i've kept them stored in my bedroom for safe keeping.

[Jean-Paul]

it seems to me unbelievable that you got such a car ? is that a hobby or a challenge ? wouldn't it cost you much less to buy a new chassis for instance ? i am totally new so do not judge me wrong. i am just curious why one would take such a project

[izzy]

i thought there was three bucket seats and was wondering why you would need three but then i figured out that there was a mirror. lol

[PhilipGCaldwell]

by crikey mate, thats a fabulous looking engine build, hats off to you top top work (you must have deep pockets aswell )

[Bash Master]

it seems to me unbelievable that you got such a car ? is that a hobby or a challenge ? wouldn't it cost you much less to buy a new chassis for instance ? i am totally new so do not judge me wrong. i am just curious why one would take such a project

i didn't buy the car with the intention of having it as a huge project, but that's what it's turned out to be i don't think i realised just how much work was required when i got the car and i did have my doubts at first but as the build has progressed i don't regret buying it anymore. it was a spur of the moment thing when i put a bid in for it on ebay but i've learnt a lot by restoring it.

i thought there was three bucket seats and was wondering why you would need three but then i figured out that there was a mirror. lol

haha i was wondering if anyone would notice

by crikey mate, thats a fabulous looking engine build, hats off to you top top work (you must have deep pockets aswell )

thanks, my pockets are empty most of the time thanks to this project

[Jean-Paul]

how old are you and how come you know hot restore a car SO EXCELLENT?