760 replies to this topic

[Mini 360]

Haha I can relate to using the wheel to struggle out of a low car.  Both of mine are lowered  

[lawrence]

Right guys, this mornings update. So I rolled her out the garage and took a few picks



So there she is all ready for the mot, then I took her along and got my fail certificate, was kinda expected to be honest


But it was on only two thing!
No fog and a leaking exhaust!

Well how easy is that to fix? I took off the massive exhaust I had, she was leaking because I bodged it on to be honest! The rc40 is now back on so she's a bit quieter also. Then I popped on the rear fog again, the wirings all there so it only took a minuite.

I'm going to try and get a retest this afternoon, but it all depends on my parents as my dad's the driver.
I'll keep this up to date tho
Lawrence

[lawrence]

[lawrence]

So guys I got this little certificate just now :) which is nice


So she's got insurance, and mot so now I just need to wait for my licence to come through and I'll be driving her again on Christmas Day. How's that for a present :)
Anyhu hope you like this update
Lawrence

[lawrence]

So people, me and the mini are back on the road :) we've had a few days of trouble free motoring but then my lovely head gasket problem resurfaced, so on New Year's Eve I changed her, did it in an hour and a half which I don't think is bad! :) I love my new tools, it's so nice to have a choice from just a half inch socket set!

So all primed with my new gasket set

Whipped it all off, valves nice and happy still, running slightly lean but then again she's not been used much!

And back together running nicely. Valve clearances set too. I'm just running her in for a hundred miles or so and then I'll check the torque settings are good

On a side note I've kitted out my garage :)
A before

And an after!


Hope you all like this small update :) upcoming plans are reshim the ball joints and fit new covers as they are beginning to look questionable! Also my wiper moter has given up the ghost! The other night on a drive using the wipers blew a fuse as the current draw is too high so that's another expense. Now looking out for a cheapest new motor :) but other than that's everything's going well!

I'll update when I do some more bits and bobs
Lawrence

[lawrence]

So people, I've been doing some bits and bobs on the mini so it's time for an update
Bit of shopping

Got a new servo grommet to replace the old one

Fitted some wind deflectors

Changed my top subframe mounts


New wiper motor

Rear numberplate in need of replacement

New pressed metal one

All my parts moved from my parent to my garage

Repaired one piece exhaust
Thought I'd try my hand at led rear lights


And fitted

Tps sensor

Megajolt kit

During the fitting

Didn't fit

New pulley

And finnaly fitted

Daytime photo of new led rear lights

[lawrence]

So people it's time for another update. Took a Picture other at work the other day :)

Took the wheel off to grease my nipples :)

Spot the difference in the pics

Fitted bump stop! was a right chore getting the old one off without removing the cone

Also fitted some drls in the front indicators and I'm getting sick of people not seeing me during the day

Made some mounts for the numberplate

And fitted :)

Popped some filler on the bonnet :)

And gave it a roller of rustoleum white :)

And fitted

Decided I needed to paint the front of the car :)
Stripper front, not the flaking paint and rust

Sanded down

Primed

After three coats

Look at the shine!

Built back up

Finally got my lights rings to fit too!


So that it for now. The front needs a few more coats and then flatting back to get a good shine :) but at least she's protected for the time being :)
Next pay day will go onto getting my megajolt all wired up and fitted! :)
Paint work will be on the cards too once I get some free time and slightly warmer weather
Current plan Is to finish painting the whole car in white, I'm bought an da sander too so this should go nicely!

Hope you like this update. Feel free to comment
Lawrence

[LosLandenos]

Nice style! love the bumperless style. I will follow this as im interested in your enginetuning.. good luck!

[lawrence]

Cheers loslandenos, I like the bumper less style too! Plans for the engine are to get mj up and running and then I can fit it to the micra engine when I do the transplant later this year! :)

So people update from yesterday and today :)
Removed boot lip and sanded with some filler applied

Rubbed down

Primed ready for paint

Refitted ready for paint work when it's warmer! :)


Decided to sort out my centre console :)
Reading for wrapping

Wrapped and Warning light fitted

Installed :)

And with my new gear stick gaitor sitting on top. Need to work out a way to fit it now :)


Also fiberglassed my offside rear arch a bit so it's more secure on the car :)


Made a nice alloy switch panel for the dash

And fitted, it will be for my race map once megajolt is fitted, nothing amazing will just raise the rev limiter so I can give it some beans when I feel like it :)


Got my ebay bargain today too, rear camber brackets for a good price compared to new!
Before

Painted

Offside fitted

Nearside fitted

A before view of the arches :)

I'm really unhappy with how she is so overarched, she's like it at the front and back

Also put the numberplate in its correct position :)


And almost have finished my roof light too ready for fitting some roof lining!


So that's my update for today people, not sure what I've got planned for tommorow but I've got a nice day off again for once!
I'm thinking of sanding my arches to make them fit closer to the body, especially at the rear! They don't fit the best as it is anyhow so can't do any harm in trying! :)

Hope you like this update. And comments and always welcome
Lawrence

Edited by lawrence, 13 February 2014 - 10:36 PM.

[1293gt]

Nice car!

[lawrence]

So people I'm sorry to say But I've sold my mini my to my shame

Got some saxo vtr thing






Ohs what's that I hear you say, but that not a saxo!!!! Nope it's a micra :)
With one of these bad boys inside :)


I also got a actual saxo tho if anyone cares about French cars


So my new plan is ditch the a series for now :) keep the engine however for another time as it's a desirable metro gta engine :)
I chose the micra engine conversion as it's not hugely commen but reaps economy over power gains so while the mini is running with the micra inside Ill have some spare cash for lovely things! :)

So I've done some shopping :)
I'm ditching the brake servo to make more space, plus mine leaks so I won't miss it :)

Tidied the man cave ready for some fun

Stripped the engine ancillaries

Bought this manly beast (planning to sell it afterwards if anyone's interested

It's quite compact too which is handy as my garage isn't the biggest

Stripped the suspension

Driveshafts and hubs out

Time to bring on the crane

Out she be coming putting up a fight the entire way, noooooo she cried haha

Hanging around

And back on the floor

Time to remove the subframe

Subframe out

Poor beasty looking sorry for herself

Rolled her outside with great difficulty and she's now up on bricks

And there's the micra in the garage ready for round two :)


So as you can see I have been doing bits and bobs :)
If anyone is interested I've got the specalist components trigger wheel and sensor bracket up for sale as it won't fit on the micra :)
Hope I get some comments and if anyone got any tips for removing the micra engine they will sure come in handy,
Many thanks, hope this update is enjoyable :)
Lawrence

Edited by lawrence, 12 March 2014 - 08:23 PM.

[lawrence]

Next update peoples :)
Engine in the micra stripped out ready for removal :)

It took me about 4 hours to remove everything. Half the bolts snapped! Soo annoying

Garage once the micra engine was out and the car rolled out


Micra left out on the road


Mini up on blocks, poor car looks so dejected sat there


Garage all arranged ready for some fabrication :)




I've got landrover engine mounts in the post and picked up £25 worth of steel to start making the custom front subframe up :)

I've also got a new lcb and my old one to fabricate the new exhaust manifold from. This afternoons aim will be crack on with the exhaust and get that done by this evening and if I finish that Ill make a start on the subframe :)

Hope you like this update. It doesn't look like much but you have no idea how hard it is to move two cars around with just the help of a friend with a bad back haha!

That's all for yesterday folks. Another update tonight :)
Comments would be nice!

Lawrence

Edited by lawrence, 13 July 2014 - 09:25 PM.

[Minimoke8394]

Cool stuff man, always nice to see what can be achieved with a small garage and limited tools. Will keep an eye on this. Those Micra conversions seem like a good choice. 

[lawrence]

Cheers mini moke, it would be nice to have a bigger garage but hey Ho I'll have to make do with what I've got :)
Update from the Friday just gone


I've started fabricating the exhaust manifold for the k11, got it all modeled on the mini lcb so I can still fit standard mini exhausts in the future, it's made of two lcbs morphed together
Now all tacked together and starting to look like an exhaust

Picked up my steel

Crane bought out again to see where I need to cut

Reinforcement bar welded to the turrets to make up for the hole that will appear to clear the micra diff


And that's all for Friday folks, I need to make a jig for the subframe to keep all the mount points (tie bar, rear legs) in the same position before I do any cutting.

Tomorrow I've got a day off which is nice so I want to try and finish the exhaust manifold, paint that up, and possibly exhaust wrap it. What are peoples opinion on exhaust wrap? Yay or nay?

Also want to get some of subframe sorted, probably will manage the jig and some cutting of the subframe.
I'm on the look out for some bike carbs with a tps sensor built in if anyone's got some working ones going spare :)

Hope you like this update
Feel free to comment
Lawrence

[lawrence]

Next update of the micra mini then :)
Made a start on the subframe :) got the first side done and cut out

And the other side

Engine fits which is always a winner!

Pretty snug on the drivers side

I had to trim around where the passengers side inner cv is to give it some clearance
And it's nice and level sitting in the frame also :)

It will clear the bonnet, I've got about an inch clearance when I measured it
And I've trimmed the original front of the frame to clear the exhaust which I've yet to finish welding up


But that's all for today folks
I'm still waiting on the engine mounts but if they come tommorow I'll get them tacked together
I know the frame needs reinforcement in the middle and front but currently only the side legs are fully welded and reinforced.

Hope you like this update,
Feel free to comment
Lawrence