1844 replies to this topic

[Ben_O]

Nice progress Pete.

 

Happy new year to you too.

 

Ben

[dfraser]

No probs Pete, I'll drop by and get some pics next time I'm checking up on it...

[Jase]

Hi David, thanks for your response. I'm trying to do it once and do it right. I would love to see some some pics of your MPI so post em up I like things that are minted

 

I've not been sat on my arse over Xmas, got the floor more or less finished and have welded in the scuttle closing panels

 

 

 

Also done quite a few trial fits just to make sure everything is right. This is one example... The MPI boot floor has a stud to support the injection pipes. Since this was missing on the replacement I bought, I drilled the floor to add a bolt

 

 

I took advantage of the sales and have spent quite a bit on new stuff including Minifins, New radiator, all new panel seals, chrome outer door finishers, complete bearing kit for the gearbox, Centre bearing strap etc etc. Long way to go but progress is good

 

Happy New Year everyone!

 

Pete

 

Hi Pete, I like the clips, where did you get them from, they look very secure.

 

Jason

[jamesmpi]

Wow what a build

I have an mpi which has rust in the usual places (front wings, bubbling along bottom of the doors etc) and I'm thinking that it will be fairly straight forward to get rid of this rust but looking at your photos it looks like every nook and cranny is susceptible for homing the dreaded tin worm.

Looking forward to seeing yours completed. I would consider putting a proper carbon fibre roof panel on. That's would work well with blue paint

Edited by jamesmpi, 02 January 2014 - 03:16 PM.

[rally515]

Hi Pete, I like the clips, where did you get them from, they look very secure.

 

Jason

 

 

Jason, the clips are standard on later mini models and i have a few off of a shell of mine that i kept but wont use, yours if you want to pay for postage and what not ?

 

Cliff

 

Also: they are originaly attached to the body via the threaded screw thats welded to the body as Pete mentioned but im sure he can help with alternative ways of mounting with less likeliness of threads stripping.

[Jase]

 

Hi Pete, I like the clips, where did you get them from, they look very secure.

 

Jason

 

 

Jason, the clips are standard on later mini models and i have a few off of a shell of mine that i kept but wont use, yours if you want to pay for postage and what not ?

 

Cliff

 

Also: they are originaly attached to the body via the threaded screw thats welded to the body as Pete mentioned but im sure he can help with alternative ways of mounting with less likeliness of threads stripping.

 

Thanks Cliff, I have a new bodyshell but no threaded screw. I've drilled into the floor and secured with the clips that come with the kit but these look much better. Really appreciate the offer but I found them and ordered them from Minispares.

 

Cheers

 

Jason

[Petrol]

No probs Pete, I'll drop by and get some pics next time I'm checking up on it...

 

Look forwards to them

 

 

Wow what a build

I have an mpi which has rust in the usual places (front wings, bubbling along bottom of the doors etc) and I'm thinking that it will be fairly straight forward to get rid of this rust but looking at your photos it looks like every nook and cranny is susceptible for homing the dreaded tin worm.

Looking forward to seeing yours completed. I would consider putting a proper carbon fibre roof panel on. That's would work well with blue paint

 

I did consider the Carbon roof route but you really need to fit a cage. I agree though, it would look good. My guess is that the car has been stored in a damp garage, probably with wet carpets so it was a very bad example.

 

The shell has studs welded to the floor for the fuel line support brackets, If these are knacked, just drill a hole in the floor and tap the plastic clip (M6)

 

 

Started on the hinges today, the reamer I bought was a bit too big New one is on order

 

 

Pete

 

[Petrol]

Gone for a Cobra cream recliner interior.

 

 

Fitted the pedal box and steering wheel to check the driving position

 

 

I'm not happy with it, the seat is far too high at the front and needs to go back a lot further. These seats have recline adjusters on both sides, great idea by the manufacturer as they are not handed but the adjuster on the outside fouls the companion bin

 

 

The knob pulls off though

 

 

The plan is to cut the recline bar down so the seat clears the companion bin. I also need to make a retainer to stop the bar falling out and finish it off with some sort of trim. Just to add, the tilt mechanism on the subframes, which uses the original seat stays will be cut off as it's a completely useless . Fortunately the Cobra seats have a bar at the back

 

 

This enables the seat upright to be tilted for rear seat access. The subframes will be bolted to the floor / X member and none of the existing seat mounting points will be used. Good job I tried this lot as the floor needs welding

 

Pete

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jase]

NIce seats Pete, I was looking at a black set for my car, where did you get them from and dare I ask the cost? Just wondering the best place to buy them from.

 

More pics please :)

[myredmini]

Looking good! What zinc primer did you use on your shell Pete ?

 

Cheers

Dan.

[Badboytunes]

We have the same seats, I think they were about £700 for the pair from Huddersfield Mini Spares. They do foul on the rear bins as mentioned and to be honest, for that price, the quality could be better.

[Jase]

Good to have a review, are they comfortable for long journeys? I saw that the complete car kit in black was £825, still wondering whether to use the standard seats recovered?

[freshairmini]

Gone for a Cobra cream recliner interior.

 

 

Fitted the pedal box and steering wheel to check the driving position

 

 

I'm not happy with it, the seat is far too high at the front and needs to go back a lot further. These seats have recline adjusters on both sides, great idea by the manufacturer as they are not handed but the adjuster on the outside fouls the companion bin

 

 

The knob pulls off though

 

 

The plan is to cut the recline bar down so the seat clears the companion bin. I also need to make a retainer to stop the bar falling out and finish it off with some sort of trim. Just to add, the tilt mechanism on the subframes, which uses the original seat stays will be cut off as it's a completely useless . Fortunately the Cobra seats have a bar at the back

 

 

This enables the seat upright to be tilted for rear seat access. The subframes will be bolted to the floor / X member and none of the existing seat mounting points will be used. Good job I tried this lot as the floor needs welding

 

Pete

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've always loved those cobra recliners but they were always quite dear. I went for some Recaros (secondhand) which are a similar design but I think a tad wider on the base. Much better than the standard seats.

 

But as you found they sit way too high and I had to cut down the pretty crappy cobra subframes. Never was happy with the fitment. I have always planned when I can do my mini to cut back the bins in the back to make them fit properly as another problem it because of the seats size, they rub on the bins and wear the vinyl on the edge half way up.

 

IMO they need more work than people think to be done *right*, but if done they look brilliant. 

[Twincam]

Going to sound complete and utter stupid, but, on my old recaros the adjuster was only one on side. As the drivers seat got worn, I managed to locate another passenger seat (same mounts drivers & passengers) and as you can tell, the adjuster was on the wrong side (next to the door).

My question is, can't you not just swap the drivers to the passengers or is the adjuster on both sides?

[domdee]

both sides by the sounds of it^^^^^^^^^^^^^^