1843 replies to this topic

[Petrol]

I agree Ben

 

I've been holding back buying trim, fixtures and fittings as storing them is a right pain. Unfortunately, the time has come where I have no option but to buy em to trial fit - like the grill. The rivnuts I put in the front panel lined up OK

 

 

 

Low profile button head stainless bolts fasten it on

 

 

 

Hopefully (Yer right) this is the last time the shell will be on the spit. I'm using the injection system vent pipe for the fuel supply to a conventional mechanical fuel pump. The pipe and fixings look better to me than any other option like running a braided all the way.

 

 

Used a stainless P clip under the boot floor

 

 

For added protection, I used some shrink wrap where the clips fit

 

 

Also fitted the rubber blanking grommets to the floor. Rather than buying Mini specific parts, I bought some 20 & 25mm electrical blanking grommets

 

 

Progress is slow at the moment as I'm spending an awful lot of time on details, one of which is the steering column arrangement. The original plan was to use the MPI column & switchgear but for a number of reasons, mainly the rotary coupler,  that's not going to happen. I prefer simple so I'm now going to fit a MK3 column and switchgear

 

Pete

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ben_O]

Now that shrink sleeve idea is excellent!

[alex-95]

Excellent work, I'm going to fit p clips to hold my fuel pipe and brake pipe on, Would there be a down side of using rivnuts and a bolt rather than what a nut and bolt?

 

+1 on the heat shrink idea

Edited by alex-95, 02 January 2015 - 11:19 PM.

[Mini Waco]

Pete, I see several different type of vent pipe fitting.  Are these different than the one you removed and if so, did you prep the holes prior to fitting and finishing the body?  Also, what kind of fittings are they.  I see the P-clips, but what are the others?

Looking really good

[Petrol]

Excellent work, I'm going to fit p clips to hold my fuel pipe and brake pipe on, Would there be a down side of using rivnuts and a bolt rather than what a nut and bolt?

 

+1 on the heat shrink idea

 

Yes, rivnuts protrude a lot on the back side and it's not a good idea to have these sticking up inside of the floor. It could wear the carpet out and at worse, loosen the fixing. I used domed head, stainless allen bolts as these are low profile...

 

 

This one is under the back seat base, the last thing you want is a rivnut sticking in your backside

 

 

Pete, I see several different type of vent pipe fitting.  Are these different than the one you removed and if so, did you prep the holes prior to fitting and finishing the body?  Also, what kind of fittings are they.  I see the P-clips, but what are the others?

Looking really good

 

Hi Mate, (Happy New Year to you)

The plastic clips were a stock fitment on these late model Minis so don't worry about those. The best bet is to remove the metal tabs, drill holes and just use stainless P clips. If I had my time again, I would have got rid of those plastic clips and used P clips throughout.

 

Might be worth a mention that this build is not for the purist. Oh no! It's been called all sorts of names like "Frankenstein" and "Mini MK 3.4.5" I have no doubt that this will effect the ultimate value of it but I'm not building for that

 

Fitted the vinyl trim across the back parcel shelf / C pillars. Used Evo stick to glue it on, excess can be removed with white spirit

 

 

Then the carpet up the C pillars. This is MPI specific due to the rear parcel shelf to C post stiffening brackets. (Just to add, this is why I bought an MPI - the shell is a bit more rigid)

 

 

 

 

Pete

[mark-stranraer]

Tidy work! Attention to detail

[scudracer]

Awesome. I've been thinking about fuel line installation as my floorboards are locally fabricated (hammered out from sheet steel) with no clips or provision for fuel lines. I believe original floorboards had some tabs that can be bent over to secure fuel lines. Your pictures are awesome and I'm going to copy what you've done. Thanks for posting!

[Petrol]

Your welcome scudracer. The original floors did have some tabs to secure the brake and fuel lines but if your not after originality, P clips are much better.

 

I have started to fit the loom and have run into complications specifically with the horn. Long story and I won't bore you all with it but I'm now going to fit a MK3 steering column and switchgear - wipers, indicators and horn on the stalk. This will also get rid of the unreliable slip ring fitted to the MPI.

 

The bottom line is I can now fit this classic Mini steering wheel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Building this "hybrid" is not as easy as I thought. It's amazing how Mini's have changed over the years

 

Pete

 

 

[evansisgreat]

That's an awfully nice wheel. Did you think about the wood and pickett MPI conversion? It's quite pricey mind you. I really like the MPI column switches as it combines and headlight and wiper switches and simplifies the dash.

 

I know all about the dodgy airbag slip ring, but you can get a new one for around £15. That was the cheapest fix I ever had to do for an MOT with my mini   

[Petrol]

That's an awfully nice wheel. Did you think about the wood and pickett MPI conversion? It's quite pricey mind you. I really like the MPI column switches as it combines and headlight and wiper switches and simplifies the dash.

 

I know all about the dodgy airbag slip ring, but you can get a new one for around £15. That was the cheapest fix I ever had to do for an MOT with my mini   

 

I did think about the Wood and Pickett boss with the Moto Lita fitment. I liked that particular wheel but it doesn't have a center push horn so that was that. Also, the way the slip ring fits into the wheel on the MPI looked like a poor setup and I don't want problems down the line. This car will be in the family for a very long time. I have took advice every step of the way on this build trying to get it right. For example, I bought the wheel from an old skool guy of ebay and his advice was to get rid of the slip ring. Not convinced, I took advice from other well recognised organisations - you know who I mean

 

It's more complicated than that - The MPI has proper bearings within the steering column, earlier models had felt / nylon bushes. I wanted to keep the MPI column but have run into problems dismantling it - I can't get the centre shaft out..... I also want to extend the steering column. This lot is causing no end of problems at the moment.

 

It's funny how things change, the original plan was to rebuild this Mini to teach my lad how to re-furbish a car. He gave up on it long ago and now it's turned into a "Non originale, Copper mini build" The thread title is a tad out of date. Is it possible to change it?

 

Pete

[Ben_O]

 The thread title is a tad out of date. Is it possible to change it?

 

Pete

 

You can PM any of the TMF staff and ask. sonikk4 is a good bet

[Petrol]

 

 The thread title is a tad out of date. Is it possible to change it?

 

Pete

 

You can PM any of the TMF staff and ask. sonikk4 is a good bet

 

 

It's probably not worth asking...

 

Pete

[Ben_O]

Plenty of others do...

[myredmini]

Go to you're first post, full edit and should be able to edit it yourself.

[Ben_O]

It's true, you can!

I just checked it on one of my threads. I never knew that!