106 replies to this topic

[ibby4585]

Great build, what are the plans for it now, keep it, sell it??

Are you going to put a chrome grille on it?

[josh.goddard]

This car is absolutely stunning fantastic progress, can't wait to see it done.
Josh

[mini.rich]

This car is absolutely stunning fantastic progress, can't wait to see it done.
Josh

 

Thanks!

 

Great build, what are the plans for it now, keep it, sell it??

Are you going to put a chrome grille on it?

 

My original intention was to rebuild it and sell it, but as I've owned the car for nearly 10 years and the fact it's growing on me the more I do to it, I doubt I'll sell it, although everything has it's price ;P

 

No, I'll be keeping the black grille, I'm not sure if it's correct for the year or not, but it goes with the wheels and I like the look

[mini.rich]

I managed to finish work early today, and I was home by 3.30 even though I had a two hour drive from Telford!!  So I thought I'd make the most of this and do something on the mini

 

I decided to strip the gearbox down so I can check everything and rebuild with new bearings etc. Here are some of my dirty bits ;P

 

 

 

 

The diff had already been taken off, I think I will replace it with pot type output shafts, instead of the rubber coupling type.

 

 

All the gearbox stripped, mains shaft disassembled etc. I might strip the original box from the car because some of the gears don't look too clever 

 

 

I've put it all in a container of degreaser and stale petrol to soak for a couple of days.

Next task is to rig up the dishwasher that was kindly donated by my dad so I can clean the casing

 

[grahama]

Rebuilding the gearbox was my favourite thing so far on my build, so satisfying getting it all back in with nothing left over lol

Good luck !!

[mini.rich]

Rebuilding the gearbox was my favourite thing so far on my build, so satisfying getting it all back in with nothing left over lol

Good luck !!

 

Thanks! Ha, theres a lot in this box as well, what with the selector rods and everything

 

I've been finishing off stripping the gearbox this evening, and I got the casing in the industrial cleaning cabinet, otherwise known as a dishwasher.. ha. It's worked pretty well, I'll put it on another cycle next time and hopefully it will be clean enough. I didn't clean the loose stuff off because my pressure washer is broken, but it has still come up pretty well.

 

 

 

Doesn't look as clean here, it wasn't very good light

 

Cleaned gears etc, I'm looking forward to rebuilding this

 

 

 

I should have an engine by the end of the week   and it's a pretty good spec for a small bore...

[roughneckin]

Oh man my wife would kill me if I did that!!  Looking good though.  Me likely!!

[mini.rich]

Oh man my wife would kill me if I did that!!  Looking good though.  Me likely!!

 

Haha, it was a freebee given to my dad, he was never going to use it so I had it I did contemplate using the one in my apartment, but then thought better of it! haha.

 

I've given it another clean tonight :) 

 

Also the engine has arrived!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spec is - 

 

Cylinder head

12G295 10.1:1 compression rasio.  Oversize (approx. 31mm and 27mm) plasma nitrided race quality valves, 3 angle valve seats. Hi-flow silicon bronze valve guides. The ports and combustion chambers have all been worked and smoothed. Dual rate kent double valve springs for 266 cam.

Cylinder block

Bored to 1120cc. Steel backed mini spares oil pump. Decked to piston height.


Cam
Kent 266 with new followers, bearings and kent vernier duplex timing set.


 

 

So I've gone for a slightly larger engine than the 1040cc I had planned, but its pretty much the same spec other than that. I've just got to rebuild the gearbox! So I can get it in

 

I'm not sure if I'll keep it green as I think it should be black in this age of car? Anyone know for sure??

[grahama]

Good effort with the dishwasher.  Would have got mine chewed off if I did that lol !!  Engine looks good too.

[blacktulip]

wow rich, you are building a nice little engine there. it looks well done. the spec is almost identical to what i am planning soon, except im going to keep the rubber coupled output shafts and remote box. did you buy the engine from a company?

[mini.rich]

Good effort with the dishwasher.  Would have got mine chewed off if I did that lol !!  Engine looks good too.

 

Haha, thanks, I'm pretty pleased with how its come up

 

wow rich, you are building a nice little engine there. it looks well done. the spec is almost identical to what i am planning soon, except im going to keep the rubber coupled output shafts and remote box. did you buy the engine from a company?

 

I got the engine off ebay, normally I wouldn't, but I asked loads of questions and had detailed photos, so I was pretty happy

I'm keeping the remote box, just changing the diff output shafts so I can use the pot joints instead, just easier to fit.

 

I've got a small problem though, in the rebuild kit I bought from Mini Sport they sent the wrong layshaft, not only is it for an A+ it's also a competition one, not that that matters its just a double ******* up on their part.. Part of the reason I very rarely use them    

 

 

Few more bits in the washer..

 

 

And I built the mains shaft back up, quite a satisfying thing to do 

 

 

Hopefully at the weekend I will be able to rebuild the rest of the gearbox and maybe even sit the engine on it! 

[mini.rich]

So I though it was time for a little update.... 

 

Nothing has changed... The engine is bolted to the gearbox and thats about as far as I got  It's sat on my bench and hasn't moved! in my defence a lot has happened since last October! haha. 

 

I sold my Scirocco a few months back and now want a car to use instead of my van, so what better than this nearly complete mini I have sat waiting to be finished!!

 

So watch this space for some updates, I've cleared my workshop up to make room for it!! 

[mini.rich]

Soooo, a lot has happened since my last post, unfortunately nothing has happened to the mini  It's still sat in my workshop without an engine, I am going to rectify this over christmas and fit the engine and try my hardest to get her running, I have most of the parts needed to finish her off.

 

So heres a fancy instagram photo of her...

 

 tulip.jpg   44.9K   10 downloads

 

[mini.rich]

Dragging this back from the depths, I thought I might update this a little.....

 

It's been a long time since I've done any meaningful work on this, but over the last month or so I've made an effort to get this finished, or at least get it running and on the road so it can be a running project. 

 

Engine is mostly plumbed in, need to bleed clutch and brakes, fit driveshafts and tidy up the wiring loom, should be a runner in the next couple of weeks!   Oh, and I need to clean the 4 years of dirt and dust off!! 

 

This is where it is now...

Attached Files

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[mini.rich]

I've made some more progress with this, and I have driven it!! albeit only about 50m.. 

 

I've got a list of jobs to do on it, most importantly set up the amazing drum brakes and have the engine set up properly on a rolling road. Then just tidy up all the bits and pieces that need doing and giving it a bloody good clean!

 

Enjoy the photo's for now!

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•  IMG_3134.jpg   126.46K   1 downloads
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•  IMG_3137.jpg   128.16K   2 downloads