I've been the proud owner of a Domino Cabrio since 2004. I bought the car as an unfinished project from a guy who purchased the shell in 1996. The car has spent most of it's life in one garage after another but last year I was finally able to get the car on the road. Happy days she finally hit the Tarmac in February and completed a rather painful 1300 miles shake down.
Unfortunately due to limited time and money something's couldn't get done first time round. While I've completely rebuilt the back end with a new powder coated rear subframe, all new rubber bushes and cones, alloy radius arms, hi-lo's, camber and tracking brackets and new damper, the front subframe is 18 years old and very tired 
So I've taken the decision to take her off the road - let the road tax laps - and starting what I jokingly refer to misses as 'Project Falcon - Domino 2.0'. I've already got adjustable lower arms, adjustable tie bars, quick rack, hi-lo's and dampers, just the subframe is really tatty. Ultimately it need to be replaced but not at moment (there's a part of me that really wants a vtec conversion).
First on the list is all new rubber mounts and cones for the front subframe and two later style towing eyes with the front mounts - needed if you want to go racing :)
The car came with 5 very nice Minator 13x5.5" alloys but after driving it the last 6 months I've decided to put the car on 12's. I considered 10's but these would not fit without replacing the front brakes and drive flanges Once it's back on the ground I'm going to look at adjusting the ride height and correct the geometry .
Second, due to future plans, I need the space at the front of the engine where the oil filter sits. I've seen a lot of US based Minis and A-Series cars running oil accumulators, these help to maintain a steady oil pressure and provide a pre oiler function on cold start. I get the theory so figure on fitting a remote oil filter head, take-off plate and unions to the block, a check valve, tee piece and new hoses.
Third: Fit the heated front windscreen (been in its box for years!), new lower dash switches, gauges and dashboard. I want something really nice here it's what you're looking at when in the car.
Four: I love the domino, how light it is, how you can pull away from a standing start in 2nd gear, no rust :) but I do feel rather vulnerable. You're very low in a Mini and with modern cars I spend most of my time with other peoples big nasty looking bumpers at the same height as my ribs. After speaking with a few people and saving some money I've agreed to have a custom chromoly multi-point safety cage with proper MSA approved safety; bucket seats and 4 (possible 5/6) point harnesses. While the car had back seats fitted I never use them - once you've adjusted the front seats there was no use for the rear anyway - so it's going to be a dedicated two seater.
Five: Having done all that work under the bonnet I'm seriously considering a vinyl rap... all depends how much moneys left in the budget. I've seen a few in the flesh and they looked really good and much much cheaper than a respray. This way if you decide you don't like the colour you can peel it off :)
Oh and I've fallen in love with the Tri Pod P700 headlights. If they are E marked I would have to consider those and a more modern lighting that you can actually see and be seen we're you're going!
The roll cage guy said about 6 weeks 2 weeks ago before it goes in. I'm starting on Saturday and going to do all the work myself. Except for the geo but I'll get the tyre place to set it as I want. Plan is to take as many photos as I remember to do and upload some as I go.
Who wants to open the books? What odds would you give me?
Edited by Curley, 10 August 2014 - 07:51 PM.
I spent best part of a day on this alone, no amount of heating or hitting it F'ing would get the inner CV ball race off the shaft. In the end I had to sacrifice the ball race and grind it off.
I had to invest in a cone compressor in the end and last night managed to get the old drives side cone out and the new one in, You can see the old Dunlop has collapsed quite a bit (but not as bad as some I've seen).
