67 replies to this topic

[CPC]

Hi Guys

 

Just thought id start this thread and keep to up to date with the highs and lows of my Mini.

 

I bought this car in July time after seing it listed on Ebay & Pistonheads the spec from the advert

 

1982 Austin Mini shell. De-bumpered and all welding / panels in need of replacing have been prior to paint prep.

Sprayed Mazda Winning Blue (lovely pearl paint)  with pearl white miglia arches and roof.  MK1 Cooper grille.

1380cc road/race engine (Only 600 miles done so far!)

Runs brilliantly! Would be good to get it on a rolling road to refine the SU needle and also confirm the 100bhp / 100ft lbs of torque this engine should produce!

 

Work carried out by Rob Walker Engineering on the block:

• overbore cylinder block
• reface cylinder block
• new cam bearings
• centre main strap
• regrind cracnkshaft
• balance 4 cylinder crank
• balance rods and pistons

73.5mm 11cc DISH MEGA PISTONS

SW10 Duplex timing kit

Swiftune SW10 (286) Billet Camshaft

11 ARP head studs

HIF44 carb - rebuilt and reconditioned

Stage 4 cylinder head

K&N filter

Power flow oil pump

Rebuilt and reconditioned gearbox - no expense spared

Central oil pick up 

New clutch (orange diaphragm) - clutch and flywheel balanced professionally

Facet solid state fuel pump

Custom loom and Megajolt Lite Jr ECU timing - makes a world of difference!

4 x Ultralite 7x13 extreme wheels with Yohohama A539 tyres (new)

Fletcher Stainless Steel LCB Back exhaust system

Maniflow Exhaust Manifold - heat wrapped

Silicon hose kit all round

Halogen headlights

Reconditioned front disc brakes and rear drums

Braided brake hoses

New brake and clutch master cylinders

Brake bias valve

Union Jack headlining

 

After a decent clean and at a car show

 

More of the not so good stuff to follow!

 

Chris.

 

[CPC]

Continued..

 

Some of the not so good stuff and what i wish id researched before buying it! but i can all be sorted!

 

On the drive home with the car i noticed a missfire and poor running from the engine and if im honest i did not know how to sort this so carefully drove the car upto Sleaford Mini Centre who adjusted the mapping and carb mixture and got it running well.  It made 80bhp at the wheels that i believe is approx 96/98bhp at the flywheel?

 

 

I also had some electrical issues and turned out to be a damaged conection in this birdsnest of wiring

[CPC]

I was never happy with the look of the white wheel arches so painted them myself.

 

wide wheels!!!

 

Screw driver fixing!!

 

After that i thought id go for some custom made side decals

[CPC]

My car has always felt very loose on the road and with the big wheels this highlighted the issue, it turns out i had a bent tierod and all suspension bushes and rubber subframe mounts were totally shot!  I then placed a order with Minispares for a set of adjustable tierods and lower arms with new polybushes and the solid metal subframe mounting kit they do.. this has really helped the car but i still need to get the alinement set.

 

 

This trackrod end would not tighten so i had to cut it off!, i have replaced them with the longer trackrod ends that you require the the lower arms

.

Whilst doing this work i noticed this damaged fuel line

 

i have replaced this now, but ever since the engine feels flat with a slight miss.  So i guess this has upset the mixture and i need another dyno visit?

 

 

This brings me upto date for now..

Edited by CPC, 16 December 2014 - 11:56 AM.

[CPC]

Just found out the reason for my bad clutch pedal and the need to pump it before it would cleanly select gears, looks like its only the slave cylinder leaking, fingers crossed!

[StefanPieter]

It seems like you have a nice little car there. What are your plans with her going forward?

[CPC]

Lots of plans, the main items

 

the whole front end could do with a respray due to some dents and poor paintwork

replace the shocks and cones ( the front cones are buggered!! then everything will be new suspension wise)

a set of retro type bucket seats and a rear roll cage

 

Then ive been having thoughts of swapping the wheels for a set of 10x6 wheels with sticky yoko tyres

[CPC]

Just taxed it again this weekend after its winter storage, it needed a jump start but fired straight up!

[!3UMBLEBEE]

Looking really nice! U doing l2b this year. Be good to see in person.

[CPC]

Finally got round to sorting the suspension out!, this weekend i fitted Minispares red dot cones, Gaz lowered shocks and Hilos and they have transformed how it drives! plus its no longer riding on the bumpstops!!  

[CPC]

Due to a high crankcase pressure and smoking i have decided to strip and remove this engine, its a real shame as its only done around 2000miles!

 

Any one of the last pics in its current forum

 

And last few nights progress, ive never removed a engine before so its all learning!

 

I don't really know what to do engine wise, stick with the A-series or maybe a Vauxhall or K series conversion?

Edited by CPC, 12 August 2015 - 09:46 AM.

[CPC]

More stripping down

 

 

Removing the interior to tackle the oversills of death!!

 

Fingers crossed its not too bad!

[CPC]

More work required!!

 

this is at the top corner of the inner arch A post/flitch join

 

And Ive removed the offside oversill, its all fairly solid but been bodged, a welded section at the rear inner sill, no jacking point and for some reason the cross member section is open

 

Not sure what to do about this yet until i have removed the other side!

[CPC]

This is turning into a full rebuild!! noticed the oversill rust!

 

 

I also got grinder happy! the panels were held together with rust!

 

Plenty of fun ahead!

 

Chris

Edited by CPC, 25 August 2015 - 07:56 AM.

[StefanPieter]

It's amazing how a project escalates from a quick job to a full rebuild.