18 replies to this topic

[Jamie's-81-van]

Well this is my wee van, had it since I was 17. That was when I stripped it down for welding work. Circumstances changed and I moved away for work. Van has been hidden away for 16 years, now got space and a little more time so it's time to make a start. The shell is still at my mum and dads in the highlands so I have been collecting up the major assembly's and working away at them. Anyway just wanted to post a pic and say belated happy birthday to my van. I think by the time it's back on the road I won't need tax.

[Jamie's-81-van]

More photos to come once I get sorted, gutted I lost a load of what I've done with my phone not being backed up. 😡

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Edited by Jamie's-81-van, 03 September 2016 - 07:59 PM.

[cookie4343]

You might won't to remove the pic of v5 with reg and chassis number on.
Looks a good project, good luck.

[Jamie's-81-van]

Cheers mate, done it now. Chopped it down on my phone,but couldn't work out how to load pics so jumped on the iPad and forgot to check.

[johnR]

in answer to the question posed by the title of this thread - it depends how bad your memory is!!

JohnR

[Jamie's-81-van]

in answer to the question posed by the title of this thread - it depends how bad your memory is!!
JohnR

Hi John, it's more of a dig at all the "barn find" rubbish on various internet auction sites. Just because it's dusty and has been buried at the bottom of the garden advertising it as "barn find" some how warrants a ridiculous asking price for junk!!

As for my memory and what's in the barn, I think the mini is one of the few things I can remember/find.

P.S it is actually in a barn.

[johnR]

what's your style/power plans for the van?
JohnR

[Jamie's-81-van]

I've got a 1275 metro engine, it's my current focus as the shell is not here yet. Got it fully stripped just now, the block painted up and head has been stripped cleaned, valves cleaned and lapped in and all painted up. Just need to get my mini spares discount sorted to order up some vital parts for the guts of it. Once the block is fully assembled I'll give the gear box a once over. Got a manifold lcb and rc40 single back box system, hif 44 carb. Engine will be standard until the van is done then I think I'll go fast road with it.

Keeping the van on 10s but I have a cooper s 7.5 disc kit for it and 5" original revolutions, but I really want 6" with the deep rim. Will see what arches I need but probably group 2 race. Inheritor will have my rst recaros, just because I have them and there so comfy, not sure what else yet will see how it progresses. Quite fancy getting one of the one piece grp rear doors and cutting it horizontally so it has a drop tail gate with pop up window. Just something different. It probably won't happen because I don't want to leave the van in a hard position to turn it back to original.

Once I get the heritage cert back, if it has still got the original engine which I suspect it has I will be keeping all the original stuff from it just incase I turn all pedantic about originality.

[Jamie's-81-van]

Hope fully this works, going to try and post some pics of what I have got to start with. Front end is gash and there's a lot of rust up in the Fitch panels, rear doors are pretty far gone. They had been repaired and never painted when I got it, rust had already set in by then. As for the rest of it I'll have to take it as it comes, got over sills to deal with so dreading what that's going to lead to.

[Jamie's-81-van]

[Jamie's-81-van]

Yay it worked, here's some pics of my engine up grade 1275 mg metro sport. I did 600 mile round trip to collect it, cooper s 7.5" disc set up and a few other bits. Engine had already been stripped and checked I was told. Pulled it down anyway and it was all looking ok till I pulled the Pistons out. Looks like it's had a head gasket failure in the past between no1 and 2 cylinder. Everything all cleaned up ok. New set of rings and a bore hone, crank polish and a new shells will do for now. Otherwise it's just getting a full tart up.

[Jamie's-81-van]

Edited by Jamie's-81-van, 03 October 2016 - 08:30 PM.

[minimissions]

This looks like an ace project cant wait to see this come along :)

[Jamie's-81-van]

YAY Mini Spares discount sorted and a fairly hefty order made at the start of the week. Praying the bits arrive tomorrow and I can take the engine to work with me at the week end and make some progress. Would like to have the block and head back together soon so I can strip, clean and refresh the box. hopefully more updates soon.

['Chop']

Loving the original graphics/ paint on the van... Looks like a great little project.... I'll be following this one