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113 downloadsHere's my Mini. It's been painted for a while, and these photo's are a little out of date as there are a fair few bits which have been fitted since being taken. However, I shall add more in due course...
My mini is loosely based on a Mk 2 Cooper, but to be honest, won't bear too much resemblance as this is a new shell, and I'm adding my own interpretation on how a Mini should be. The donor was not exactly 100% original itself and besides the non standard engine which turned out to be an ‘S’ / 1300GT engine - probably from a Mk 3, there was some previous accident damage which manifested itself in the condition of some of the parts. The car had at some point taken a bash on the OSF and pushed the steering column, bending it slightly and damaging the pedal box in the process. I discovered this when trying to get the brake pedal to spring back into position - once I remembered seeing the damage on the old shell, I realised this was the reason that the pedal was so stiff - sorted now though.
I have recently finished polishing the paintwork back to a lovely shine – I’m delighted with the result. Once I get a chance to post some better pics, you should see the result for yourself.
So what is the spec? Well, I can call it a Cooper due too its donor, but it will have an S engine which is currently being built at Morspeed. I gave them a summary of what I wanted and have left it to the discretion of Simon at Morspeed, and from what I’ve heard, I shouldn’t be disappointed. I’ve got twin 1 ¼ Su’s fully restored by Burlen, Aldon Yellow ignition distributor, alternator and lots of new bits for under the bonnet, but not as interesting to mention individually.
Autosparks made me a new wiring loom with not a few modifications from the original. Pig of a job to get it through the NS A post, but I got there in the end. This was probably largely due to the fact that the speaker wires were taped into the loom. I’m just glad that I didn’t request Monster speaker wires!
Brakes will be 7.5” S discs and servo set up, the servo being completed in the last few days by my own fair hands. Brake pipes are copper nickel, with braided flexi hoses. Fuel pipes and hoses are likewise copper nickel, with braided hoses.
Suspension is KYB gas adjust with Hilo’s, wheels, 6” x 10” Minator on Falkens.
Body wise the shell is Mk 4 Heritage painted by myself in cellulose Speedwell Blue, lashings of underbody seam sealer, painted blue, then dosed with liberal amounts of waxoyl. Cavities have also been injected with that sticky waxy stuff – gets everywhere, and despite what MiniWorld writers say, I have mastered the use of the Waxoyl pump sprayer, though granted it is a bit of an art! I will abstain from divulging too much incase someone gets hurt, but suffice to say the kettle needed a good wipe afterward.
I’ve got 4 period spotlights, body coloured Wood & Picket arches, and have a choice between Downton alloy mirrors or standard plastic – I think I’ll try both and see what I’m happiest with.
Interior wise, the Mini shall bear no resemblance to the original donor, bar the steering column and switches.
Interior will have a restored Rookee Dash with 3 centre clocks, additional Rev counter and volt meter, starter button, Wooden Mota Lita steering wheel, alloy door furniture and handbrake grip, red carpets, and mulberry red leather seats and door cards – the style from the late Rover Coopers. The rear parcel shelf and underseat boards have been treated to some tartan fleece and I’ll decide how pleased I am with it once it is in place, though I have to say it looks really good at this time
For extra sound proofing, I have used 20 Bodyline bitumen sound deadening pads, and have got Newton Commercial felt for under the carpet as well as the carpets set from the same company with sound deadening bonded. I’ve also managed to get bulkhead sound deadening from a scrapped Mini. I’m also putting extra sound deadening behind the wooden dash. The bonnet and under bonnet bulkhead will be fitted with Newton Commercial sound deadening.
Hoping to be able to hear the music, I will have a VDO CD player as is in my Rover 25 which is a decent enough system. I also have speakers for the parcel shelf and under the rear seat.
As for completion date, summer completion looks unlikely due to a few hitches and spending a fair bit of time away from home with my new job. I’ll have to try to catch up by doing a few ‘late nighters’
I think the project is at that stage where you seem to be always doing something, but getting nowhere, with loads of jobs half completed or waiting for something else to be done first. Once I have my engine, progress should be more apparent as I’ll be able to get the headlining in, then the glass and the doors.
Most of the rest of it is just a case of fitting the restored or new parts in place – which sounds easy, but when Concours is the aim, a little extra care is required.
Watch this space for more posts; this is when the real progress shows!
