54 replies to this topic

[John H]

Front subby is off. more stripping to do when i find the time.

[John H]

Okie Dokie. Will have to whip the camera out soon. Car is now stripped back to a shell and is through at my cousins ready for him to start attacking the tin worm.

[miniallsort]

good project mate

[John H]

I took a couple of pictures when I went to my cousins to assess the rot.

My cousin has cut a couple of bits out to determine the extent of the rot on the front end.

So Far

Replacement Scuttle (got one)
Scuttle Closing Panels
Wings
Front Panel
Rear Valence
Rear Valence Closing Panels
Boot Corner Repairs
New Drivers Door
New Bonnet (got one)
Bulkhead Box

Sills are tip top so thats one bonus.

It is a good job I am having the bulkhead box fitted as there is a great big rusty hole in the bulkhead!

No doubt we will find some more tin worm as time goes on but im sure it will all be sorted.

While my cousing is sorting the bodywork out it is my job to tidy up all the components I have removed and get everything ready for the rebuild.

I have managed to source a good second hand rear subframe for £60 as mine was fubared, so thats one job down.

Hopefully I will be tearing up the streets with turbo power by summer 2009!

I have asked my cousin to take pictures as he goes along with the bodywork and I will do the same with the rest of the components.

[John H]

Updated my specification as well. Post is further up topic.

[John H]

The new scuttle panel is on. (pictures to come)

I have also managed to get myself some new wheels and tyres.
Slightly different to my original plan for Revo's but I think these are equally as cool.

Reconditioned Rover Minilites in black with BRAND NEW Yokohama A048R tyres for the bargain price of £150!!!

Also managed to get apbellamy a brand new set of Yokohama A539's on steels for £100!

[John H]

Spoke to my cousin yesterday!

He has chopped the front end off, cut the bulkhead to fit the box and tacked it into place. Should be seam welding it up today.

He has got all the replacement panels for the front end now. Just waiting on me taking a front subframe over to ensure the front panel lines up correctly before he welds it into place.

Pic's hopefully to follow this weekend

[John H]

No more pics of the car yet but i have had a slight change of plan with the engine & box etc.

Just bought a car with a freshly rebuilt engine with the following spec.
Going to complete the car with an N/A engine and use this turbo engine in my car.

1275 MG Metro Turbo Engine
Deglazed & Rehoned
Crank Reground & Polished
New Shells & Thrusts
Ring Gaps Checked & Rebuilt
Ported Water Jacket
Oil Galleries Replaced With 1/4 BSP Removable Plugs
Avonbar Phase 2 Turbo Cam
Duplex Timing Gear
ARP Head Studs & Rod Bolts
11 Stud Conversion
BENROSS fully worked cylinder head with 28cc chambers, new silica bronze guides, valves & springs (good for 20psi+)
Ported Turbo Manifolds & Elbow
Fully rebuilt gearbox with Metro Turbo Challenge straight cut gearset
Evolution X-pin diff
Straight Cut 1:1 Drops
Billet stainless steel pre-verto flywheel
Double grey diaphragm
Rally clutch plate
2WD Cosworth Intercooler
Megajolt

Should be good for 150bhp+ on approx 12psi

[attachment=76077:DSCF1263_1_.jpg]

Edited by minimadmotorman, 16 December 2008 - 10:06 AM.

[John H]

Don't forget to look at my other project where the engine came from.

[magicmat]

Looking Good.

Its nice to see my old car going to a higher purpose !

Im liking the Alloys and may do a similar thing with mine. Have they been powdercoated black or painted with aerosols?

Im tempted to keep my orange asbo min and do a similar turbo conversion too. However from looking at the yellow mini it seems that you really have to modify the bulk head (more than just welding a box in ? ) and strengthen the dash rails ?

Matt

Edited by magicmat, 17 December 2008 - 10:21 AM.

[John H]

You do have to modify the bulkhead by welding a box in place. this means you also have to relocate your heater bracket's.

However it's not too serious an operation if your handy with a mig you should be fine. A good guide is located HERE

I'm not sure if the wheels have been coated or painted but they look good to me.

If you don't want to modify the bulkhead you can always look into using a T2 turbo and a Mirage manifold kit as this fits in without bulkhead mod's.

[magicmat]

Sounds good.

From looking at the yellow mini its sees as though they have taken the whole bulkhead back ?? Looks good though. My brother has a vmax-scart head with a new T3 turbo. Im finding it difficult though to get him to part with it !

I'll have to have a browse of that guide cheers

[John H]

Nope just has a box in the bulkhead like the Cooper now has.

If I was starting from scratch again I think I would have gone down the Mirage T2 Route.

I still may switch to a Hybrid T2 or GT1752 Turbo in the future. But modify the Metro manifold for fitment.

[magicmat]

Sounds good.

I had a quick look on the website and i think a turbo 998 would be a nice little conversion.

What turbo are you going to run at the minute? T3 ?

..i should stop reading this, its making me want to keep my mini. ..

[John H]

I'm going to run a standard Metro T3 for now. Mainly for cost reasons. But my next evolution will hopefully be to move to a more modern GT series turbo and possible a rebuild with forged avonbar accralite pistons, LSD. Targeting an output of about 200BHP!

However in its current guise it should be good for 150BHP+