Mini Equinox spi 96

[scotty_d]

Hello all

I have been around Mini's for years with my group of mates being mini nuts but never owned one myself. I sold my TVR Tuscan this week and one of my mates is getting married next year and has been restoring a wee equinox 1275 SPI to help fund the wedding.

The car has been lying around for the last 7 years in the corner of his unit and i have decided to buy it from him after viewing the progress on Friday. The car can be finished to my spec now so i have decided on 6x10 superlites group 5 arches(possible) with some hi lo's but pretty standard. other than that.

A few pictures of the re-build loads of new panels and a full respray so no rot at all My mate is a panel beater to trade and has OCD He has restored over 10 mini's now so in very good hands. Kept the standard colour charcoal grey.

A total contrast too my 400bhp Tuscan but i think it will bring as many smiles, I have not left the TVR fold and still have my Cerbera for track days and pure speed

[scotty_d]

Yes still with original equinox interior with the black and purple stars and moons, when I say mine I mean the other half's as well as she loves original minis.

[scotty_d]

Hi Andy

Yeah defo keeping the cerb its part of the family.

Not sure where I will be this year at x mas time floating around work wise now

But sure I will see you at some event next summer, and I need to head to Coventry for the cerbs re map in the spring

Mini should be fun in the summer, my mate informed me that it will be ready in a few weeks now but going straight in to storage till spring.

[scotty_d]

Thank you for the offer, I am just going to leave it plain my mate offered as well to have a set made up for it. Just doing a few light mods, not going 100% original on it.

[scotty_d]

I gave my mate the parts that came through at the weekend and he sent a few pictures through for me.

new 7.5" cooper s brake conversion so i can run my 10" wheels, the new wheels JBW 6x10. Hi-lo's still to be fitted to adjust the ride height a little and waiting on my group 2 wood and pickett arches to come when they get a new bacth made up,













Still a few wee things for him to finish off but i should take delivery of it this month and it will be put straight in to storage till spring.

[scotty_d]

greggy50 said:

Looks lovely

With the 10's I would consider a MK1 rear light conversion though...

Cheers will have a look at the mk1 rear lights.

[scotty_d]

Minis are great so many options and mods as you would expect from a car that was made for 41 years,

Summer can't come quick enough now looking forward to driving this as much as my tvr's

[scotty_d]

Very true and I will put my hands up and be the first to say I am not a mini purist, but I just like the 10" wheels and the fun you can have modding minis a little, all easy things to change over if I ever sell to a purist.
I will leave the interior as is, the equinox is quite rare so not going too retro just its stance (can't believe I just used that word)

Plus it should drive well on the 10" wheels with the big profile.

[scotty_d]

Back to rear lights after talking with my mate he said he had some clear ones lying around mk4 style, he fitted them to see if i would like them, I am a little unsure. opinions?

[scotty_d]

Just had a look at mk2 lights on google that could be a option, mk1 is out the question now due it being painted.

[scotty_d]

I do like 13" look as well but I like the superlite wheels and that would mean cutting the wings to accommodate. I like the option to but it back to original if need be.

It does tram line as well on 7x13 and i want to drive and feel as good as it can on the road

[scotty_d]

I have not seen the clear ones in the flesh yet but i will have both sets so can make my mind up when i next see it.

Really looking forward to it and glad i will have it as my Cerbera just seems to keep throwing up problems for me so at least i will have a wee toy to kick around in when the sun is back out

The only little update is the wood and pickett arches are with my mate so very little to do now.
He did have a little mishap with the car, he slipped on a spanner on the workshop floor and bent the door back on the wing before the hold back was fitted and dented it, He is getting one of his mates a dent master to come in and fix it to save him rubbing it back and filling it.

Not long now, can any one recommend a fitted cover for out door use, It will be in a barn plenty of air movement but want something substantial as its not quite as good as a heated garage.

Edited by scotty_d on Saturday 14th December 23:07

[scotty_d]

GC8 said:

Yes, the cost of 10"-friendly discs and calipers was was massive even then.

£217 for the full kit of cooper s 2 pot callipers discs and pads. Can't believe how cheap mini parts are next to my other hobby cars.

[scotty_d]

GC8 said:

Really!? I wonder if I should buy cheap Mini whilst I still can...

My thinking exactly, how I made my man maths work. A clutch for a mini about £100, clutch and slave for my cerbera close to £1000

It does make sense and the prices only seem to be heading north after talking with my mates who have been in to them 10-15 years now.

[scotty_d]

vx220 said:

My thoughts exactly

Only doing short journeys now, really fancy something that is fun at normal (ish) speeds around town and lanes

Same as me I get hire cars to travel with work to use the cerb for round town is pointless as it takes a age to warm up perfect for the mini

[scotty_d]

Cheers just ordered that cover it looks spot on, still not seen the car yet or even heard it run , hope to take a run up this week and hope to see it with the arches and all the fittings on

[scotty_d]

Mini update

My mate is not having much luck, he took it for a road test and we have a crunchy gear box!

He has pulled the engine and sourced a replacement, he is going to use this as his wedding car in April as he has no chance on restoring his own mini in time, pictures to follow.

The arches are painted hi lo's fitted and door repaired. Hopefully not long now!

[scotty_d]

It is finally on the road but 95% finished, my mate hit quite a few issues, the gear box was grinding so the engine came back out and replacement fitted.

It still has a few bits of trim to fit still, a good machine polish and it has a fueling issue to resolve.

As to my mates true fashion it was moted the night before the wedding and road taxed on the morning of the big day

Hope to take delivery next week, like a kid a Xmas

[scotty_d]

Cheers

I know what you mean Andy, very different cars but I am so looking forward to scooting about in this.

[scotty_d]

I received a few pictures on the restoration in progress and a few changes I have done.


















It has since been back to a body shop for more polishing and to have the equinox decals fitted again, I managed to pick up a dark walnut dash with a 3 clock dash.







A few pictures of how the body sits now.






Lots of little jobs to do over winter the ride height needs set up as its too high on the front but it scrubs a touch so need to sort the arches a tad.

I had the car on hub dynos to see how it is running, not too bad 30bhp at the wheels, standard it went to make 50bhp at fly wheel from Factory.

Some tuning plans in the pipe line

Edited by scotty_d on Saturday 2nd August 14:34