Mini 1275 rebuild
Discussion
Having been pestered by a couple of friends and previous owners of my 1960 Beetle, which I've owned on and off for the last 20 years, I finally succumbed to temptation and crumbled in a moment of weakness and decided to sell once again.
I gave both of my friends and pesterers the option to flash the cash before I changed my mind and grease my palm within the week. Unfortunately for me one of them stumped up the readies and I lost my postion in Beetle ownership once again.
In truth I had storage problems with it and was never really able to give it the use it deserved. I knew it would be going to a good home where it would be looked after and cared for .......and anyway i'll probably have it back in 10 years time when it's my turn to take it apart again.
Having said that this was still a very sad moment
With the Beetle out of the way, I now had a spare bit of cash burning a hole in my pocket for a new project. I think the money desperately hung on in there for about two whole days, before giving up and falling out into another friends pocket.
I had been eyeing this up for a while at his garage and in the end decided to revisit my teenage years once again.
A friend and good customer of mine was selling the car for a young guy he knew. Having done some mild repairs on the car with his dad, I believe the seller broke down on Dartford bridge. Mortified at the hold up he had caused and not trusting it any longer, wanted it gone.
To be honest, all I wanted was a good solid shell as it would all be changed anyway. Apart from a few scabby patches in the front floor ( as per usual ) it was a rust free example, a good basis for a project without too much body work issues. It had just been resprayed and put through MOT so all good.
Anyway after a few uuuummmms, aaarrhhhs, low punches and crafty upper cuts, £1500 was handed over and my mate delivered it to my house for me.
Unfortunately it was about this point I decided to fall down a cellar at a customers house landing on my ribs and in the process breaking four of them. Unsurprisingly this put me out of action for a good few months and nothing at all got done .....trust me you don't wanna be doing that if you can help it!
So here it sat for months on end all sad and dejected.
The first weekend when I felt ok and not in too much pain, I decided to have a little prod and poke about.
And so the fun began.....
A few weeks later the sound deadening was removed, which is easier said than done!, and the floor and rear seat pan taken back to bare metal. It was then given a quick primer coat to protect it, although this will be removed again and done properly at a later date.
The Mini up until now had been left outside and ideally I wanted it in the garage, but with the Westfield in there I had a problem as both wouldn't fit. I had a few builder mates pop round to see what I could do with re-engineering the garage i.e. I have an understairs cupboard I could knock into to gain the space required, but finally came up with a lift Idea.
So having read a few threads on here and looked about, I found this. It's a superb piece of kit and imho an excellent investment, am well made up with it. Working on the car is so much easier now and it does exactly what I wanted it to do.
Here's a link if anyone is interested.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-LIFT-MID-RISE-SCISSO...
PerfectO
Now In the garage I could start with the strip down.
With the use of a lift, subframe removal is a piece of cake.
Subframe looks in pretty good condition, bar a few scabby spots at the top which I'll sort out later.
I then de-greased the underside of the rear end of the car. Surprising no rust to talk of.
This is where I am at as of this weekend. I hope to update the thread when I'm able for those that are interested.
I gave both of my friends and pesterers the option to flash the cash before I changed my mind and grease my palm within the week. Unfortunately for me one of them stumped up the readies and I lost my postion in Beetle ownership once again.
In truth I had storage problems with it and was never really able to give it the use it deserved. I knew it would be going to a good home where it would be looked after and cared for .......and anyway i'll probably have it back in 10 years time when it's my turn to take it apart again.
Having said that this was still a very sad moment
With the Beetle out of the way, I now had a spare bit of cash burning a hole in my pocket for a new project. I think the money desperately hung on in there for about two whole days, before giving up and falling out into another friends pocket.
I had been eyeing this up for a while at his garage and in the end decided to revisit my teenage years once again.
A friend and good customer of mine was selling the car for a young guy he knew. Having done some mild repairs on the car with his dad, I believe the seller broke down on Dartford bridge. Mortified at the hold up he had caused and not trusting it any longer, wanted it gone.
To be honest, all I wanted was a good solid shell as it would all be changed anyway. Apart from a few scabby patches in the front floor ( as per usual ) it was a rust free example, a good basis for a project without too much body work issues. It had just been resprayed and put through MOT so all good.
Anyway after a few uuuummmms, aaarrhhhs, low punches and crafty upper cuts, £1500 was handed over and my mate delivered it to my house for me.
Unfortunately it was about this point I decided to fall down a cellar at a customers house landing on my ribs and in the process breaking four of them. Unsurprisingly this put me out of action for a good few months and nothing at all got done .....trust me you don't wanna be doing that if you can help it!
So here it sat for months on end all sad and dejected.
The first weekend when I felt ok and not in too much pain, I decided to have a little prod and poke about.
And so the fun began.....
A few weeks later the sound deadening was removed, which is easier said than done!, and the floor and rear seat pan taken back to bare metal. It was then given a quick primer coat to protect it, although this will be removed again and done properly at a later date.
The Mini up until now had been left outside and ideally I wanted it in the garage, but with the Westfield in there I had a problem as both wouldn't fit. I had a few builder mates pop round to see what I could do with re-engineering the garage i.e. I have an understairs cupboard I could knock into to gain the space required, but finally came up with a lift Idea.
So having read a few threads on here and looked about, I found this. It's a superb piece of kit and imho an excellent investment, am well made up with it. Working on the car is so much easier now and it does exactly what I wanted it to do.
Here's a link if anyone is interested.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-LIFT-MID-RISE-SCISSO...
PerfectO
Now In the garage I could start with the strip down.
With the use of a lift, subframe removal is a piece of cake.
Subframe looks in pretty good condition, bar a few scabby spots at the top which I'll sort out later.
I then de-greased the underside of the rear end of the car. Surprising no rust to talk of.
This is where I am at as of this weekend. I hope to update the thread when I'm able for those that are interested.
Edited by Westy Pre-Lit on Sunday 26th January 18:46
Look's like a great start.
Love the Beetle too, i'd be upset to see that go (wouldnt be upset about the roofrack or visor but that's a personal thing), love the wheels, red bands, colour and sta*ce
Been through loads of Mini's in the past, this was my best and favourite, did the wide arches and 13" wheels, deliberately kept this unarched on 10's.
Love the Beetle too, i'd be upset to see that go (wouldnt be upset about the roofrack or visor but that's a personal thing), love the wheels, red bands, colour and sta*ce
Been through loads of Mini's in the past, this was my best and favourite, did the wide arches and 13" wheels, deliberately kept this unarched on 10's.
Nice looking Mini Mark
Will be going for 10's as well and track orientated but mainly for road use.
Got so many ideas atm but keep changing my mind lol. Colour is somewhat of an issue at the moment but it will be something in the pastel range.
Yes I know what you mean about the roof rack and visor. They were put on the car by the guy I bought it back from. I wasn't sure to be honest but kept them on anyway.
The paint was a one off mix at the time (18 years ago) as I couldn't find the colour I wanted. Funnily enough when I chose it it looked a lot darker and a deeper shade which I was looking for. When the car was painted it came out quite a bit lighter than expected so had to go with it in the end.
Will be going for 10's as well and track orientated but mainly for road use.
Got so many ideas atm but keep changing my mind lol. Colour is somewhat of an issue at the moment but it will be something in the pastel range.
Yes I know what you mean about the roof rack and visor. They were put on the car by the guy I bought it back from. I wasn't sure to be honest but kept them on anyway.
The paint was a one off mix at the time (18 years ago) as I couldn't find the colour I wanted. Funnily enough when I chose it it looked a lot darker and a deeper shade which I was looking for. When the car was painted it came out quite a bit lighter than expected so had to go with it in the end.
Edited by Westy Pre-Lit on Sunday 26th January 18:36
Ive got a picture somewhere of a stunning mini from Silverstone anniversary. Was painted a light grey with a while roof iirc. It just looked right. I'll dig it out. Reminds me of my '61 Mk 1 I rebuild many moons ago..... except I learnt to grind wings, a panels, front panels, inner A panels and rear valances into dust. Before the rebuild began.
Would more than likely go the Rose Petal route / Mini Light as you can't go wrong with them.
Was also looking at Golf cart wheels a while back but there seems to be quite a lot of debate as to whether they are able to cope with the stresses etc. Some people say they are perfectly fine and race with them, others say no chance.
Something like this maybe.
I believe they are Gianni Potenza Wheels or the like.
I don't know, so many choices to make.
That red MK1 looks ace, never seen those wheels before.
Forge Racing do a nice 10" split rim available in any width, also i think Image wheels do nice 10's, it's a shame tyre choice is severely limited though, the old Mini Miglia racers looked ace with fat (8" wide i think ?) 10's but used wide Dunlop slicks, no road legal equivalent that i know of, a 165 would be rediculously stretched on an 8"r .
In fact you cant even get really wide tyres for 13" wheels any more, have 10x13's on the back of my Escort but going to give up and go for 9x15's for slightly better tyre choice.
Would also be a shame to butcher such a sound shell to fit a bike engine, then there is all the SVA/IVA/VOSA/Q plate hassle etc.
Forge Racing do a nice 10" split rim available in any width, also i think Image wheels do nice 10's, it's a shame tyre choice is severely limited though, the old Mini Miglia racers looked ace with fat (8" wide i think ?) 10's but used wide Dunlop slicks, no road legal equivalent that i know of, a 165 would be rediculously stretched on an 8"r .
In fact you cant even get really wide tyres for 13" wheels any more, have 10x13's on the back of my Escort but going to give up and go for 9x15's for slightly better tyre choice.
CGJJ said:
This project deserves a ZZR1400 engine.
Been done to death though, a Mini with a stout A series is still ace and very reliable, my old green Mini above had a 1380 Swiftune motor, went very well and sounded ace. shocked many as it looked fairly standard (even had the big stock thin rimmed steering wheel and the 850 badge on the boot).Would also be a shame to butcher such a sound shell to fit a bike engine, then there is all the SVA/IVA/VOSA/Q plate hassle etc.
Some nice looking cart wheels here.
http://www.golfcarttirestore.com/chrome_wheels.htm
Might go for something like this
Engine wise I think I'll go 1380 A series atm, originally was going to go VTEC or Bike etc but keep coming back to what I know, but always open to suggestion.
http://www.golfcarttirestore.com/chrome_wheels.htm
Might go for something like this
Engine wise I think I'll go 1380 A series atm, originally was going to go VTEC or Bike etc but keep coming back to what I know, but always open to suggestion.
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