Bringing the classic Mini up to scratch, and my other cars

[pistolpete12]

How do everyone.
This is an intro into what i hoping will be come a great little project and how i got to where the car is now/

I am huge petrol head and always been on and off pistonheads but never posted much. I have even bought a shed of the week car, and had a feature readers car (mine and bens rx8). I have had enough of going on the forums for the car i own at the time so thought i would actually post on here for a change.
I am an electrical engineer by trade, but i tend to do all my own work on cars and the families as well.

I know a few guys who float around on this forum so "Hi". I am also sorry for my typing/spelling/etc etc. It's know as pete speak in most places, so you'll have to get used to it, although i do try, i just end up typing how i am thinking.
With over a 100 cars under my belt, some mad and some boring cars,
I am currently running around in my daily a fairly sedate Mini Clubman Cooper S
DSC_0891 by peteandkel, on Flickr
Sorry its dirty there. (it had just had the windows tinted

Its my "do everything car" at the moment, its nippy enough, good on fuel and i can stick all my race gear and 4 18's in the back for mine and Bens RX8
DSC_0934 by peteandkel, on Flickr

For the full thread on that car see here
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Also in the stable is the Wife's fiesta St180, this has been around us since brand new, and i think its a superb car. Love driving it,
DSC_0961 by peteandkel, on Flickr

Also have use of a year old John cooper Works car which is a lot of fun, a lot more "safe" compared to fun of the ST but such a capable car

Here is my drive where i get to play with my cars, the one reason i'd never move house! i love my drive
DSC_0963 by peteandkel, on Flickr

Also i have a scissor lift which is great for working on cars! (see the rx8 post for pictures)
My shed is a bit of a mess but this is where i am working, needs some tidying, and currently re-doing the garage to have a pitched roof, as originally it was to house the mini and a kit car which i no longer have
DSC_0967 by peteandkel, on Flickr
(It is actually tidier than it looks in the picture)

anyways.. the reason for the thread.
I was bored today. Ben (seiben) told me to get my arse outside and get the mini back up and running.
Now the back story is My wife and her friend (who owns the JCW) bought the 1000cc auto mini about 5 years ago which driving home on a wet horrible night broke down. as they do!
Got it back home on a tow truck, fitted a new electronic dizzy and set up, ran fine for a few months.

Stuck it in for its MOT.. and yes.. it failed.. Badly.. Rust.. all of the rust!!!

So a lot of money was spent under the car, new floors, a panels. anywhere under the car there was rust, it was cut out and new was fitted.
Also changed was the whole front to a fibreglass front. Engine changed to a 1275 cooper engine, manual transmission
Larger brakes, uprated clutch and they knew at somepoint they will want more power, new adjustable suspension all round, new interior, sportspack genuine arches and wheels and i am sure there are a lot of other bits too.

It was done over the course of a year, when it came home its was roadworth but never really finished off.
It was many different colours. but the wife was happy and occasionally used it (including once boiling the brakes chasing me in my v6 mr2 i had at the time)
Then over the next few years ended up being used about 100 miles a year. Then last year we never got round to renewing the MOT. It is still taxed and insured, i start it ever couple of months and it always starts straight away and runs sweet as a nut.
But it was never a car i got involved in to be honest. My wife over the last few years has become quite ill and means she probably will never drive the mini again, and if she does it will only be for a few miles. Its not something she is willing to let go though and would rather Me and her friend got some good use out of it.
So me being me, today I was bored so was browsing ebay looking to replace the clubman (which i don't need to do its just what i do when i am bored) spoke with Ben. He said get outside and start tinkering with the mini!

So out i went and i really enjoyed it. i have a list in my head which i will put down in a mo of what i want/ need to do. Today though i just wanted to tinker and attack the last bit of rust that has been annoying me.
When it is less cold i will get it outside and get some better pictures,
So some pictures in the garage (oh a couple outside i forgot i had)
DSC_0940 by peteandkel, on Flickr
DSC_0941 by peteandkel, on Flickr
DSC_0965 by peteandkel, on Flickr
DSC_0971 by peteandkel, on Flickr
DSC_0969 by peteandkel, on Flickr
(yes the F&F rev counter will be going!!)

So first job was clean the windscreen, this had old sticker marks, paint? tape marks and just a general mess.
this was from the first half
DSC_0954 by peteandkel, on Flickr

It cleaned up well (i forgot to taker a photo)
next was the last bit of rust
DSC_0955 by peteandkel, on Flickr

out came the rear window. Some angle grinding sanding and Kurrust, followed by some temporary primer until I it get filled and painted
DSC_0958 by peteandkel, on Flickr
DSC_0959 by peteandkel, on Flickr
DSC_0975 by peteandkel, on Flickr

Also got this reflector thing off the passenger door
DSC_0960 by peteandkel, on Flickr
DSC_0968 by peteandkel, on Flickr

Like said it was just a tinker for a couple of hours to get my head around it..

So my list of jobs currently is
Raise the ride height (i live on an unmade road so its currently to low)
MOT just so its done
5.1 brake fluid
engine oil and filter service
change the stereo to a bluetooth one (has good speakers already)
De-chrome the car (I live on the seafront so it just gets attacked)
re-do the waxoil under the car to keep rust away
New corbeau seats
After speaking with the wife i am allowed to track the car, so remove rear seats and fit half cage
Would love to get the injection and ECU kit for the car that is now available at not great cost
Strip down and repaint the car (undecided on colour, suspect white with red roof and stripes)
new tyres (A048Rs) as current tyres are over 10 years old
Fit bonnet pins (currently uses wingnuts)
new (thicker) radiator


That's it for now., i am sure there is plenty more for the list, and its just my general musing at the moment
and the list won't be done in that order it is just as it came to my head

I hope people will enjoy my ramblings. as believe me it will be ramblings..
hopefully a few more updates this week as i am on nights so will have some time to work on it (fingers crossed)

Edited by pistolpete12 on Tuesday 20th March 01:39

[darkyoung1000]

Good stuff, thanks for sharing. I love a classic mini, but the rust has always put me off.
The chap next door has one though, and I always admire it as I go past!

[seiben]

Morning squire

[Usget]

Crossing over from the RX8 thread!

[pistolpete12]

Morning Ben

Hoping to get out again today but the jcw says it has low tyre pressure so gotta check that for nails first!!

[smudgerebt]

Mini Spares 2 Core rad. They do them for carb or inj.

Mini Spares Hi-Lo's. They cheap nasty alloy copies from China just arnt as well made.

I always used Maniflow for the exhaust system.

[pistolpete12]

cheers
The missus got lots of bits from mini spares.
will be keeping these alloys i expect as they are genuine alloys.

[pistolpete12]

Well sorry guys.. been a bit busy and no updates to talk of really..

Well.. a few.. the race car is going well.
I purchased back my old Pajero back after Ben had a small incident in the rx8 and got ourselves a trailer.
Also swapped out the Mini clubman, as i now had a pajero no longer needed a "van" mini, so a couple months back i swapped out for a lovely boxster 986.

so Just a post for not particular reason other than an update

I had a call from my nephew if i could take him to his Prom in the Porsche..
So took some time out today to give it a good clean wax and hoover..
Really love this thing. I never keep a car very long, but still having a lot of fun in this.

Some pics (sorry from my phone so not great)
FB_IMG_1530735965986 by peteandkel, on Flickr

DSC_1815 by peteandkel, on Flickr

great reflection on black paint when clean
DSC_1814 by peteandkel, on Flickr

My phone is taking really bad pictures at the moment goning to have to look into that.


I fitted and ebay exhaust, its great gives the right amount of noise, such a capable little car..

Got this cheeky pic the opther day at my mates house, poking its nose around the corner (parked next to his alfa v6 and e39 m5)
DSC_1750 by peteandkel, on Flickr

On other notes.. race car is ready for racing this weekend at kendrew barracks, doing very well in mazda sprint series at the moment, currently sat at 2nd over all

item (9) by peteandkel, on Flickr
item (7) by peteandkel, on Flickr
item (6) by peteandkel, on Flickr
item (5) by peteandkel, on Flickr

Also my racecar tow car.. the pajero.. full overhaul this week.
replaced:- front diff oil, transfer box oil, rear diff oil, ATF fluid, Engine oil filter, engine oil, Air filter, All brake fluid, Radiator, Water pump, Thermostat, new coolant and diesel filter..

Now runs loverly!!!!
DSC_1806 by peteandkel, on Flickr
DSC_1808 by peteandkel, on Flickr

i shall carry on driving and enjoying the boxster.. done 3k in it now..

The garage has been taken down to build a better one i can put my Lift in, the mini classic has been used and been good as gold.
Once the garage is up i want to get onto stripping and painting it

thanks all folks

Edited by pistolpete12 on Wednesday 4th July 23:54