Mk1Mad

Ok. Worked for the last few days doing up stuff for the WOF. Took it through this morning. I take it to a friendly garage so they explained what needed to be done. I didnt connect the headlights because one of the wires was heating up when they were on, which isnt good.... Stuff to do for WOF Brakes - Mini brakes are very average (full drums in 10inch wheels) so the guy reccomended a full set of drums machined, a set of shoes radiused to the drums, and a set of new cylinders. Ill do the machining and shoes. Not sure about the cylinders, ive had them all apart and fitted new seals so they should be good, might have a second look. This is the two minis in convoy for the warrent. Next. So i got it home (back roads) extra 10k's or so . I had noticed the timing chain had become noisy all of a sudden so off came the cover which means out comes the radiator, radiator cowl, generator. And decided that at the same time idd do the water pump as well. The tensioner on early minis is two rubber rings either side of the teeth on the crank drive cog. Turns out one of mine had broken so thats why it got noisy all of a sudden. I took one off another engine I have, might be alright buy will get the local mini expert to check it out. The left hand one is the original, the right is the replacement off my spare engine. you can see where the missing rubber tensioner ring was. My nearly stuffed waterpump. So this is the mini now. All the brakes are apart and drums will be at the shop tomorrow. The radistor is out, along with the generator, starter motor (so I could lock the engine to undo the crank bolt), water pump is out, timing chain cover and timing chain is out. Lots to do and not much time, hence the rush... Other stuff for the WOF. Work out whats going on with the headlights. repack a wheel bearing oil a door lock fit a new pin in the handbrake cable Almot on the road... Will update again sometime when I get to tired to be out in the shed..

Can someone explain how I would tell the difference between a 997, 1200, 1340 and 1500cc OHV Kent. That is, just by looking at it. Is there anything obvious? I know the 1500 has a 5 bearing crank and the rest only have a 3, but what should I look for on the outside of the engine?

Been working on the mini every evening after work till 10ish. Got the rear windscreen in, just have to fit the little chrome filler strip. Wired up the headlights, got a little niggle with the dip being a little to dull. Fitted door cards, gear lever rubber seal, hid wiring in front valance, put heat shrink over old spade terminals. Got the rims to the shop today and got the old tyres off. Got some Old English White paint put in a spray can, and will rub the down and paint them up sometime. Finished wiring the indicators tonight, flasher was buggered but I had a new one just in case. Things to do for warrent: do up hub nuts and fit split pis find 2 more wheel nuts get dip working brighter fit seatbelt clips and clean up and put in seats tie up front to rear battery cable and fit grommets check all the nuts and bolts fit some ties on boots on cv's finish screen installation fit front number plate and few other bits and pieces got a new rear bumper ($100) and other bits coming hopefully tomorrow, will put up pics. have started clearing out old mini stuff from the shed and putting it on TM. If any of you guys need any standard bits give me a email. n.axten@gmail.com - you can have it for free if u pay for postage. Mini after its first partial wash, just to get off suds from fitting screen and dust from the shed. Wheels before they got striped.

Ok, So its been a while since ive updated. Better get a good one up. Ive been working slowly in between christmas stuff, a trip away at new year and work full time. Firstly, Around the 28th of December i fitted some new universal joints i bought of trade me. They aren't waht most people call uj's but they are what Mk1 minis have. The old ones in the pics and cast with a rubber cover which wears real quick with oil and stuff all over them. This is the old one: And the new nylon one which never wears: Thought idd also put up a pic of where they go. I put the old ones in just to get it going and was on the look out for the new ones for a reasonable price. To fit them you have to undo the steering arm and bottom ball joint and wiggle the hub around. The driveshafts (halfshalfs) also have a little movement in and out on a sliding splide joint. Its a pretty easy job but way easier with two people. Old one in: And the new one: Ok, ive been tinkering with little bits all the time, have fitted up more wiring, just need some grommets to get the headlights in permantly. Have had the starter motor out and apart to clean and oil the bearings, very simple and it makes a huge difference. Have fitted up the rear numberplate, which swings so you can drive with the boot open and still have the plate showing!!! Will get a pic sometime so you can get what im saying. Have Polished up bumpers and grill and bits, gonna have to get a new rear bumper and maybe evetually a front one but the slightly rusty one will do for now. (Only rusty on the back). Have fitted the windscreen, took a while with a length of nylon string to pull the lip over the glass and a lot of dishwash liquid to get it in there. Have a chrome strip to go in the rubber but am getting the panel beater to do that as its a pig without the right tool. Putting the windscreen in. Am still workig on the interior, carpets are being fitted slowly, getting the headlining in next week (very easy in Mk1 minis). Got the switched to wire up, there are only 3 so that wont take long. Interior Finally, just put in another rear quarter window tonight, have some final pictures, looking very 60's with the chrome hubbies, Got sliding window glass on the doors, just need to find good catches. Im hoping to get a wof before Feb 6th as there is a car show in my town and wouldnt mind showing it beside my dads massive limos. Would look kinda funny. Here are soe final pics of it tonight, Bloody long post but alot to cover. (Im in the process of painting the rocker cover so that is a temp one)

yeah, some nice painted up 10inch rostyles with Yoko Ao32r's on them would look the business

looking good man, im jellous of ur speed!! Just thought idd put up a few pics for thought. Be careful with ur warrents with the widened wheels cause some places have issues with them (talked to a guy thats raced on them 4 ages and says hes never heard of them failing tho). Classic british paint job would be sick. This is my old clubbie, crappy red colour but it cost me $650 or so, had a sweet 1275, drums all round. Those are widened steels. Heres what i recon u should do it like, old school clubman style maybe with a bit of a custom graphic or something. Ull have to get some type of flares to cover those wheels

Ok, got a bit of work done in the weekend. Had my first drive! Have to tune it up proper so was gutless and with no sycro on second its a little hairy on the box. Have had to roll it off the pit into another shed (ahh the beauty of having millions of sheds) to pull the power steering out of my dads daimler V8. That was the most iritating job ive every done!! The power steering guy in NP dosent touch old stuff so we are tackling the rebuild ourselves, very complicated with lots of ball bearings and around 30 O-rings and seals. Back to the mini, have mounted one door and its hardware. With the warmer temps im noticing a better finish in the stuff I paint. Also, the blasing cabinet is worth its weight in high grade oil, if ur contemplating blasting stuff, take some time and make one. Ill put up a pic of my air filter casing, i bought some decals from a guy off ebay, looks mint.

Looking good gaz, so when are ya ripping out the motor? Much guard rub on the roadie? haha, hope ya didnt have 3 in it!

Ok, am home for the holidays and work on the mini is progressing. Over the last few months have been surfing trademe and brought bits and pieces, complete carpet set etc. Also got underlay cause I want this to be a quite cruiser. Have been tinkering on the engine, just have the clutch slave cylinder to fit and then I might get to drive the damn thing. Built up my own blasting cabinet, works realy well, dont want to get cancer from breathing in silca dust and dont want to pay for proper metalic grit. Cabinet - Construction ply, sheet of glass, $30 blasting gun from supercheap, $20 light from the warehouse, $30 gloves from protector saftey (hard to find good long ones for cheaper), old vacuum cleaner, bbq grills and plate cut up for inside, old white paint and a bit of wood filler - keeps it tidy. Boot- Glued up old rubber, sprayed on a bit of tyre black, just hope it seals. Engine Bay - Still working on it, Looking for a good rocker cover, have to fit up clutch slave cylinder and make new brake pipes, air filter housing is painted just waiting for it to dry. Interior - Have cut out underlay and fixed to the firewall. Have left out the final trim for now. Fitted underlay to inner arches and then carpet over them, hoping it holds. Painted up steering column and fitted it. Steering wheel is a bit rank but its hard to find a good original one. Indicator switch is around $250 for a new one, might have to splash out tho.

Ok. One of the best moments in any projects life. Ive got it started. Cant find the video right now but its here somewhere. Have wired it all up and installed the fuel tank and lines, starter switch etc. Had a few issues with the main battery cable - was pinched and cut through the insulation - but have replaced it. As can be seen in the pics ive painted up the fan all nice and yellow - am starting to think it will look a bit like a candy shop with blue, green, yellow and red the four main colours. Again, its packed away into a different shed while I continue at uni but will get back for a mad weeks work around the start of september. Am hoping to get a drive in, even if just down the driveway and around the paddock, all depends if the clutch plate has stuck solid after a year and a half of stagnation. Ive switched the tyres and rims for some good ones, am getting the orignals blasted and painted up in Old English White. The budget dosen't quite strech to Minilites at the moment. The fan all painted up nice (16 blade steel). The tank in the boot with bootlid bolted on. Mini in the shed with the grill installed to see what she looks like.

Hey, got a master cylinder, dosent look badly scored up the bore, just a bit around the bottom. I think it could be servicable with a hone and new seals. Can have it for free if ya sort me with postage. Ill put up a pic if ya want to see inside yaself.

Definatly a bit of a project. Ill check the garage late next week and see if ive got a decent master cylinder hanging round, i know ive got one but could be too badly scored.

Got my latest shipment of new parts. Here are some pics. Radiator Other Bits and Pieces

MG Metro Turbo will bolt up straight to original subframe engine mounts. Not sure about clearance for turbo+exhaust at rear of engine, Minis need the firewall modified. You should be able to use the brakes with a bit of adaption too. The Turbo has vented discs which should be used if possible. Most parts for this conversion should be avaliable from a mini specific importer.

Cheers guys. Cant wait to get back on the job. Nothing to do with the guy in henderson, just get all my parts from him (highly recommended). Nah, not a member of MOWOG yet, looked into it but dont have any wheels down here in Welly (All up in the Naki). Will join when ive got something to take along.

This is how it stands now. Ive hooked up the brake lines using all new copper-nickel tubing and fittings, just to get some fluid in to protect those seals. The steering rack has been refilled with oil and the wiring loom is in. Ive used the old loom as a new one is quite expensive, but have carefully inspected it for damaged and rebound it. This is a project completed over holidays away from uni, the next of which should be in four weeks. Ive got a new shipment of parts coming so will post up a photo when I get them. Cant wait.

Now its down to the nitty gritty little jobs. The valves were lapped and the head tidyed up. New shocks and rubbers were fitted all round and new bolts where required. I couldnt use stainless as in UNF the thread becomes to fine to retain any strength.

While the body was sorted I rebuilt the suspension and subframes and checked out the engine. This is the engine before instalation into the car. Minis are great as you can just fit the rear wheels and roll the body over the engine.

This is the engine, as removed from the car. And a photo of the new sills fitted after extensive work on the inner sills and floorpan on both sides, and both A panels and rear edges of the wings.

And here is the rust. Rust in both A panels (Infront of the doors), Rust in both sills which had been patched (see photo), Rust in the rear valance, Rust in the rear apron and Rust in the boot floor and in spots everywhere else. Looking at it now it would have been better to get a new mini body, but instead we strived ahead.

Discussion at : http://www.oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=8800 I bought this mini with the intention of hoting it up into a retro race themed beast. With the amount of rust discovered it became much more sensible to restore it to original to retain its value and buy another project mini. Isn't this always the way.... Check out the photos of the progress so far. I bought it November 2004.