Restoring/modding an old mini

i always wanted an old VW beetle/baja bug, but have not got the technical ability to do it up

Originally Posted by Lozzo

MG Metro A+ engines make more power than the 1300GT A series and are easier to find. The trouble with the 1300GT was the block, it had a big hole in the casting above the centre main bearing, so wasn't that strong. The same block was used for early Cooper S motors. Later motors were stronger as the crank couldn't flex as much.

Also, it's far easier to keep an HIF44 carb in tune than muck about with twin 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 SUs. A single HIF44 on a quality manifold will flow more than enough for a 110bhp A+ motor, so there's no need to go the twin carb route. HIF44s were fitted to just about every Metro 1300.

Metro. Ah, after my time Im afraid Me and a mate built one from a MG1300 engine but we had to change the camshaft & diff to make it worthwhile. The big socket to change the sprocket cost more than the engine.

It did go like the proverbial shovel launched excrement though. It would corner on rails too as it had some great wide tyres on dry suspension.

I reckon my old Volvo would be faster nowadays though

3.44:1 diff works well with a 1275 and either 10" or 12" wheels...if you can find a good one nowadays.

I always preferred the look and feel of 10" wheels with servo'd Copper S discs/calipers. Hillman Hunter remote servos worked well

Originally Posted by hovis

i always wanted an old VW beetle/baja bug, but have not got the technical ability to do it up

TBH I don't think I have either but I figured I just as wel give it a try and see what happens!!

Stick a Bussa engine in it See here http://www.zcars.org.uk/index.htm

Originally Posted by BILLY

Stick a Bussa engine in it See here http://www.zcars.org.uk/index.htm

This project is already getting out of hand. It's gone from a pie in the sky idea to a serious proposal of doing it on the cheap, and now I'm looking at doing it semi-seriously costing more than it would to buy a decent second-hand modern car!!! Still it'll look when it's finished.

Saying that the Hayabusa engine looks like a great idea. Hows the motorcross going Billy?

always fancied doign this & rallying it.

Would've used the Mini gt 1275 as it may have been easier to get the engine in & out.

...then a double petrol tank


...and fat wheels


...and a roll cage


....bucket seats & an extinguisher



.ooh nice!



post the piccies on here!

Having owned a couple, always check the wheel arches (as said before) and also pull back the carpet in the drivers and passengers footwells, sometimes it will be a rubber carpet, if that makes sense. A lot of minis will either have holes here where the floor pan has rotted through, or have water from a leak. Both my minis suffered from the water gathering there. I owned an 81 Mini City and more recently a 1973 Mini Clubman (with wood effect inserts!).

The Mini Owners Club is really really good for help and advise - still getting my club magazines as I only sold the last one 7 months ago.

My main bit of advice would be get it on a mechanics ramp if possible - Have a look at all the running gear and then make a decision. Did that with my Clubman when it got to the last MOT - a mate who is a mechanic said don't bother - There were yellow marks all under the car where it had been highlighted at an MOT a couple of years previous that it would need welding shortly - and the floor pan was pretty much shot, as were the brakes, hubs and a hole from wheelarch into the car.

The car looked in great, original condition on the face of it, but probably had at least £2-2.5k worth of work just to make it a half good'un, if you are thinking of showing it off at events you should probably double/triple that figure.

Great fun to drive, but need a garage and a careful pair of hands.

I'm not planning on showing it at all just using it as a fun/different car to commute in & at weekends. Thanks for the advice, I'm still looking around for a 'donor' car at the moment so will keep this thread updated as to the progress (if any ).

build a kit car! loads more options and loads more ways to customise it performance wise.......would still cost you roughly the same as the mini