Restoring/modding an old mini

Originally Posted by andyb

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?

Not to bad Now I've got myself a van i will be able to get out more! Without Tracy moaning about me taking the car and getting the inside covered in mud

Try here for parts matey www.rallydesign.co.uk well worth a look.
Merry Christmas

Had a mini a few years back, looked the business but all the electricals were shot and I couldnt afford sort it all out. Great little cars but make sure the subframes are sound. They can be changed but if its good underneath then its a lot more easier. A panel in front of the doors, the door skins themselves, under the front windscreen and under the headlamps all should be checked for rust as it seems these are prone areas. All are easily sourced. The engines are easy to work with but I found them a pain for access as theres not a lot of room in the front.

Check the shell for rust, sub frames can be changed, shell has to be welded! Check boot floor where sub frames mounts, under back seat in corners, rust here fails mot as its close to subframe mount. inner and outer sills and floors and the bottom of front windscreen. They rust around headlights and top of wing. I bought one mini that looked great till I pressure washed it! The in had holes as I blasted the filler out! doh

My last mini was a 1996 cooper S, it had a 2 inch wide and about a foot long hole in the boot, right at the back, holes in the boot floor, I patched both sills, the bottom of the front windscreen was gone, I had to rebuild it, I replaced an a panel, not a hard job and doesn't take long but then you have to get it painted or paint it yourself! I had this mini from 2002 and it already had holes at 6 years old! I sold it like that as a project after using it for 3 years as an everyday car!

They are worth it though! I don't have a mini any more but I have had about 10 and most of my friends have more than one! lol They might not be that quick but they feel quick, fantastic fun on a track!

Good luck with finding one!

Em

[embee]

What can we do to put you off this idea?

It'll be expensive in time ands money, it won't be that good, they never were that good, oh and don't crash in one.

But hey, have fun.

One of my neighbour's sons bought one to do up - then he went to college. My neighbour then took it upon himself to do the car up.

18mths later he's selling the finished item and cant wait to get rid of it.

My first car was a mini and I spent hours on it with a mate who, luckily was a mini enthusiast. I hated that car and regreted the money I wasted on it.

Good luck