Low n Slow '66 Minx

[code109]

So I bought a new daily... A 1966 Hillman Minx DeLuxe and I love it!!!

Drove it to bath back from Brighton with NO mishaps. Some of the paint needs reviving but the body is solid and the car runs perfectly!

Some pics for now...










My plan is to get the paint looking decent again, treat any major body issues if found, the slam it on the floor with some nice little banded wheels possibly Cortina looking steels with chrome centres... We'll see I guess

That's all for now folks

Craig

[düdo]

Very nice. Looks as though it's in good nick for its age. I had a '62 Superminx convertible when I was nineteen when I knew zilch about cars. It had that same pale blue interior but it was a wreck and I was certainly out of my depth. Parts are probably easier to come by for Rootes cars now than they were then with the internet? I remember lots of phone calls leading nowhere.

[code109]

Ha yeah I bought a new drivers window on eBay for £16 last week! Parts seem to be quite easy to come by

And I can't believe how well the car works. Still on the original dyno too and everything works brilliantly

[Paul Y]

Really like this.

I know that you are stating that it runs nicely but cant help feel that this would be a prime candidate for an Ecoboost/ Ecotech swap.

Maybe with some banded Hunter Rostyles for something a little different?

Or leave it as it is and carry on with the original plan!

What ever, carry on it looks lovely.

Regards,

P.

[code109]

I think I should finish my Hunter engine swap protect first ?

Still runs on leaded petrol too! Haha

Was the best day of my life when the battery was a bit flat at first, so I was in a petrol station winding up a starting handle and everyone watching and smiling lol

[Richard TR7]

Body and trim bits are not so easy to get, I have been trying to find a pair of front wings for a customer of mine for some years. His is totally original, His dad bought it new in 66 and 100,000 miles later it still runs sweet but I am having some issues with the carb. Just need to get the fueling down. They are a lovely car to drive.

[Paul Y]

When you have a few hours may I recommend taking the time to open a bottle of wine and spend some time here...

67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=332026

This might give you an insight...



P.

[retrolegends]

Nice Minx pal, I take it that its the 1725cc with it being a '66?
I got a set of Escort lowering blocks on my Super Minx and cut down the coils on the front and it improved the handling no end. Speedy Spares in Sussex is good for parts if you need anything.

[bazzateer]

Gotta love a Rootesmobile!

Subtly lowered with Lotus Cortina type steels? Yes!
Slammed? Really? To a lovely car like that? Oh well, if you must, it is yours I suppose.........

[baggabones]

Looks great! I love old 60s rootes mobiles, had a '64 series 4 sunbeam alline for a few years back in the day...still miss her now.

[103e]

A proper retro, love the old Hillmans. Nice one.

[code109]

Well the car made it from Bath to North Wales and back camping for a week and going on the mountain steam railways!!! And no mishaps at all....

The only thing that went wrong was the dyno stopped working the day we were supposed to leave, much to the annoyance of the Mrs, so we left the following day after bodging a Hunter alternator on. All seems to be working brilliantly now!!!

Anyway my scene from Heartbeat lol;




Back to the car though...

First day back, COMMENCE OPERATION BANDED STEELS!!!!



The two planned widths, won't look as deep with chrome centre caps sat in there, but a quick mock up for now;

[jonsey]

Like the steels. Will look good with the hub caps on

[Dnoop_Sogg]

should look good slammed on the banded steels

[code109]

I now have two wheels ready to weld up, just waiting until I have a free moment between work and sleep!

Also the exhaust manifold and down pipe has started blowinh badly, and I am losing a lot of power from it!!!
Not sure whether to pay £500 for a custom stainless affair, try and source a standard manifold somehow, or have a go at making my own?

Suggestions and advice welcome!

Cheers

[bazzateer]

Would this work?

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/381380571861?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[code109]

.....so I've got two wheels split, and one wheel nearly tacked up...

This is actually my first efforts at welding myself ha probably not the best idea to practice on my structurally important wheels lol but it came out alright to be honest

Anyway this is how it's is getting along, these are the 8 inch wide that will go on the front, I'll make these then check how they sit in the arches before I go making wider ones for the rear, just incase








I'll get my old man to properly word them up I think just to be safe, and then once they're done get them powder coated cream

Thanks all

[code109]

So a little more on getting the car back to "perfect" working order...
The brakes were always a bit juddery, but not so much a "womp" like warped disk, more of a solid thud

On closer inspection, where the car had been stood for so long before, there were brake pad shapes corroded into the disk!!!! So I took them off and skimmed them down

The thing was too, my old man had some skimmed on an Audi when I was a kid, and they did it true to the axle of the car, but after that the brakes juddered HARD!

So I made sure I clocked the face of the disk true as it already ran okay, then just skimmed it until the corrosion was gone, which didn't take a lot





Found some Lockheed brake pads on eBay for £20 too! Came in the original box and everything!



the car brakes a lot better now, and a lot smoother!

That's all for now folks

[cpgrubb]

Nice find on the brake pads. Nice steady progress.

[darrenh]

whats next for the banded steels? need to talk to lonsdale or york for the balancing weights

sowwy