1985 Mini: rebuild ongoing (as always), 6yr update

[craig1010cc]

Hello all, found you lot after reading about slaters mini in minimag. Having seen some of the other cars here, I can see that I'm going to be in trouble with the wife again

Anyway, some details about my current fleet which at the moment only stands at 2

1st is my daily driver. Its a 1997 john coppe S works in Yukon Grey. I've only had it a couple of months and I'm slowly getting the bodywork sorted (it's just come back from having a new bootfloor and rear valance fitted)






My other Mini I have owned for many years (it was my wifes 1st car). It was originally a 1985 mini city E (1 of teh last to have the central speedo) andit has changed a bit since then. It is now my track toy and is undergoing a bit of a redo (inc mk1 rear end cnversion and a much beefier engine)





Sadly he has no longer got the cibbies as they wheer sold with my old clubman (had to go along with my corrado to pay towards the cooper)



Craig

[slater]

Welcome! glad you found us

[craig1010cc]

slater said:

Welcome! glad you found us

And it's all your fault and now I want a metro as well. Hmm brotehr in law's has been sat on the in-laws driveway for the last few years and not moved mmmmmmm NO, STOP IT AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH what have you stated.

Strange hing is a couple of years back I was thinkng how cool a beige mk1 metrot slamed on a set of banded 12's would be with a XE or similar under the bonnet. Weird huh

[slater]

Get an austin 1100 and apply the same to that (so i don't have to bother)

[craig1010cc]

slater said:

Get an austin 1100 and apply the same to that (so I don't have to bother)

nah, an allagro or a maxi with a tomcat lump, now that would be somthing

[trg1984]

i recognise the clubman, what have u got planned for the track car then???

[craig1010cc]

trg1984 said:

I recognise the clubman, what have u got planned for the track car then???

the old clubby did stand out. Now resides over in Ireland.

At the mo the plans are to give it a blow over once I've fitted the Mk1 rear lights and botlid (ford radiant red this time and perhaps a blackroof) and then on with the engine. the interior is allready stripped and only has a pair of old classic lowbacks buckets and the dash in it. I might replace the rear 3 windows with perspex, not sure though.
The plans are at the mo to combine the bits I have kicking around into something special
Lsit of bits
MG metro engine minus head
Big valve head
1.5:1 roller tip rocker
Webber 45
Facet fuel pump
Ultra light flywheel with AP orange clutch

and



A cooper S blower :-D

but how long will the stock box last
Need to get on with it and make up the brackets and the manifolds and then lower the compression ratio to about 8-8.5:1 and put a decent breather system on it. Should be a giggle round coombe anyway

[G51NAV]

Fantastic examples there. Alec would be proud that his masterpiece of design is still held with such high regard in the early 21st century.

[MiniDan]

Nice mate!!! Loving them!!! ;D

I love the colour of the Cooper S.

[craig1010cc]

minidan35 said:

Nice mate!!! Loving them!!! ;D

I love the colour of the Cooper S.

The colour was teh reason I brought it! I had one 3 years ago in the same colour (wasn't a S though) and had to sell it to help fund my wedding! Always regretted selling it so couldn't resist when this one came up on autotrader

[archieboy]

Like wise lovin' the colour with the red leather, very cool

[dollywobbler]

Welcome!

We've got a 1985 City E with central speedo too. Was yours originally on 12" wheels? 10" has to be the best wheel size for a Mini but with standard disc brakes fitted, can't go that small without some modding (and it's the wife's car so I'm not allowed to mod it!).

[craig1010cc]

dollywobbler said:

Welcome!

We've got a 1985 City E with central speedo too. Was yours originally on 12" wheels? 10" has to be the best wheel size for a Mini but with standard disc brakes fitted, can't go that small without some modding (and it's the wife's car so I'm not allowed to mod it!).

Yep, it used to have 12's, but I swaped it onto cooper S calipers and discs so that I can run 10's. I do love sport packs with their 13's, but 10's are best.
There are a couple of 10" alloys desinged to fit over 8.4" brakes 9a set that look like reverse rims and Force do a set of very sexy looking splitrims), but the offset is massive (basiccally the same as having a 1 1/2" spacer fitted). I also believe that 10x6 wella's will fit, but never tried it my self.

[samyboy]

crackin mini's there

[maxi]

craig1010cc said:

the old clubby did stand out. Now resides over in Ireland.

heya craig ;D it certainly is over in ireland. and beautiful it is too.

LOVE the yukon grey man!!! Gorgeous!!

[craig1010cc]

Started on the city at the weekend, not much progress today, but made a start. The plans have changed slightly, the blower had to go (couldn't afford to do the box as well) and it'll be running in satin balack for this season.

1st off was putting him back on his proper wheels



Mmmmm sticky yoko's


Then on with the task of stripping out the wiring loom so that the webber box can be fitted (Mmmmm 45 :-D )



A little bit more progress



the front wiring loom is now removed



and the dashboard is all stripped out ready for the surgery (Mmmm weber box). Sadly the slight oversight of not having an angle grinder in the correct lock up prevented any further progress.

I have just brought a steel removable front off of ebay for him though, best remeber to bring teh grinder with me next time :lol:

[craig1010cc]

Some more progress yesterday

Started with making a large hole :-D





Then filling it :lol:

[craig1010cc]

then a bit of time was spent playing with working out th enew positioning of the dials:

option 1




or

option 2




option 2 is I think roughly how they will end up (with the water temp and oil pressure under the rev counter)

Next week, on with a bit of red in the engine bay (hopefully )

[craig1010cc]

some more progress today
out with the old front







and on with the new







and the bulk head got a coat of primer ready for some red tomorrow

[rmad]

Yukon Grey - finally, instead saying 'non-metallic grey' when I'm describing car colours I can say that instead.

ie. Austin A40, Yukon Grey, bike engine, red vinyl interior with colour matched roll cage, cream wide steels and slightly too-narrow for the rims crossplies. Now, that feels good.

Welcome to the board.