1987 Mini City Rebuild (Alot of images)
Turbo Mini Forums

Rite quick update, the rear subframe is almost complete, just the lines to the brake cylinders are left to do and the main run needs attaching, handbrake cable is attached now. Put the fuel lines on proper so they are now secure and run away from metal components so no rattles, put some rubber near the body where the pipes bend around to make sure they dont rub or rattle against the bodywork.

Handbrake Painted and part of handbrake system.


Painted brake limiter


Front Pipes Before


After




Rest of the run







Rear Subby






Well the front subframe is now on, went on really well, all be it a bit difficult to pick up and get on.

Found my rear mount things, quite glad as they are NLA so the replacement are nuts and bolts....

Cleaned up


In the car


Put the teardrop mounts in place and put the top bolts in place ready.







After a big lift it was on :)

Manchester Minis

Hub on


Shocks on




Well it was very hard... took alot of work but it was done.

Wheels on :)




TOUCHDOWN!!! The new shell for the first time is on the floor as a proper mini.




Front lights


Rear Lights


Soundproofing done

Manchester Minis

Here are a few pics... well alot.

My new balanced flywheel and clutch (the pressure plate is specific to the flywheel as the flywheel couldnt have been drilled, it went through in one place)


Timing plate.


Sprockets on


Chain on ready, TDC found


Finding full lift on the inlet for the cam.



Timed in


Tensioner on


MMMM primary


Studs in


Headgasket on


Head on


Rockers on


Fully tourqed up


An engine



The cam timing is .5 degrees out and we both said thats close enough without keep going to get it that .5 degree right.

We then started on the gearbox...

The diff bearing


Diff out


Standard diff


Diff Remains


The crownwheel


The new diff

Manchester Minis

This week i have stripped and cleaned my SPI inlet and throttle body.













Also today, i have done the brake lines (no pics with them connected) and tidied up the loom.

Manchester Minis

More pics from the engine rebuild

Diff built up





Transfer Gear





Diff in box :)



Idler Gear



OOOO



Engine pics





Gearbox on

Manchester Minis

Done some of the interior. Here are a few pics.

Before









Stripped





Prep





Starting to stick





Final Product













Not too bad, hopfully will go right when its dry.

Manchester Minis

Wheels Arrived.






Bit over exposed...



Finally put the calipers on


Test fitted the new wheels






Headlining Went in then came out as i am going to trim it first.


Exhaust was cleaned and polished ready.

Manchester Minis

Done more stuff, getting ready for the engine now.







Bumpers, foglight, wiper motor and other components in place.





Finishing off the interior.



Here are some pictures (BTW the rocker cover is just one for protection atm)

The engine sitting ready to go in :)






Its in :)


Parts connected up ready :)




And the exhaust with handprints.

Manchester Minis

Well today was a good day... ITS ALIVE... here are the pics and the vid, there was a few problems however.

Everything there


The startup


Bedding the cam in.


Running


MMM need to make the spring shorter i think.


Its upto temp.


Aftermath :o


The engine started first time after getting oil pressure up, this drained two batteries (both dead) but when we went to start the engine, as you saw it just came alive, was such a good feeling to know its working, the oil psi gave a problem, seems to have caused the main galery plug to leak which is why the psi went down after that, we thought it was sorting itself out.

Also it did not idle right as there was a problem with the lambda but in all it was a very good weekend.

Manchester Minis

More pictures of the progress, Interior work :) Also my Fan and Filter arrived.



Windows and Headlining are in, but headlining isnt finished.













Last bits from paint now too.





Now im off work for a week, time to get cracking :)

Manchester Minis

Finished the front screen.



Drivers door on.



Rear windows in.


Doors close


Central locking and electric windows


Rear interior




Arches on


Seats in




Dash in.





Yummy :)

Manchester Minis

The final product!!































It managed to get to the IMM in denmark but didnt make it back due to fuel over there and blowing the headgasket.


Copenhagan Harbour


DOH!!!


Fixed the headgasket and took it to work for a test drive. On the way home a BMW ran into the back of me... well ill let the pictures do the talking :'( 2 months on the road and this happens.

Manchester Minis

I didnt want mk1 lights as i prefer the mk2 look on it, the car isnt a mk1 style its more mk2 so thats why i went with those lights and the rear reverse lamp.

Not dyno'd the engine yet but shall do when its been run in again as its had new rings after the overheating in denmark.... that reminds me engine diagnostic. Sprocket was the guy who helped me with my engine and very kindly checked the engine over, got that hot it melted the powdercoating and the poly bushes.


The bores had been polished as i didnt drive it hard enough in the first 50 miles :( but there was other problems.

This is the worse piston skirt damage caused by overheating the side of the pistons are thicker so expand more giving that.



You can see the aluminium in the block (note on the exhaust side)



This is how the other pistons are



Crank is still mint thank god.



You can see in these pictures the difference in the bores, shiny at top





Also there was a few things wrong with the "Rebuilt box" This is what sprocket said.

Manchester Minis

Its arrived at home with no engine, so the engine went in.







A friend came around and helped me put the engine in, photo oppotunity.







Its now ready for the road again :)

There we go, fully updated now.

Manchester Minis

glad to hear she's running again, & the panelwork is sorted! how could anyone not see ya mini, its bright enough!
nice style put a turbo in it now!

SKYLINES ARE LIKE CLITS, EVERY FLANGE SEEMS TO HAVE ONE: see this sticker on my silvia

the Search-section on this forum is blummin superb & simple to use, unlike some other forums, without the search-section & the help of this bunch of chaps on here i'll never be able to !!!Start the day with a 998cc turbo!!! :) i'm getting closer though!

Tom Fenton says: I have it all, make me an offer

No turbo going in this one, thats what the estate is for :)

Just driven it for the first time since august, its so good to have it back!

Manchester Minis

Absolutely top job mate.
Much respect!!

Real shame about that rear end
Seems to be a lotta idiots driving BMWs.Hearing about lotsa accidents involving them!!


BTW LOVING that number plate!!!

Edited by El Potter on 23rd Feb, 2008.

Warning:Stig in Training

Great build and Re-Build thread mate.

Much better than a Haynes Manual.

Really nice job.

Si

I drill holes in everything..!

i nearly wrote my mini off because of a bmw driver, and wolfie before you say anything it was not me. i got cut up going into a roundabout and lifted off spinning my mini accross 2 lanes of traffic :$. the car looks mint mate amazing job there top marks ~:)

Drives
-Ford S-max Mk2 Ecoboost
-Rover 100 VVC #2 - track project

Searching is all you need on TurboMinis

Max respect to you for that project. Tonnes of work done there, and nice to see another project in waiting.

A BMW did write my first mini off, I was heading across a roundabout and he pulled on without stopping, taking out the front and pushing the subframe back on one corner.

The worst part was I had it back 3 days after reskinning and painting the doors. was absoulutely mint.