C5ALIVE Forum

Other Interests, Hobbies and Sinclair Products => Other interests and hobbies => Topic started by: Leaky on 30, July, 2012 - 10:31:34

Title: The minis!
Post by: Leaky on 30, July, 2012 - 10:31:34
Well thought I would start a thread up for my first car! Bought her when I was 16 ready to drive on my 17th birthday.

Heres a pic from the ebay ad.

(http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/MiniMadJon/My%20Mini/06dd_1.jpg)

Had a few mods. Stage 1 kit with an RC40 exhaust, Some badly painted minilites and some wheel arches.

Here she is the day I bought her.

(http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/2698_88751959847_508559_n.jpg)

Anyway pretty much kept her like this and just had a few bits of welded done for the MOT. Then started to learnt to drive in her.

Then came some typical 17 year old mods. Sick angle eyes and clear rear lights bruv! Plus a few other tacky chrome bits.

Here she is at the IMM2009 the Minis 50th Birthday.

(http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/5570_142108169847_2174556_n.jpg)

(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/5570_141805549847_1609654_n.jpg)

Then the engine had some mods. Had the block pocketed and at 1300 head fitted a bigger carb and a cam. For a 998 it really did go like a rocket.

Then I had a new front end fitted as the other had rotted out pretty bad. Went for a removable fiberglass bonnet.

(http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/24802_429649029847_1651726_n.jpg)

Rattle canned this as I wanted to do a few other bits before I got the whole car painted.

Came out ok though!

(http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/25792_435208804847_4788575_n.jpg)

At this sort of time I also grew out of the tacky 17 year old mods. Thank god! So some old school mk2 tail light were fitted.

(http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/24802_431268409847_3430512_n.jpg)


Used it like this for a while then noticed 2 tyres where worn and the other 2 getting close and they were odd so as I had a drive to Kent that weekend for Southern Mini Days I splashed out on 4 new tyres.

(http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/31334_453710934847_614881_n.jpg)

I drove to kent and had a great time.

(http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/38928_10150248435275099_1638107_n.jpg)

Then the Monday I popped to town to get some bits and bang. The diff went.

(http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/40184_481009064847_7334906_n.jpg)

That was the last day the car saw the road! With 4 tyres that had done less then 200 miles and a full tank of fuel.

After this happened the strip down started.

(http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/66547_10150104535024848_7168284_n.jpg)

Engine out

(http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/74091_10150120674134848_7554622_n.jpg)

That was then sold. I was quite happy with how far I had tuned the 998 so I sold it to fund bigger and better thing.

Then the body work started.

Had new floor pans sills and door steps on both sides!

(http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/200758_10150199242464848_3100778_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/198124_10150199255114848_680637_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/189951_10150207801299848_4331864_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/196540_10150208009704848_4327581_n.jpg)

So I go that back and dropped the subframes. Leaving me a bare shell.

(http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/310676_10150573650409848_575220811_n.jpg)

I then bought some new door skins and reskined some doors I had bought as the frames were much better. The ones on the car were so rotten they were not even worth reskining.

New doors.

(http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/155760_10150130017249848_4480577_n.jpg)

New door skins.

(http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/180176_10150185459349848_2060703_n.jpg)

And tah dah! Nice rust free doors.

(http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/65403_10150836179604848_1987347399_n.jpg)

So thats it! Half way a bare shell so now things start going back together!

Started off drilling the holes out for the new grill gone for a mk1 cooper grill with an Inno tash

(http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/562519_10150988011519848_571632404_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/428440_10151141711029848_1374008160_n.jpg)

Anyway then bought some new arches. Went for some W&P ones.

(http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/p206x206/524158_10151262459649848_1427099843_n.jpg)

Fitted too of them and have a teaser shot with the wheels I will be using 10x6 motorsport wellers.

(http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/375666_10151270086809848_609253400_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/532654_10151270088234848_1409839842_n.jpg)

Then the most important thing! The new engine. A stage 3 1293.

(http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/406154_10151265399379848_1068981046_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/182193_10151265400724848_1334490878_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/529653_10151265402679848_126826763_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/561359_10151265404054848_2013490535_n.jpg)

Hoping it should make around 90-100 bhp which I know if nothing buy todays standards but will be plenty is a car like this.

That is pretty much were I am at. Need a very small bit of welding done to the shell then it can be painted. Also need to build up a strong gear box for the engine so I can put that together. Hoping it wont be long until shes back on the road. Its been 2 years now and I so miss driving her. Anyway that pretty much it for now.

Thanks for reading!

Thats pretty much it for that one! Next up my clubby.
Title: Re: The minis!
Post by: Leaky on 30, July, 2012 - 11:07:11
Heres my 33 year old daily, Mini Clubman.

Here she is the day I bought her.

(http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/154876_10150139013119848_1153551_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/155231_10150139515254848_7383530_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/67183_10150139515519848_4051036_n.jpg)

Anyway since owning her I'v done loads. I wanted to do something different to other things you see on the mini scene so I went for a VW /euro look. Or my take on it anyway.

A list of things I'v done off the top of my head.

-Dechromed a fair few things. Still more to do.
-Fitted new exhaust
-Sorted out interior, Still have some bits that need to go in.
-Fitted new headlights
-Fitted all red earlyer style tail lights
-Changed the number plates to some pressed ones.
-Plus fit a load of other parts.
- Fitted smaller brakes so I can run 10 inch wheels
- Changed the wheels many time. I am a huge wheel whore lol.


Title: Re: The minis!
Post by: minidaz on 30, July, 2012 - 15:06:41
IMM Longbridge  ;D
Were you also singing along to Roy Wood .. Christmas songs in the middle of summer  :D

As you might have guessed, i'm also a fan of classic Minis, having owned a selection of saloons & Clubby Estates over the years, although none at the moment.

Looks like you've got a couple of nice ones there, with some nice mods aswell. Must admit i do like the Clubbys, and the cream with black roof just goes together so well.

The last mini i owned you might have seen at the IMM : Clubman Estate body on a Suzuki Sj410 chassis  ;D
Was great fun, especially when going a bit off-road, but was strictly a 2 seater, which isn't great when you have 2 boys that want to go for a ride in their Dads car  ;D

(http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/9806/offroad4small.jpg)

Title: Re: The minis!
Post by: thedesigntailor on 30, July, 2012 - 15:16:00
The Mini is a definitely a car I would love to try. Never had chance to have a go in one though.
Title: Re: The minis!
Post by: Leaky on 30, July, 2012 - 18:54:51
Not only was I singing along to Roy Wood but I was doing it on top of a table while cracking out some smooth shapes ha. Someone from minimag spotted it and took a pic and much to my shock there was a rather large pic of me doing the above printed in the mag a month later hahaha. I do love the 4x4 minis. I'v always wanted to make a moke one but I don't have the space or tools to be doing something like that!

thedesgintailor if there is ever a c5 meeting we both happen to be at and I have one of my minis with me then I shall take you for a spin. It may end up expensive though as they are kind of addictive ha.
Title: Re: The minis!
Post by: Karl on 01, August, 2012 - 19:03:39
Very cool cars  8)
Title: Re: The minis!
Post by: Leaky on 20, January, 2013 - 17:51:17
Thought I'd update this with a couple of pics of my toys!

Red mini is now gone for painting.

(http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/72876_10151647905964848_266159565_n.jpg)

Been having fun in the snow with the clubby. She does great handbrake turns ha!

(http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/74917_10151649393819848_1408477026_n.jpg)

Also a while back now I bought myself a raleigh chopper so have been taking that to shows!

(http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/484415_10151365305439848_2131404653_n.jpg)
Title: Re: The minis!
Post by: pso-buzz on 20, January, 2013 - 17:57:02
I love the white clubman.

I am afraid most of the images on your first post wouldn't load.  Simon
Title: Re: The minis!
Post by: Leaky on 20, January, 2013 - 18:22:15
Yea I noticed loads of the old pics have gone. I'll have to sort them all out!
Title: Re: The minis!
Post by: Luke S on 20, January, 2013 - 19:43:36
The older mini's look better than the new ones they have today
Title: Re: The minis!
Post by: Luke S on 20, January, 2013 - 19:44:52
The Italian Job would be a film you would like
Title: Re: The minis!
Post by: minidaz on 21, January, 2013 - 14:57:14
Liking the Clubman ... looks cool with the chopper on the roof  ;D

Title: Re: The minis!
Post by: Leaky on 22, January, 2013 - 22:54:05
Cheers. Still a bit of space on the roof bars for a C5 ;)
Title: Re: The minis!
Post by: Leaky on 18, February, 2013 - 09:57:40
New show season on its way so time to smarten her up a little.

Interior this time.

I sold the low back buckets and bought some re trimmed mini seats.

(http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/550119_10151669745644848_1674426985_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/397534_10151669745514848_2131949708_n.jpg)

I got a cup holder!

(http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/73321_10151671447349848_2011771805_n.jpg)

Yes I know I need to give the hand brake a repaint ha.

Headlining kit with A,B and C pillars the bit of under the rear window and I also have some matching sun visors. Had this for ages now but have not got round to fitting it.

(http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/14789_10151677493094848_714999761_n.jpg)

Next up dash rails! I have re trimmed up them in cream with some black stitching along the front.

(http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/379635_10151715225129848_639669659_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/558159_10151715224984848_1494655384_n.jpg)

Some new rear bin liners.

(http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/539625_10151726695504848_1972806801_n.jpg)

New rear wheel arch covers. The stitching is cream.

(http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/557762_10151726695359848_147222958_n.jpg)

Need to order some soundproofing, carpets and mats and get everything fitted. Have found a slight bit of rust I need to get sorted before it all gets fitted though.

My GF is buying me some doors cards for my Bday as well. Same as the original ones. In black with cream stitching.

I am now also on the look out for a cheap beetle project.

Anyway thats about it for now.

Thanks.
Title: Re: The minis!
Post by: PLOD11 on 18, February, 2013 - 12:36:18
Brilliant stuff, i have always Loved the Mini, would like to get one.  Minis, C5 and a chopper ...   What more could you ask for ?   8)  Maybe a bond bug  ;)
Title: Re: The minis!
Post by: Leaky on 13, March, 2013 - 17:16:07
Got the headlining in and the dash rails done. Just need to get some new door cards now!

(http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/601245_10151802087079848_1975692743_n.jpg)