Ricey Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 Definitely got to have some welding skills for mini's I reckon.....I've alway been scared off anything with major body work as me + welding torch = Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 What are the plans for it then? I'm hoping we get a proper build thread for it! Well I'll try and do a few notes and post them up as I go - not really big on build threads The plans, Got a few Ideas but need to pass them by the daughter first as it's her car - Thinking complete strip clean and weld her up with new panels where required, de-seamed maybe a body kit (subject to insurance) clean and sort the engine - including a conversion to unleaded. Paint it up and see how it looks. Need to get my 350 sorted and the engine back in first! Will probably start this winter sooner if mines doing OK. Reckon you will have an engine by then Awesome present though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitstew Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 If you cant weld before you get a mini, then you`ll be an expert in no time. I learnt to weld on my mini`s and soon became a tab hand at it. The only problem I found these days is that the cost of bits is a lot more than when I was a lad. I remember being able to walk into any scrap yard and they would be full of mini`s. Now, they are like hens teeth. There are tons of tuning stuff out for them. I did my last one up like a 1960` style one with bullet wing mirrors, loads of chrome, single upswept exhaust etc. Yours is a carb one so all the old school engine tuning bits will bolt on if you want to just free up a few extra bhp from the stock 1000cc engine. If you can get hold of a 1100cc head you can port it out slightly and bolt that on - they had bigger inlet valves. Or, when I last was looking, you could get hold of a 1275 metro engine fairly cheaply which would bolt straight in. The later MG metro engines were the same as in the later Mini Coopers and were quite "nippy". Also, since yours is an 86 you`ll have disc brakes and 12" wheels, which is a big advantage - they came as standard on mini`s after 1984. They are basically the same brakes as the coopers had, so just some decent pads and you`ll be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.