So years later, with two children and in financial trouble, my Mum and Dad decided that they needed a slightly newer car without the problems that the car had developed over the years. The boot floor was rusted through, it leaked water in everywhere and was a hard start...nothing too uncommon with the Minis. My Granddad refused to let her sell it to anyone else so he bought it from her and bought an almost scrap 850 as a donor car to fix the bits needed. So this was done by him over a few years. He gave it to me at some point before he died.
I brought it home in November of 2007 on a trailer. When I got it home it looked like it was in a sorry state.
It had been kept on a farm in Laois and was driven every so often by my Uncle to keep it in a startable condition. The engine bay was a home for some rats at some point and the interior was home to several species of spider. I did a clean up and gave it a service as it hadn't been serviced in 6 years...turned her over and she started. I drove her up and down the road a few times and eventually let her rest again. It needed a lot of work. The engine ran...but just about. The brakes were seized and unsafe. The tires were worn, perished and old. In general it was not good.
First things first were the brakes. I got my hands on a set of refurbished Cooper S 7.5" brakes, complete setup with everything I needed. These went on and were quickly followed up with a set of Dunlop D1s with a Yokohama A008 wrapping. I got the D1s for €100 at the Carrig-on-Sur show a few years back and was chuffed with them. They needed a clean and a new paint job so I got to work with the sandpaper and the nitromorse. Once the car was able to stop I drove it around the estate a few times again just to get that feeling once more. Couldn't get enough of it.
Next on my list were a few small things like bleeding brakes, checking the electrics and giving the car a proper clean inside and out. The seats were reupholstered during my Granddad's restoration work so they were nice enough, but the carpet was horrible and the whole car had absorbed a few Hoover bags of dust. Once clean, I pottered around my estate a few times again. I could get used to this. A steering column drop bracket was next...had to get that driving position right.
Somewhere along the way I was offered a set of spot lamps that I thought would look brilliant on the car, so I took the opportunity to buy them, and they did look good. I was happy.
I then one day randomly decided now was a good time to drive the car full time...so I rang the insurance company and made a permanent transfer to the Mini. A broader smile on my face has rarely come. I drove to work in it a few times a thoroughly enjoyed it. I took it on a few trips and even went to Belfast in it. Still, there was more work needed.
I rang Lloyd Hutchinson in Delgany and made an order with him for a set of AVO adjustable shocks, Hi-Los all around, knuckles and a few other small bits. Fitted them rather quickly after getting them
Then came the time when a 998 just wasn't quick enough for me. Nice and pokey some times, but overall I needed something a bit more. Stage 1 kit bought, fitted and enjoyed. Then came a horrible day.
April 3rd last year my father passed away suddenly. Massive brain haemorrhage and a fractured skull. I had to drive my Mum, and Sister to and from Beaumont Hospital for a week, by day 1 I knew it wasn't a viable solution. I took his E200k and drove that for a month or so. I needed for a few weeks anyway to drive people to and from various places. Very comfortable car I will admit, and not too sluggish either. Unfortunately, the lease purchase on the car was more than my Mum could afford on her on salary (Or so she thought) so it was traded in for a BMW Mini One Convertible for her. Ironically, she had to pay them €1500 and the Merc to get the Mini. Thankfully enough, there was an insurance policy that paid the loan in the end.
Back to the mini (Not the BMW one). So while driving the Merc the mini was off the road. I decided one random day that I wanted a new engine. So I took my Mum's old car, a Fiat Punto Convertible (*sigh*), and that was now my daily drive. I went about getting the bits I needed to get this engine I wanted. Nothing ridiculous at all, but still, something with a bit more poke. So I got 1275 for €150 that had only blown a head gasket, bargain. I used this as the donor engine for the build.
1293cc bore,
SW5 Cam,
New AE Pistons,
Rebuilt gearbox w/ central oil pickup,
Ported head with largest inlet and exhaust valves reseated with 160lb double valve springs and new guides.
Molybdenum diff pin,
HIF 44,
K&N 57i Filter,
Radtec alloy rad,
1.5 Rollertip Rockers,
2.2 turn Quickrack.
So as it stands, I've had the engine work completed and assembled. It's now in my driveway waiting for a trasfer gear housing, clutch flywheel and bell housing. I have everything else I need as far as I know now. It's just a matter of putting everything back where it belongs. I had also removed the subframe and repainted it along with the engine bay,
This is almost at completion point and is so far... RIDICULOUSLY over budget and has taken about twice as long as I'd hoped. Minis eh?
Dilogoat
