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Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:43 pm
by Billy
You'd swear there was a race on between myself and Darran. As of today, the Munster Mini has received its fourth and final coat of Flame Red paint. It was still wet when these photos were taken. The white roof is already painted and covered.

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It's drying out today and being allowed to cure for a few days. Friday should see the polishing finished.

Next job is to build up the new subframe so that I can bring the Mini home next week.

Billy

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:54 pm
by BERT
Looks great !nearly there

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 4:33 pm
by Billy
As an aside, here are photos of Martin Murray's own Mk1 Moke. Anyone who has attended the Charleville vintage show in recent years will recognise it and will have admired the workmanship.

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Billy

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:53 pm
by Billy
Here's how it looks now and it looks gorgeous. Martin has deliberately held off on the final polishing until I have the new subframe built up to allow the paint to cure. Once I give him 24 hours notice of when I'm ready, he'll have it buffed up and ready to go.

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Billy

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 12:03 am
by macker
looks really well Billy :D

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 8:52 am
by Billy
macker wrote:looks really well Billy :D
9 weeks to get it ready for the IMM. That's the real test.

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 6:09 pm
by joebe1
Bring Joe Conboy down, he ll have it ready in 9 hours :D :D :D

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 8:49 pm
by woody
I sence a meeting being called :wink:

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 9:33 pm
by Billy
Confession: I've never removed a rubber cone. And the simple reason is that I've only ever worked on hydrolastic Minis from the '60s. Everyone had told me that removing a cone without the right tool is a tricky business but thanks to getting the loan of the right tool, I removed both cones in jig time this evening. Here's the correct Churchill tool:

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And here it is in action:

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Now to order replacement cones, rebound rubbers, knuckles and other suspension bits for the new subframe.

Billy

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 10:38 pm
by BERT
Make sure you get the correct knuckles there two types, It should be theese ones

http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx? ... 829&title=

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 11:54 pm
by woody
I spy vented discs, what calipers you running Billy?
Are you going with the smooth a ride?

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 9:38 pm
by EAMOSPUD
Billy Love the portable work bench you have the subframe on. :D

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 10:57 pm
by Billy
EAMOSPUD wrote:Billy Love the portable work bench you have the subframe on. :D
It was perfect for getting the subframe out of the boot and into the garage. And then the wheelbarrow tyre deflated for additional stability.

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 10:51 pm
by craig_farrell
looks lovely man good job on the spray aswell

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 3:25 pm
by Billy
It's a long time since I got excited about getting my hands on a box of rubbers:

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I can finally start building up the new subframe. New cones and Hi-Los haven't arrived yet.

Billy

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 10:40 am
by Billy
Cracking up. At the point where I could start using very unmoderatory-like language about MiniSport. Ordered a Smootharide kit from them 3 weeks ago and rang last week to confirm. They never contacted me to say there was a delay. Reconfirmed everything on Wednesday last week and rang them this morning to find out where my package is. Turns out it only shipped two days ago. Still no sign of it but according to the tracking number, it is somewhere in Ireland.

Compare their service with Somerford Mini. Somerford will ring if there is a problem and their packages usually arrive in 3 working days. Only dealt with MiniSport because they do the Smootharide kit.

Pressure is on to have the Munster Mini ready for Switzerland. Maj suggested we use the Hornet but as it's only a 998, it wouldn't be powerful enough to tow the caravan up the Alps!

Billy

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 10:51 am
by The Marcos Graveyard
Bring a tent instead of the caravan. Save a fortune.

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:16 am
by Billy
Typical. 10 minutes later and a GLS van appears outside:

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No excuses left. It's out to the garage for the day.

Billy

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 1:01 pm
by keith
looking good.

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 1:12 pm
by Kenneth Murphy
Billy wrote:Typical. 10 minutes later and a GLS van appears outside:
hate that!!!

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:20 pm
by Billy
Dropped the rebuilt subframe to the panelbeater this morning so should have it back later this week.

Spent the afternoon doing comparison tests between Vanish, 1001, and Lidl's finest upholstery cleaner. The front seats are manky so it will be interesting to see which works best.

Billy

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:34 pm
by macker
I'm betting on Lidl's finest getting the job done :lol:

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:49 am
by pn951
When you have gone so far with the exterior, would you not take the seats and carpets to some professional valeter to get cleaned? They mightn't charge an arm and a leg when the bits are already out of the vehicle making their job a whole lot easier? Just a thought....

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 7:54 am
by Billy
pn951 wrote:When you have gone so far with the exterior, would you not take the seats and carpets to some professional valeter to get cleaned? They mightn't charge an arm and a leg when the bits are already out of the vehicle making their job a whole lot easier? Just a thought....
Simple reason for doing it myself: I'm skint after paying for the bodywork! Donations welcome.

Re: Munster Mini - '98 Cooper Restoration

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:39 am
by The Marcos Graveyard
I have a basin of fairly clean water here if it's any good to you.