Irish Mini Owners Club

So I have moved onto my new project, it was'nt planned but in the really bad weather we had a few months back stuff came off roof of house on top of the mini. Was'nt happy so I have gone the whole hog and bit the bullet to get it resprayed and done right.

So snaps of before



I have done alot to it since buying it tidied up the inside with new carpets, ditched the racing harness and buckets and got a nice comfy set of corbeau leather buckets.



So the pickup itself is a 1380 monster of a thing have fun with moderns cars on M50 and stuff bit of a sleeper really. The engine has a list as long as my arm of uprated, racing bits that have been added swiftune head, baslanced crank, huge carb, uprated cam, pistons I will some day go through all of the receipts and see everything thats in it.


The paint was ok but not perfect, and I always wanted to put it on 10's instead of the 12's just sits better in my opinion.


So strip down began 2 weeks ago. ditched the wooden load bed and cover, and sold the wheels, seats etc.
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Have been working away on it the last few weeks, with it being at the painters, and plans are gun metal grey wheels, A032s for grip, with wood and picket arches and canvas toneau cover. Going ST Orange on my drums, bottom ares, tie rods etc... Keeping it the same shade of blue a Subaru Colour I think. Will have more photos soon

Old wheels midland style minilites



As said I have gotten a rare set of 10 inch mags 6x10 for it. Redone gunmetal grey they look sick



So it went to the painters to get tiny bits of welding done small repair on top of drivers wing thats where the majority of the roof fell on it. Also while it is there I am getting the entire underneath painted blue with engine bay and load bed also. Never like the black underneath.

So photos:







load bed just needed all holes from the coach bolts off the old wooden back fixed






It should be heading to the paint booth next week at some stage.

While it was away I am prepping and painting all the other bits like fuel tank, bottom arms, suspension bits and radius arms. ST orange for something a bit different.








old cones came in handy to keep standing for paint





ordered few bits and pieces can't wait to have it back. Will be at IMM in it all going well

Fecking hell lad, you don't wait around. look forward to the progress

Thanks CB Phil yeah think it's a touch of OCD will keep the thread updated anyway

Have ta say I love da st Orange. Can't wait ta see if finished I love pickups

Looks good and solid Stewart,are you going to repray it the same colour or change it.

Continuing the ST Orange, decided to do the engine in orange as well came out well am happy with it.





Also collected my subframes from the powder coater so will be able to start putting things back together

Thanks Aidan yeah was really good solid shell in fairness to it for 74 pickup aswell. Yeah keeping it the same colour maybe with a little bit more of a metallic sparkle to it. Should be good when all finished with load bay and engine bay as clean as the rest of the car.

So more updates the pickup is painted and looks great, all damage fixed and everything is blue engine bay, load bed and underneath. All that black under seal is long gone and looks nearly better then new. So photos











Also have started getting the subframes all built up full poly with new braided brake pipes and hi lows

Fair play. My favourite one of your collection yet. Can't wait to see this out. Looks fantastic. You'll be giving Darren a run for his money with all these minis soon lol

I thought the paint looked good before lovely job

Thanks JP it should look great when is all said and done. A CB Phil thanks awh if you sawe it up close the doors where off a shade and was damage on top of wing. Should 100% in a week or so. Quickest resto yet haha

So more updates its back from the painters and starting top get put back together.

The wiring loom is in in the back. Tank back where it is supposed to be, subframes fitted, with all poly bushes nice orange shocks and hubs with the hi lows. Have brake line and fuel line ran underneath. Also started to fit the rubbers and locks on the two doors.

So few snaps













Nice orange engine is back in aswell and is now on all four wheels

Looking very well. Why didn't u give the gearbox a fresh coat of silver when you had it out. Will let it down

They were never painted originally JP I don't think bit more break cleaner and should come up sparkling. Will clean it again I'd say. My experience of painted gearbox casings is the paint just starts to peel and flake off after a while. The elfs engine was really bad

I know that feeling lol. It's all a learning curve. Can't wait to see this out and about and plenty of room for plenty of bits bought over at the imm

Yeah exactly will have loads of space for bits, say will even be bringing back stuff for people who have no space

Can see the que forming already

Pickup is looking good.

So some more progress done with the pickup today. Have the pedal box back in, managed to free it up as it was really bad before. lifting pedals back up when you had used them. Also have master cylinders fitted, braided oil pressure pipe ran, radiator in. Got the back glass in aswell as the sliding windows either side. Popped my sticky fingers enamel badge on aswell delighted with it.

Interior wise I started fitted a kick plate on the bottom rubber to hold it in place. Fitted plates on door bins, and started putting back in the carpets, which also allowed me to put the seat belts in aswell.

so photos




bigger coopers brake master cylinder




delighted pedal box was salvageable






interior starting to come back together

Fair play lad, kent bound

Some more updates on the pickup. Got the head finished with new oil seals as there was some blue smoke on start up. Is now back on the engine with its nice roller tip rockers back also.

Right so more updates, the gear linkage is all back in and hood up that gator back on with nice gear knob haha. Liked the idea of a pool ball but said would go blue top match car. Have steering column back in new rear bumpers on, the new aerial is fitted and the wheels are on. Which look deadly I think against the blue. Also have the back 2 wood and picketts fitted. Not to long now until its finished.

Great looking work there!
Fair play to you.
Can't wait to see it in reality at some stage!!
Keep at it!

Right so have been busy trying to get pickup finished up and it is practically finished just last few wiring and small other bits to finish off.

So decided to put proper switch panel back in as well as a bottom dash rail. Just gives it a nicer look I think. Also got locking strips put in. Wiring all hooked up just last few bits to finish off, have everything all double and triple checked underneath. Also got the front arches fitted, bonnet back on, badge and new morris grille fitted. fitted passenger seat also and rest of the carpet. Also got the sump guard fitted just to protect it as lets just say its low So photos









interior in just need to fit heater and hook it up, finish off door latches and get the trimmer to pop the door cards in while I am getting the tonneau cover made up.

So its finished and ready for the IMM loads of space to bring back goodies as well. Got the Tanneau fitted and the trimmer made up door cards for it, with check straps to match. With everything now fitted and given a wash/wax it looks great.











Am thinking as its a bit low I will need to raise it up a bit for Kent or even for the ramp of the boat, don't want to loose my exhaust or anything.