1991 Cooper Mainstream Project

[mini_surfari]

Well, thanks to the forums Peter Ladler, we managed to repair the subframe in the best way possible.

He turned up these nuts to locate in the original holes for the radius arm bracket.





Cap head bolts have been used as it easier to them in past the arm personally.



And finally gave it a good going over with the wire wheel (after the sandblaster made such a shit job of it). The old man gave it a few coats of paint, and in it went.

[mini_surfari]

The cars back rolling!

Now the predicament, do we try and blend the repair areas, or paint the whole outside? Any experience body guys want to chuck their 2 pence in?

[Peter Laidler]

I'm not a body man but I'd give it a total re-spray, The other body sections look like they are pretty good and will just need a fine sanding/smoothing followed by a quick blow job of colour onto the already sound base. Is it Saturn Red? Nice colour but being red......., what with age, sunlight and pigment I bet that it'll be a real pig to blend even though there are plenty of panel lines to help.

[AndyPen]

Agree on the red discolouring, I'd side with Peter and I am sure you'll appreciate all the hard work later

[Peter Laidler]

Any more progress Oli and dad? We're all getting withdrawal symptoms...........

[CooperTune]

Having done as much as I can on the 64 998 Cooper, I'm moving on to my 90 mainstream. I notice you have a bean can clutch master. Before painting the engine bay I removed a bean can clutch master from mine. Is that correct for the car? Mine being LHD has the cross over brake linkage. I plan to remove the heater and brake linkage to freshen up. I'm inclined to remove the head unit, 12 disc changer and amp. Steve (CTR)

[mini_surfari]

Any more progress Oli and dad? We're all getting withdrawal symptoms...........

Currently, filling, sanding, filling, sanding...... Sick of it, how do the pro's seem to be able to get it in one or 2 skims .

Most of its ready for primer, but the lower quarter I'm having a night mare getting it straight, must have skimmed and sanded it 5-6 times so far, and the low point appears elsewhere!

Ideally want to have it painted by mid April, and then get the engine built for May, ready for the sunny weather we're all waiting for.

[mini_surfari]

Having done as much as I can on the 64 998 Cooper, I'm moving on to my 90 mainstream. I notice you have a bean can clutch master. Before painting the engine bay I removed a bean can clutch master from mine. Is that correct for the car? Mine being LHD has the cross over brake linkage. I plan to remove the heater and brake linkage to freshen up. I'm inclined to remove the head unit, 12 disc changer and amp. Steve (CTR)

Hi Steve,

Yep, metal master cylinder on this model, not the plastic one!

That reminds me, need to find a rover head unit for it!

[CooperTune]

Thanks for the reply, I have completed my tranny and may even have drive gears to correct my speedo. My car had unrepaired left front damage to inner wing. It seems the timing cover has a round breather can rather than the flat faced I'm used to seeing. Is this correct or just additional poor repair? Steve (CTR)

[northern monkey]

Great project, and really enjoying the progress so far!

One quick question - is your car a very early mainstream, as most were fitted with the later style of wheel with the bolt holes inbetween the spokes, unlike the the RSP, 30 and Racing Flames?

My early Mainstream came out of the factory with RSP wheel's on one side and Mainstream on the other ?? Rover quality control at its finest...