My mk2 cooper

[Daz1968]

After a few issues with the steering rack and a broken grease gun needed replacing to sort out all the suspension joints I finally got it down on its wheels today, needs a few bits flatting and polishing but pretty pleased with results, just need to get engine and gearbox sorted now, also took time out to dismantle the spray booth and tidy the garage so can get things moving again, feels good to finally get to the next stage, been a long time coming

2337E0AB-86BE-493F-95D4-61A8077779BF by darren carr, on Flickr

734B8A86-4F68-44F2-A15E-5E79FE4B9AB9 by darren carr, on Flickr

ECD5B68B-C048-4D06-91A7-84B53C8B432C by darren carr, on Flickr

[WMU 211G]

Looks fantastic on those D1s...

[Daz1968]

Thanks, I do like d1 wheels on 7 inch discs as the offset is just right to fill the arches, I also like rose petals but need s offset for those.

I managed to fit the other headlamp and over riders on front along with backing plate

DB02167B-75A2-43D7-B88E-D07CC4EE2752 by darren carr, on Flickr

Then I cleaned up the recliners, still need to fit side plates on the passenger seat but ran out of glue for the vinyl have ordered some to finish off, my seats were missing the side plates so I have made some from zintec plate.

3807EEEF-2319-4441-8896-9B09D888C3A8 by darren carr, on Flickr

As I had nothing else to do I vacuumed the carpet to remove all the sound deadening material off it, looks ok now

073F865E-A5E6-418A-ADF0-C3BACAB55748 by darren carr, on Flickr

Actually feel like I am getting somewhere again,

[Cammsjb]

Hi Daz

What have you used on the recliners they look great, have you applied a finish to the vinyl? still have mine to do yet.

[Daz1968]

I used maguirs interior trim cleaner gives a nice Matt finish, but I did clean them with soap and water first,
I use meguirs products on all my cars as the stuff is very good

[Peter Laidler]

Ah.......... Some people like a bit of weed or a fix of something else at the weekend to get thgem through the week. I just need a fix of Daz's Cooper or Andy's HOY to get me through the week. That is truly spectacular Daz. Makes me want to do it all again.

[BLT]

Indeed, looks great, you must be chuffed to bits

[Daz1968]

Thanks
There are a few blemishes here and there but am pleased with results I achieved in home garage with minimal experience. So yes am pleased with it and hope to get some enjoyment from it again,

[IslandBlue]

Inspiring stuff, nice colour by the way!

I've owned my virtually identical car since 1986 (even down to twin tanks and D1s) and like yours it had a budget 80s style restoration. It's had a few new bits over the years including Mini Machine half floors, cross member, inner and outer sills and heel panel but sooner or later I'm going to have to bite the bullet and restore it again, it's now I don't know how many shades of island blue!

[Daz1968]

I have had this since 1986, just been off the road since 1998, moved on to other things but kept it locked away. Just thought it was about time it had a proper restoration and got used again. Won’t be a concourse car but hopefully a good car to use, have retained as many period parts as I can and used nos genuine parts when available, if not then good used ones. Body panels and a few trim parts from newton and bas international being the exception. The recliners were originally from a mk1 but I bought trim kit from bmc many years ago. The twin tanks were already fitted when I bought it. I will be fitting a modified head, twin h4 carbs and a standard bore lcb in an attempt to replicate the downton touring kit. I have a repro HRG rocker cover to finish off the engine bay, it also has a 4 synchro close ratio box for usability. Hopefully be on the road for Stanford hall in September, engine condition and build time being the restricting factor.
Should have the seats fitted the weekend so can then concentrate on the mechanicals. The engine was rebuilt prior to being locked away so hopefully a strip and check over will be all that’s required.
I have a number of radiators so will be asking advice as to which is correct for this year.

[Daz1968]

Been. Bit busy lately with other problems, but finally got my engine assembled valves lapped etc and ready to install, trial fitted my alloy rocker cover and hopefully will install next weekend, I do have correct oil filter housing to install but will do once in the car,

C5B6575A-B4E3-45EE-AD47-2992E7FFBA15 by darren carr, on Flickr

[kit of bits]

Looks nice..
Check your valve spring top caps clear the HRG rocker cover on mine they touched both ends..
D

[Daz1968]

Thanks, this is a repro cover but will check for any issues just in case,

[Simon776]

I do have correct oil filter housing to install but will do once in the car

It's a bit of a pain to fit the early filter head once you've got the engine installed unless you are using bolts rather than studs.

[Daz1968]

Have done it before, put housing in place and put studs in with double nuts, helps with clearance when fitting though

[jay weinstein]

I've got a '67 mk 2 'S' with 11,373 miles on it.
One of the first things I did to it when I bought it was to replace the stock
pain in the ass cartridge with a spin on set up. I painted a half dozen spin on
filters in engine green. You can't see the difference...set for life!

[Costafortune]

I bought an Island blue 998 Cooper in 1986....LFJ976F, early Mark 2. It was a rusty MOT failure, £50 iirc.

It's still around as well as a mate bought it around 15 years ago and will 'definitely get around to doing it one day' etc etc.

[Daz1968]

Made my plugs leads up tonight am pleased with them as the lead doesn’t look brand new.

E9F4B2F6-2370-43E2-8155-007F47DB8F65 by darren carr, on Flickr

[Daz1968]

Spent today fitting the engine, still a way to go but it’s looking better,

DE6C3ED4-FE7B-48F5-B5F7-D3CD64F4C552 by darren carr, on Flickr


Also had to dismantle and free up my hydrolastic pump as not been used in a while, the valve that change pressure to vacuum was seized, luckily was a pretty easy repair.

So hopefully get it pumped up soon

[Daz1968]

Well doesn’t look much different, but have spent quite a lot of time sorting out the bits and pieces under the bonnet, managed to fill it with oil and spin over until oil pressure is registered on gauge, connected the fuel pipes, hopefully get exhaust on next week and get it running,
Have the healey type filters to fit but will wait until the carbs are balanced.
Want an sa12 coil to be more period correct.

83CC5567-7789-441F-A01A-C46354595FC9 by darren carr, on Flickr