1966 Mk1 Austin Mini Cooper 998

[Fanfaniracing]

Looks very nice!

[Nick W]

Work looks exceptional. going to be a very special car!

[Hipwell]

Thanks Mark, Nick and co, much appreciated.

Very, very nice work!

Thank you for sharing with us. I wonder, do you have a Picture how you welded outer A-panel to the A-post. I am about to carry the same work (need to find better way than I did in the past) and wonder how should I do it.

Not saying this is the only way to do it... But there is a small cavity where you can run a cutting disc down. Then trim the outer to match. Doing it this way the weld line is going to show to some extent, but its an easy place to fill over if needed. Saves the hassle of using the full panel from M-Machine. I held it in place with the holes for the hinges.




Then copied the roller welded look with the spotwelder.

[MiNiKiN]

The rollerwelding is a real pain in the A (or B) - in the A) when it comes to take the lot apart, took me roughly an our to grind down the rollerwelded leftover of the sill on just one side.
and in the B) when you would actually prefer to re-rollerweld the new sill back on - as it happens I couldn't find a rollerwelder in my shed yet

So the sill weld is next to impossible to remake in an original manner, I suppose. But I am sure there is a nerd somewhere who has one in his garage.

BTW: Nice work how you sort of imitate the rollerweld

[Hipwell]

Thanks Minikin.

Engine build part III

MS Evo oil pump, needing the extra threads carefully machining into the block.



Centre main strap mod.


Std crankshaft wedged, lightened and smoothed out.



Std rods fully lightened and polished out.




Beginning of the modification to the alter the oil way in the head.

[Tex1965]

Thanks for helping me out, for clearing the A-panel job. Great work you are doing with the engine, too

[Hipwell]

Engine build part IV

New MED Ultra Light flywheel and blue AP clutch kit.



Matched C-AEA525 valve springs, maybe need to upgrade to the 526, finished with titanium top caps.





Upgraded to the 1275 big foot rockers, fully rebuilt with new shaft and bushings etc.

[Hipwell]

Comparison.


Small bore head gasket selection v original.


Fully rebuilt distributor, NOS brown cap.

[Costafortune]

Payen copper gaskets were always extremely good.

[Hipwell]

Few more odds and ends refurbished here and there and picked up two NOS master cylinders to replace the well used originals
0.625" brake GMC105 & 0.75" clutch 4223-106)



Wiper motor and mech fully refurbished, the body was hammer grey so repainted just the same.




De-rusted and replated virtually all of the bright zinc parts.

[Andrew1967]

Nice work Matt and some great items there ... I won't mention the plating

[mk1]

Great work Matt, superb attention to detail.

I only wish I could find a plater who would do as beautiful job as you have had done.

The last stuff I got done was totally crap!