Time lapse full metal Broadspeed GT restoration/transformation

[hanlminiman]

Paul and Dr - It's what you both do best and what "Good - looks LIKE." Thank you. A non technical, i awe, enthusiastic owner of several Minis.

[Peter Laidler]

Hey Doc......., we haven't heard from you for a while. Where are you?

[Dr.Mabo]

Hey Doc......., we haven't heard from you for a while. Where are you?

Here I am
I have neither disappeared nor retired.

Now that some time has passed during which I have taken care of numerous small things on the Broadspeed, but also on my other Minis, I would like to report on my visit to the Cooper Day in Beaulieu. To say it in advance, it was overwhelming. Not only was the enthusiasm and encouragement for my project enormous, but I also felt very honoured that well-known Mini people, whom I had hardly dared to approach before, followed the build and enthusiastically congratulated me.

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[Dr.Mabo]

The organisers' suggestion to place my Broadspeed in the middle of the main field was simply unbelievable. Especially as I hadn't understood what that meant at the time. It was only when I asked "who would be standing next to me there" and they said "no one" that I slowly understood what an honour I was being given.

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I had hoped that one of the two original Broadspeeds would be there, primarily to see how close I am to the original, but unfortunately that was not the case. Nevertheless, I was delighted to meet Kent Thirley, who owns the only Broadspeed GTS. So it was an honor for me when he took a seat in my left-hand drive Broadspeed.

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[Fanfaniracing]

Wow!

Congratulations to you Doc and this Honor you received is very well deserved!

best regards

[UHR850]

100% congratulations with the result of everything you did to the classic Mini population.
The most of them don't have the skills including my self to the job you did. I am very glad you did it with in Mini world and not with something other.

Kees.

[diz]

Hi Doc, it was good to meet you and see your amazing car. In fact, in one of your pictures you are showing me your favourite oil level feature so I have attached the picture I took at the time.

Hope to see you back at Beaulieu again next year

diz

[Dr.Mabo]

Published today, the January issue of MiniWorld. Thanks to Karen and Jim from MiniWorld team

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[BAD942B]

that was one incredible build, fantastic, have you put the car on a rolling road & set the engine up properly yet.

[mk1]

You will get a chance to see the Doc's Broadspeed GT in the flesh if you come to Blyton.

[Jason]

Can’t wait to see the car shining in the sunshine(weather gods permitting) and meet the legend ‘the doc’.

[Peter Laidler]

Make a point of meeting the mini-legend Doc Mabo too. He's a really nice bloke and willingly shares his knowledge, whatever you ask

[BAD942B]

commercially available 40% strong vinegar is on Ebay, item number 134181983060, it has other uses including weed killer

for safe rust removal

[Dr.Mabo]

Relax, I'm nowhere near as legendary as described here. I've only done a bit of craftsmanship, like many of you, just the result is a little different in terms of shape
I look forward chatting with many of you in Blyton.

have you put the car on a rolling road & set the engine up properly yet.

No, not yet

[MiNiKiN]

Relax, I'm nowhere near as legendary as described here. I've only done a bit of craftsmanship, like many of you, just the result is a little different in terms of shape
I look forward chatting with many of you in Blyton.

have you put the car on a rolling road & set the engine up properly yet.

No, not yet

You could also choose to take advantage of another legend's soon available "online-setup-service". From "Legend to lLegend" so to speak
AC Dodd stated he can offer this over-the-air-service, provided you have a wideband O2-sensor (aka Lambda Sonde) fitted.

I for example have a "Zeitronix AFR meter with recording function" and prefer on-the-road to rolling road setup any day.

[BAD942B]

Relax, I'm nowhere near as legendary as described here. I've only done a bit of craftsmanship, like many of you, just the result is a little different in terms of shape
I look forward chatting with many of you in Blyton.

have you put the car on a rolling road & set the engine up properly yet.

No, not yet

You could also choose to take advantage of another legend's soon available "online-setup-service". From "Legend to lLegend" so to speak
AC Dodd stated he can offer this over-the-air-service, provided you have a wideband O2-sensor (aka Lambda Sonde) fitted.

I for example have a "Zeitronix AFR meter with recording function" and prefer on-the-road to rolling road setup any day.

You would have to be very, very good to equal Roger at Aldon's RR or Chris at Mass Dyno for Dynamometer services

[mk1]

Don't forget Colin at Southam Mini & Metro.

Unit 1, Baird Park, Brickyard Rd, Napton on the Hill, Southam CV47 8NT

Phone: 01926 815681

Personally, I wouldn't use anyone else nowadays.

[Polarsilver]

yet another vote for Colin

[peterpentz]

Stunning work on this whole project .. really though why does everyone struggle with fitting engine mounts?

Offside in first, used a flat blade screwdriver to jiggle around until full hole was aligned then fitted the bolt into a ring spanner with a little bit of cling film around the nut head to make it stick in there until I'd manoeuvred the bolt in and tightened the nut.

Used the minispares mounts without any welded on nuts.

Absolutely no delay whatsoever in getting these fitted.

Thanks for your feedback and your experience.

Regarding the engine mounts, I have spend hours in the past fiddeling the bolts into the correct position. I think its also a matter of the rubber condition, whether they slip in easiely or not. But maybe I just havn't found the right way to install them

During my last engine installation I struggled with the alignment of the holes for about an hour. And the mounts where already modified with selftaping nuts. I'm not sure how much time I would have spend with the bolts routing inside out.

I'm happy to hear others don't have problems to bolt the engine mounts to the subframe .

Over the last 40 years I have struggled with this challenge hundreds of times, and eventually developed a technique for doing it.
First off there are two tools you will need - a standard #2 Phillips screwdriver, and a 10 inch long surgical clamp.
I can see the expressions of "say what" out there as you read this !
Make sure that the bolts you use are exactly the right length to accommodate the nut and lock washer, and not too long as before engaging in the hole it must clear the gap between the flywheel housing and the back face of the mounting.
Once you have lowered the engine into place and roughly aligned the holes, start on the clutch side mountings.
Keep the engine lightly suspended on the hoist so it is easy to move.
Start with the front bolt. Use the Phillips screwdriver to wiggle the holes into alignment.
Clamp the head of the bolt into the surgical clamp.
Carefully slide the bolt into position from underneath, and drop it into the hole, secure the washer and nut on the bolt, and remove the surgical clamp.
When the engine is suspended on the hoist it tends to tilt rearwards. pull on the top of the engine to tilt it forwards, and align the holes with the Phillips screwdriver and allow a little extra weight to go onto the mounting by lowering it on the hoist slightly.
At times to keep the bolts aligned I tie a piece of nylon rope around the top stabilizer bolt and tied onto the front slam plate.
Now repeat the process for positioning the rear mounting bolt and securing it with the washer and nut.
The front mounting under the radiator is a lot easier, as you can position the bolts in the holes by hand from above, without using the clamp.
What invariably happens though is that the engine swivels forwards - use a piece of wood between the front edge of the subframe and the gearbox casing while aligning the front hole of the mounting with the Philips screwdriver.
Once in line put the bolt through the hole and secure it with the washer and nut.
Align the rear holes and put the rear bolt in position and secure it with the washer and nut.
Properly prepared this entire process can be done in less than 30 minutes !
Most importantly though do not do anything silly here !
Do not attach any of the ancillaries before installing - no inlet or outlet manifold, no generator starter and oil filter, and definitely no radiator mounted.
Hope it works for those who use this method
Peter Pentz
Saint Charles, Illinois, USA

[ads7]

Similar method, once holes are aligned with a screwdriver I use cling film wrapped around the bolt head which gives a standard ring spanner enough grip to place then release the bolt once the nut is tightened.

No other tools required.

Quick and easy and I've not experienced bolts loosening due to a light covering of cling film remaining after fitting. For peace of mind you might want to check now and again but probably unnecessary.