mk1-forum.net

Hiya,

Some of you may have seen my hello topic which introduced my project car a 1960 mk1

I've had a fair bit of help so far from bill on the 1959 mini register who has been fantastic and given me a lot of advice.

Anyway I figured I ought to start a proper rebuild thread so I can track my progress over the coming months. My intention for the car is to build a nice usable car that we can have some fun with. I'm certainly not going concours/show standard just something solid. Once I get through the nasty stuff my 8 year old son is looking forward to helping me get it done. I might see about doing a few period mods and engine wise I'm sticking with the 850 to begin with and then see where we go once it is all running. I am going to fit a rear roll cage though so we can have somewhere strong to mount some seatbelts etc for when my boy and I are out and about as there are no seatbelts at all at the minute and I don't trust the b posts to take the mounts

Hopefully you won't mind all the questions I might ask.

I've decided my first job is to get the engine running then I can see what condition it is in before I pull it from the car.

My first question though is that with the car being quite early is it likely to be a positive earth and how can I check this?

Anyway nothing is happening when attaching a battery so I tried it direct on the starter. This resulted in a fair bit of spinning but it wasn't engaging. On stripping the starter I have cleaned the mechanism with some brake cleaner and have managed to get it working after bolting it back on I took the plugs out and thankfully it spins the engine really nicely. Am going to see if I can borrow a compression tester to see what we have got. Hopefully it will give good figures.

Unfortunately with the car being buried for so long in a barn/stable and finally workshop it appears to have had an attack of rodents as well as the rust worms. It has come with a second hand loom so I'm going to have a bash at replacing the loom with the new one to get some life into it. I haven't got as far as the fuel tank though and figuring how the fuel pump works?

Oh looks like my starter switch on the floor is seized solid as well so need a new/second hand one of those.

Will keep you posted on the progress.

Cheers

Alan

Great stuff, looking forward to the rebuild thread. I tried to avoid concours, but Im not sure I can avoid it now!

I'm also planning to liberate a few extra brake horsepowers from my 850 - really looking forward to seeing what you do with yours. What's your thoughts on it? Cam, head, up the CR?

PS,you're probably going to run into similar problems I'm going to; cool spring clutches, thin tail cranks, wet primary gear bushes..

PPS for positive Earth, look to see if the positive side of the battery is connected to the boot floor.

Yep think it is on the boot floor side.

Hoping to do a bit more today on the wiring front.

I've no idea on the engine yet. Once it's running am going to pull it out and have a look to see exactly what we have. Many years ago I ported a cross flow head on a kit car I had so I might have a bash on the head. Probably go with a new cam, bigger carb and better exhaust. I'm not going as far as lightening the crank etc just hoping to get it breathing better and a bit more oomph. I think once it is running I'll then look at future upgrades. I guess I have to think about brakes though as may have to upgrade to discs and that will have to wait as it isn't in the budget. Unfortunately I've pretty well got to do everything myself so am going to be learning on the job. I am hoping a friend of mine will do the final coats of paint on the shell when we get that far so long as I do all the other prep work and primer etc.

I've set myself a goal of having it running by next summer (maybe a tad ambitious) but eager to have a play in it.

Might see some of you at blyton next year btw as we are not far from there.

Cheers

Alan

For those of you who are film buffs

"Its allive! Alive!"

Well with huge amounts of help from the people on here the engine has run for the first time in about 25 years at least. New points, condensor, Lt. lead and plugs, a service on the carb and a freshly charged battery i have got life back in the old girl!

I am so chuffed and excited lol (ok big kid i know but first engine start is always ace).

Anyway we have good oil pressure and it sounds ace with no noises and surprisingly no smoke.

My new welding wire came today and also my new gas bottle should come later today as well.

Onwards and upwards.

Thank you for the advice all those who did.

Thanks

Alan

Great to hear the engine's alive. If you're thinking of a cam upgrade, you'll have to consider having bearings installed in the block - the 850 doesn't have any (or is it just the one, not sure) and the cam runs bare in the block. OK for the standard cam, apparently according to the wisdom of many here and elsewhere, not so good for anything a bit spicy.

Is your engine running with the coil spring clutch and wet primary gear?

Great news!

Perfect photo

Cheers

Alan

Fantastic news Alan.

Th4neuk wrote:

I've had a fair bit of help so far from bill on the 1959 mini register who has been fantastic and given me a lot of advice.

Bill's always enthusiastic to help anyone concerning these early cars despite the grief he gets from time to time.Nice to hear someone's grateful!