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1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa, (now supercharged 8 port)

Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 1:08 am
by Richspec
Already known as 'Bumblebee' for what will be obvious reasons :lol:
This is a bare shell build bought off ebay sight unseen (again, will i never learn :lol: ) and described as 'ready to paint'.
Err..right :roll:

This is just an intro to what we are going to build, I'll start adding some pictures as I gather them into one folder.

The main idea is to use up as many of the parts cluttering up our shelves as possible, many of which have seen service at one time or another in our minis, some parts we've had for yrs 'as new' and some are getting reconned ready for use (mainly brackets and odds and odds), other parts have come from users on here,via ebay or from other suppliers (lots of brightwork and bits and bobs from minispares so far)

I'd better start the list, sorry its a big one. :geek:
Engine.
We have a heavily used 1445??, its a 1300GT block i think, but its wafer thin between the bores, pistons are very pockmarked 74mm flat tops. Its needs a total strip, assessment and rebuild. So on the hunt for a suitable replacement at the moment (looking into several options)
Headwise we have my brothers 5 Port Swiftune Road Rocket head, this was reconned at Swiftune not that long ago after 40,000 miles of use, with a 286 cam this used to give 125bhp.
For the cam this time we have an APT cam to try, I forget the number, VP8? We'll use a set of roller rockers from the shelf.
Gearbox is a 3 syncro s/c remote, this has a salisbury with 4.6 semi helical cwp which we're changing for an atb with 3.4 cwp. Outputs / shafts are hardy spicers. This box was new/pro rebuilt with the engine thats in my 8 port. Its got helical drops but I'm undecided whether we should change that.
Clutch and flywheel all comes from MS, ultralight fw etc, rally plate and cover. At the other end we have a used kent vernier setup with new chain.
For carburation we're dusting off the 48 ida weber once again, its a lovely beast :lol:
A later spec 7.5 gallon fuel tank from bro's Sprite will be emptied by red top pump and plenty of filtration.
Ignition wise we are re-using the omex setup we last used on the swiftune 5 port and dcoe.
To get rid of the gases we have a maniflow stage3? lcb and big bore twin box, centre exit system. I think thats it for the engine bay.

Front subby is a hydro one converted to dry. Red dot cones/hilos and everything adjustable once i get the arms all blasted and repainted. We have one of the MS scottish alloy sumpguards fitted. Shockers all round are Koni adjustables off the storage shelf.
Rear subframe is a new pattern one with a few extra welds, I've got some s/h KAD alloy radius arms on the way and minifin brakes. Reconned adjustable camber brackets as well.

Inside there's a Safety Devices six point rollcage with doorbars and possibly (still thinking about getting one) one of the mighty mini harness bars, some 3" harnesses fasten to that. We'll be sat on a pair of OMP RS PT2 seats (suitable for the larger frame :oops: ). In front of us will be a works style dash from Catmint with the usual array of Switches etc, I've got a nice Stack rev counter from my track mini to use and either side of the centre Cooper speedo I intend to fit the two electronic gauges, an AEM lambda gauge and an SPA oil pressurre/volt gauge. All the other gauges in front of the driver will be proper Smiths styles. I've also got a complete terratrip intercom system to fit (ebay :) ). We'll keep warm with a proper mk1 heater that I'm reconning. (ebay, forum member)
I'm on the lookout for a Mk 1 sterring column which will be hung of the JB Fab bracket, dunno about steering wheel yet, I do like the formula woodrim one in the 8 port but I have a sparco suede one that 'might' cleanup ok.

Outside is a contradiction in itself, we'll be getting one of the works style heated windcreens, all normal glass everywhere else but going with non opening rear quarters (ebay £4 8-) ) as we reckon reaching into the back will be a right ballache anyway.
I've already got all the MK2 cooper brightwork ready to go to fit into the main theme which is....full Britax replica :mrgreen:
Yellow with black roof and all the decals which came from Stickyfingers.
Arches will be group 2's and wheels will be Ultralite 6x10 with sticky tyres, probably all silver but i do like the gold centre look as well.


Pictures soon :!:

Rich

Re: 1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa

Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 6:54 pm
by Richspec
some pics.
shell as brought back from Birmingham on a day with torrential rain, swimming pool inside!

Re: 1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 11:41 pm
by Richspec
some of the bits off the shelf.
gearbox
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cylinder head and carb.
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some rebuilt parts.
cleaned up arms with new bearings etc
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spruced up wiper motor.
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Re: 1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 1:26 pm
by 814CWE
dont seem such a bad shell for ebay........ :D

Re: 1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 1:42 pm
by Richspec
thats what the people that have seen it in the flesh have said, its solid enough, just had some untidy repairs done. They would probably have been okay but I've decided I'd rather have them redone for my piece of mind.

The next upload of pics will be the set i took when i got it dried out out and went round with the yellow paint highlighting the bits that looked wrong to me.

Re: 1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 12:28 am
by Richspec
drip rail was all corroded underneath so that was number one on the list to come off.
IMAG0678.jpg
repairs to inner wings at both front corners need looking at,
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no holes in boot panel, nowt lining up. masses of weld in places, nothing ground down and sharp edges a plenty.
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some weird stuff going on round companion bins, some holes and whatever is going on at the right hand side.
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i could see there was weirdness happening behind the bin, before i cut it out :roll:
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Re: 1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 7:52 pm
by Richspec
its gone for paint! getting blasted in a week or two then repairs to various bits, then rollcage fitting then paint.

I got so far with repairing the inner sill bodging but just didn't have the time.
I did find the front subframe wouldn't fit because the mounting panel was incorrectly welded to the front valence compared to the passenger side, resulting in it sitting too far back into the engine bay which meant the subby wouldn't go in... :x
and we needed that fitted so we fit the dummy engine and check the bonnet was going to fit.
I'll have to get the pics off facebook and then post them up, but safe to say progress is being made :mrgreen:

Re: 1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 11:42 pm
by Richspec
test fit of engine unit to see if the bonnet hole lines up.
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dropped off at bodyshop, not expecting much progress for a couple of weeks but a case of get it in there so they could make a start if they had a bit of time, blasting is supposed to be in a week and a bit.
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wheels have been decided on, gone for midland wheels 6x10's this time, tried Huddersfield ultralite but they seem to tarnish really quickly.
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and the engine has changed to an ex race med engine bought of Mike Youles on here (a pleasure to do business with) its got the really fancy drop gears but all A+ as opposed to our A series gearbox, so a bit of thinking to do there.

Re: 1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 12:39 pm
by 1071 S
Hope that bonnet is lift off rather than hinged... BTDT

Cheers, Ian

Re: 1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 2:22 pm
by Richspec
Yep :lol:

Black straps in the front corners and bonnet pins at the back edge, either stainless or black alloy ones if there is such a thing.

Re: 1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 9:32 am
by Richspec
blasting is booked for the 20th. :)
Bought some group 2 wide arches from arc angels and some black bonnet pins yesterday at Mitp.

Re: 1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa

Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 12:28 am
by Richspec
back from blasting on the main shell and with a quick coat of acid etch primer.

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Guys at the bodyshop were impressed with the perfect fit of the new Minispares bumpers.
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The doors are getting the bins chopped and altered and along with the boot getting dropped off for blasting. Meanwhile the bodywork repairs are starting with the new heelboard panel.

Re: 1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 1:47 am
by georgek
Very nice, looking good.

Re: 1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 2:12 am
by JC T ONE
Thats a nice project 8-)

Wll you fit a one piece BMH hinge panel ? or leave as is ?

Re: 1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 2:21 am
by Richspec
JC T ONE wrote:Thats a nice project 8-)

Wll you fit a one piece BMH hinge panel ? or leave as is ?
it depends how badly deformed the back edge is, last time we checked the boot didn't fit, but I don't know if they've had a go at correcting it yet.

Re: 1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 10:07 pm
by Richspec
Back from a few days away with work and some progress to share. Work starting with the full heelboard.
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(just messing around with image sizes as well to see which looks best)

Going to see it tomorrow, will see just how good or bad that underside really is!

Rich

Re: 1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa

Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 10:13 am
by Richspec
JC T ONE wrote:Thats a nice project 8-)

Wll you fit a one piece BMH hinge panel ? or leave as is ?
I've ordered the bmh panel from Minispares.
The problem appears to be that the repair was fitted without testing with a boot...Its sits too far towards the front of the car, when its on its side and you can look down on the car from 'above' you can see the shape goes wrong.

we decided it'd be easier and cheaper for me to buy the panel than pay for cutting and altering of the existing repairs.

Re: 1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 11:13 pm
by Richspec
the boot got blasted
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blasting really exposes everything!
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Previous patches and repairs
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more
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thin bits and holes.
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holes..
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The new boot hinge panel from minispares was put in
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They've now progressed onto fitting the door steps, sills and other panels I supplied
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Re: 1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa

Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 8:13 am
by InimiaD
Good progress Rich.
There's nothing better than seeing shiny new metal replacing tea bag panels. 8-)

Re: 1965 Mk1 road/rally Bitsa

Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 8:18 am
by GraemeC
Who's doing the work Rich?