Checkmate
Turbo Mini Forums

Here goes with my build up to date. My car was a very rusty checkmate, I began working on it February 2014. It had already been stripped out but came with most of the bits.
Now got to figure out how to add some pics

Edited by Russelli on 20th Nov, 2015.

It then went on a jig! For quite a while !!!!, the jig was bolted down to the garage floor. Consisted of two main rails and a front an back jig that picked up the sub by mounts. The car was also braced up with plenty of 25 box

pretty comprehensive jig there. so what is the shell needing?

The first new panels were the door shut frames, all the panels have been heritage, then out came the floor with the front bulkhead!!! What had I started!!!

fook me your committed!

New floor went in along with new bulkheads front and rear, inner wings, boot floor, quarters,rear panel etc,etc.

Edited by Russelli on 20th Nov, 2015.

Moving forward in time, it came off the fixed jig, I made a roll over spit and loads of little details have been done, cage fitted, doors re skinned, scuttle, valance again etc,etc.

Coming along nicely

Up to the present day, last weekend I added a lower bulkhead brace, made this bolt in, as is the cage, added a couple of bars to brace upto the top bulkhead mounts, plan for tomorrow it to add some brackets to pick up the lower subby mounts, get it tacked up and welded, should warm me up in the garage. If I get this done I'm gonna start a frame from 15mm box to mount the pedal box, this is going to have a false floor to cross member height covering the backward facing cylinders. Ps I know the steering column is in upside down I am planing to use a different column anyway, clues in the last pic

I like the jig. Nice to see it being done properly

Thanks cossierick, if you mean the chassis jig,sort of a simplified version of the binky jig, mine was on the go before there's but it was good to see we had similar thoughts on the jig principle, the spit was very usefull and I guessed the axis and it is almost spot on with the cage in, lucky eh

I've tried to check all along with levels and the lazer level and dropped strings, diagonals etc. will be good to get it on its wheels though to see how well it is.

Blimey.. when people say pretty much a new shell yours is apart from roof etc

Like this a lot!

I have started posting on Instagram also my name on there is turbomk1golf

Nothing is impossible it just costs more and takes longer.

Its amazing whats regarded as 'normal' now for classic restorations. Nice jig.

Blimey that's alot of work! Lol

Looking good :)

My build thread..

http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=542985

Looks awesome mate, I'll pop down to the garage later!

Made up some brackets to weld onto the bulkhead bar, got these bolted to the subframe mounting holes and then welded them to the bar, took the bar out to get the weld underneath, all went back in ok and all the bolts fell in, which was nice. Made a start on a frame to locate the bias pedal box. So not a bad day in the garage.

Great work

In the 13's at last!.. Just

This looks good, it's going to be sturdy shell.
Keep up the good work.

75' Mini special deluxe.
1275 A+ engine with turbo on the way...

I presume the steering column is going to have some universal joints in it otherwise you might be struggling doing the left foot braking, looks incredible though!!

Good skills.

Will rough out seat and pedals then sort the steeing I put it in really to check clearance near the foot bar upright thingy

Got myself a double splined shaft 250mm long hoping this will work without cutting.

Edited by Russelli on 29th Nov, 2015.