My 1330 T3 project nearing completion
Turbo Mini Forums

I'm still not sure what to do with the unsightly hole underneath the grill. It's from the front mount rad as its an MPI shell. Was thinking oil cooler but really want to leave it as standard looking as poss on the outside.

BHP sells engines, but Torque wins races!

Looks great, hows the bay look?

The bay is disgusting and won't be shown in its current state. I have a new engine and rad etc to be fitted eventually. Maybe a before and after photo will come about but not for a while yet

Edited by madonminis on 20th Dec, 2013.

BHP sells engines, but Torque wins races!

So having recieved my tax disc from DVLA I was hoping to enjoy my car a little.
Forgot this is a mini and no such joy is allowed.
The engine is just an old 1275 the head gasket went on an old mini years ago with all the turbo gubbins added with a new head gasket. Thought it might be good for 500 miles whilst i sorted the suspension and things out. Again I thought wrong.
The car didn't make it to the end of the road the other day so i started investigating.
Compression of cylinders was 12 7 9 12
with a little oil in the bore 12 10 11 12

Changed the head gasket to give an inspection. Bores thoroughly knackered, I think part of the old gasket went down the side of the bore when it went years ago.

After gasket change compression was 12 7.5 5 12
with oil: 12 11 6 12

So safe to say the engine is goosed I think.
Time to crack on with the new one.

BHP sells engines, but Torque wins races!

Finally got some time on the car this week, old engine out and new engine is nearly there. Just want it in now to enjoy the car although it'll still probably be next year
Broke a brand new flywheel puller today though which wasn't fun.
Still not sure how to go about removing it now.

BHP sells engines, but Torque wins races!

I like the car, but Speedwell Replica? What are you replicating?

Its a very very very slow project with me being based over 200 miles away from the car. Also having a new family. But the plan is to put some decals on the outside and retrim the interior to a period style with some speedwell logos on the seats. Going for a classic yet modern look.
Not to everyone's tastes

BHP sells engines, but Torque wins races!

Engine out. Also got some bonnet lifters from DSN classics, what do people think as I'm a little uncertain now.






Also got the new engine in but wasn't able to attempt a start as the wife didn't let me and I still needed a couple of gaskets. It's looking slightly better than before though, just hoping to get it running this summer so I can drive it further than a mile.

BHP sells engines, but Torque wins races!

Ok so came to wiring in the dizzy and found the 3 pin ignition module. Found various info online but still have a couple of queries.
Which prong goes where and which one is not used?


I know I need a specific coil but no idea what mine is as there are no numbers on it.



Anyone any ideas if this is suitable or do I need this = http://www.minispares.com/product/Classic/...k%20to%20search

BHP sells engines, but Torque wins races!

You need a non ballast coil, make sure you have a non ballasted feed to the coil (white wire with pink trace is ballasted, remove this and fit another suitably sized wire if it is) And how to tell if your coil is ballast type or not

Telling a ballast coil vs. non-ballast coil:
Get a multimeter and switch it to Ohms, Place one lead on the + terminal and one lead on the - terminal. If you have 3 ohms, you have a 12v non-ballasted coil.If you get between 1-2 ohms, you have a 9v ballasted coil.

Ideally you need the proper electronic ignition coil:
http://www.minispares.com/product/Classic/...k%20to%20search

Or GCL211

Those are the non ballast coils, so following what I said above and you find out yours is ballasted, or if you are still unsure, what Graeme linked above is what to buy. But make sure that the feed to the coil is correct otherwise you risk having a weak spark, or maybe coil failure.

Cheers Carl

Having discovered I had the wrong coil I decided to try hook up the old dizzy and coil just to get the engine turning over. It failed and I ran out of time again.
Rather than spend money on the proper coil for just starting it I think I'm going to save up for mappable ignition and just bring my plans forward by a few months.
Since it didnt start I took the dizzy out and started mocking up the intercooler pipework.


And checking it cleared the bonnet



Also have had a massive rethink on the interior which is going to cost a pretty penny. Just time and money stopping me now... How many times we all been there?



Also whats peoples opinions of the bonnet rises?

BHP sells engines, but Torque wins races!

Bonnet looks okay to me, perhaps a tiny bit high.

That's my thoughts. Trouble is the dsn hinge kits aren't adjustable. I think it'll either grow on me or end up on eBay.

BHP sells engines, but Torque wins races!

I quite like it actually, in fact the whole car looks pretty good!

http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.p...tid=469104&fr=0

cheers mike, its nothing to how I want it to look in the future, but unfortunately that'll be on the back burner for a while now

Edited by madonminis on 9th May, 2014.

BHP sells engines, but Torque wins races!

The bonnet lift looks ok it's bound to help a bit with under bonnet temps. You seem to have got your TT intercooler in much neater than me. Mine sits on top the starter and sits up a bit above the slam panel.

Get them hooked whilst they're young.

BHP sells engines, but Torque wins races!

Haha brill... i like it, i do like bonnet raisers but dont quite think it suits your mini (as it is) might look ok once uve done the whole replica/tribute idea your doing, and intercooler piping looks neat but just make sure the pipe doesnt move up n down where it goes over the thermostat housing as thats where mine goes and it used to knock up n down slightly and started to pearce the pipe, luckily i caught it but just to let you know...

Good looking mini, yeah get them hooked I say.

So after a long time away it's time to get this little bitch into some sort of better shape.. I still don't have much time on her at the minute or money but going to start doing little bits as and when I can.
One big job done recently was the arrival and organisation of the new man cave which I'm very happy with.

From the outside with only one door open


Workbench area complete with some new toys


Tools and beer pump for when the homebrew starts


Bit of shelving and decoration




Empty boxes hiding the best deck chair ever


My baby tucked away nicely in her new home awaiting some much needed love

BHP sells engines, but Torque wins races!

Looks good wheres the garage from?

Can't remember exactly as it was my mum who got it. But all my shit lives in it haha
It seems a good build though, the walls were hard as nails to drill into. the white interior panels I fitted so I could insulate it a little better. Still needs electricity but it's definatly the best garage I've ever had the privilage to work in

BHP sells engines, but Torque wins races!