Mk3 Mini Cooper S - Build Thread
Turbo Mini Forums

Right rather than start a new thread Im hacking this one instead. Basically Me and my dad are restoring a Mk3 Cooper S. It started as a simple engine out bit of body work job but turned into a nut and bolt rebuild. So far,

Both Subframes removed, stripped, blasted, pcoated, rebuilt with all new bearings bushes and pipe work. Subframes are now back on and the car is on wheels.

Engine has been totally stripped, cleaned, de glazed, checked and repainted. The head has been ported with ss valves, new bronze guides, and new 180lb springs fitted. Rods, crank and pistons are the same. The Cam has been replaced with a Kent MD286. Clutch is the same just a new plate fitted. Were dropping the old clockwork dizzy for a MJ tps style.

The engine has been plopped back in as of a late shift last night by Dad and I, with ease I must add.

The body has had some fair work done,

2 New wings, New Front Panel, 2 New A Panels, 2 Scuttle ends, 2 Door Steps, 2 Sills, Valance and Closing Pieces and finally 2 roof drip rails.

Next step is to get the engine running, i just need a tps sensor, crank sensor and coil pack with the appropriate wiring.

The car will be running on the standard Twin SU and a 3-1 Manifold.

Can anyone recommend a suitable TPS that I can rob from a scrappers?


Cheers

Mike

















"Im currently restoring my Mk3 Cooper S, I always new that bristol minis reshelled it in 84ish in time for the show at stanford hall as an avdert for there work. It Won Best Modded Cooper S Award for that year. However im trying to get to the bottom of a few things.

1. The gear changer hole has been cut out of the floor with no signs of existing holes (which tells me it was a Magic wand type?)

2.There is also a bulge (where the gear change hole should be) pertruding into the drivers footwell (floor Starter Button)

3. It has no roop drip rail (which mk3 should have)

Can i get a roof drip rail and weld it on??"

Edited by MikeRace on 29th Mar, 2012.

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

Just to add i have always been under the impression it was a Mk4 Shell. But as stated above i could be wrong.

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

http://www.atfreeforum.com/mk1mark/index.php?mforum=mk1mark

was it a new shell they put it in to?

Could it be a late mk3 or mk4 shell they repaired but used an earlier floor pan in it?

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

That was my thinking. But why do that???

Ive emailed who i think did the work for some info. When did the Mk4 shells come in?? The mk3s should have drip rail, why would they chop this off??

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

76 by the looks of it.

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

What type of subframe does it have? 1 bolt or 2?

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

2 bolt with direct floor mounting. old style in a nut shell.

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

Sounds like an earlier floor in a mk3 to me. 2 bolt means mk3 or earlier.

However there were some changes in around 75/76 where shells had a rod change tunnel and, drip rail & 2 bolt subby.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

Why would they have removed the rail however?? All minis had the tunnel.

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

Yep they all had the tunnel but earlier ones were shaped differently to the later rod change types.

Doesn't explain the lack of drip rail however

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

The tunnel is round shaped, where as the mk4s had were sqaure near the gearlinkage hole

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

The square tunnel came with the rod change in 73.

Yours is obviously a 69-73 shell.

The drip rails on my '65 shell were badly corroded and swollen with rust. I replaced them with new drip rails supplied by Mini Machine as they were called then (around 1998), as to whether they are still available I'm not sure. I would recommend spot welding them on as trying to plug weld and grind back was a nightmare.

They are however extra weight....

Keith

14.914 sec 1/4 mile @ 91.38mph, NA 1293cc on 1.1/2" SU's (all steel and glass shell)

bristol minis have a reputation for re-shelling and using all the wrong parts.

2 bolt or 4 bolt subframe makes no difference, you can fit the inserts into a late shell so you can use the 4 mounting bolts.

they could have used a late shell and chopped the floor about, to fit the early tunnel so the remote type gear change would fit.

have you checked the date stamps on the wiper motor and also the windows?

I have a spot welder you can borrow Mike if you do decide to add the drip rails.

Drip rails are less than a tenner if you want to put them back on...

http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx?ty=...L%20NOT%20SIDED

i think i have one in the loft ill have a look after my tea

Hmm This could be very useful as im fitting a new front.

Ill let you know when the time comes.

Cheers

Mike

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

Not a problem, I'll have finished what I want to do with it shortly and then it will just be going back under the bench again.

Updated thread Above.

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

looks good.

remind your dad about that oil pump...

Yep will do pet! Are you Sat morn?

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

I lad. filling in holes in the mini...

Is that what you call the dog these days?

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/