In 2018 I bought a classic mini that was in need of a full restoration. Plans for the car changed so many times because of health and wealth issues but ultimately the channel is about restoring a classic mini and filming as much as I can so I have a diary of events to look back on in years to come.
The car was originally a 998cc mini city, then a 1275cc (metro engine) and then a fully rebuilt and tuned 1293cc.
Special thanks to the following for all of their help with the project:
Dennis Parkin from Classic and Retro Restorations (Bodywork and Mechanicals) Paul Jeffries (Engine and Gearbox Builder) Patreon and all of my Patrons (www.patreon.com/smugwood)
More info on Instagram and Facebook at Smugwood Mini
There may have been the odd one or 2 non heritage panels fitted, but I cant remember which ones. Dennis, who fitted them, tends to use particular panel manufactures depending on where they are fitted as I believe some fit better than others...but I left him to it when he was welding them up...after my poor attempt at welding I thought it best to stay away :-)
@@SmugwoodMini yes, clearly, in my enthusiasm, I didn’t wait for your m machine and magnum plug! Can just say that I admire your candour. Refreshingly honest. Well done!
I was really surprised Smiths dont do repairs...unless I misheard them...but I guess sometimes it can be cheaper to replace than restore for some companies.
This was originally planned for a brand new heritage shell...but when all that stuff happened in the earlier episodes, it wiped out my finances. This really should have been a brand new shell but it does go to show that literally any car can be saved using panels. The beauty of this though was that all the original stamped panels were saveable so the shell still retains all of its original numbers...which I thought was a bonus :-)
They’ve been so much better on my back compared to the ones I had before. My only moan with them is that after sitting on them all the way back on the subframe, it’s dented my side bins in the back…only noticed this week. Not a major issue but a little annoying. But the seats themselves are really comfy and do compliment the car.
Pretty much...although the mistake I made was not knowing that some parts are worth keeping hold of...I should have kept hold of things even if they were no use to me as some things surprisingly have a sellable value. Towards the end of the build I did start to learn that lesson :-)
Great update video. I have been looking for an old school Classic Mini tuner with a Rolling Road in the West Yorkshire / East Lancashire area and was struggling to find one so this video was very timely. I think I will be booking in with Ken at RE Performance when I am ready. Thanks.
He’s done a great job with mine…although I can’t technically make recommendations etc as I don’t know the place well enough to comment. It was minisport who recommended…they’re not really using their rolling road for customers at the minute so they’ve been redirecting people to Ken. I can’t fault the work I’ve had done but one thing I will say is that the rolling road wasn’t fully operational when I went so some things were a bit limited. But luckily I wasn’t there for max power and Bhp figures etc…so fortunately I was able to get done what I needed. Worth giving them a call but also it’s worth checking to see if any of the limitations would affect the work you might need doing. 👍
Thank you for the informative video. One suggestion only. Try to check your valve clearances again because according to keith calver roller rockers should be checked from side to side not from front to back, they act like panel rollers!
Great video update. I had my Mini Thirty put on a rolling road locally to me in Sussex, after having a new exhaust fitted along with a new carb needle. It’s clever how they manipulate the needle to help increase the cars overall performance. I ended up with much more bhp than the 41 bhp it was supposed to have when it was a brand new car back in ‘89. Not too bad for its 998cc engine.
Yeah I think any change made to the vehicle probably results in the need for a tune up. I did mine all by ear and feel to get it running but thats probably not ideal long term. So much more fun to drive now. Ive often wondered how they do those alterations with the needles and I sort of have an idea...but part of me knows that if I find out how to do it...I'll probably end up having a go myself and messing everything up :-)
@@SmugwoodMini mine had a hammer being used on it but I’ll be stating well clear of playing with it now it performs so much better. I too found the pull was better in lower gears than what it used to be like. Hills are not such a problem now.
Yeah probably best leaving it alone now...I know I will :-) I think the lesson I learnt this week is that if I make any changes to the engine setup or suspension...I need to take it somewhere to be checked.
I went for the Yokohama A008s this time. The Ao32rs didnt really last long and were a bit too sticky on the roads for my liking. I do prefer the look of the A032r but Im finding the car more fun to drive with the A008s. And they are half the price :-)
nice...it's a pain but I've got it down to 45 mins from bonnet open to out on the floor. I've never had to take the steering arms off. Remembering now that the speedo drive is an easy thing to forget too. About to go for my 7th time so I can repaint the lump properly this time.
Thank you for a really great series of videos on building up a classic mini. They are nice and clear and your narration is excellent. I am currently assembling my own front subframe off the car and although I have worked on these a lot in the past it was decades ago and mine has been apart for a very long time so your videos are a super reference tool. Cheers!
Thanks. Its good fun making the videos...although a little bit stressful at times. I always stress they aren't tutorials, but hopefully they do give an insight as to whats involved when restoring a mini. Good luck with your build.
Thanks. Seems so long ago since I started the videos...had originally planned to have the car finished within 12 months of purchase...that didnt quite go to plan :-)
Im still undecided as to wether these were the better option. Its a really close fit to the wheels I have and I reckon drums might have given more clearance. I was always worried about heat build up so I opted for discs but now im driving the car I find I dont really go fast enough to worry about heat build up :-)
I think I remember my dads car having something like that in the window many years back. Not sure what car it was though...but I also seem to remember him having to indicate with his hands too :-) Must have been quite an old car
Kind of...it ended up being cheaper than a new shell but thats sort of because im friends with the guy doing the work. It really was a contender for a new shell though. Aside from the cost though, I wanted to try and keep some of the cars originality and we were able to use the original parts that were stamped...like the inner wing and scuttle. But if money was no object...I would have opted for a new shell.
Thanks. I definitely prefer it over the pancake and standard filter. Its not as noisy as the pancake but its not quiet like the standard box...but it makes adjusting things a lot easier. Plus I guess my engine has been built for performance so its probably a good idea not to stick the standard box back on :-)
I'm glad I found this, the lower dash panel you fitted (at 4:34) did you glue it to the metal frame or something else? Please help, I'm stuck with mine
I’m trying to remember…I struggled getting a proper answer for this when I did mine because lots of people were telling me different things. The first thing that confused me was it felt too long out the packet and I think I had to cut a little bit of material off the ends but I’m struggling to remember. I didn’t glue it though, I think it initially held in place with the control panel screws and then I used little clips to hold it in place. I think the dash material wrapped around the metal and the clips held it there. Can’t remember the name of the clips but they were similar to the ones that hold the window trim etc. It took me a while to fit it because it was all guess work but it wasn’t a really hard job…it’s just one of those jobs that’s always a lot easier second time round. I’ve no idea if the way I’ve done it is right or wrong but whatever I did still seems to be holding up 🤞
Jeez i still LOVE Minis at 50. I had my 1st Mini at 16 To do up Turned into a Proper Rally car after 3 YEARS But it was Very well done as i Grew up around Older Gents who had Garages/Welders/Spray Guns etc. Then at 19 I had a Proper 1275GT with a 1340 Single inch3/4 SU, Those were the Days when you COULD pick up a Mini for £400 For a Decent one. Nice Job Bud.
I was counting on the drip tray catching everything...but now you mention it, a pint pot or plastic bag would have helped prevent a bit of mess...especially when lifting it through the grill. I'll have to try that next time :-)
Definitely...makes a real mess that stuff. Its not in the video, but when I was topping up the oil, it overflowed out the top. Not a lot...but took forever to clean it up...and thats new oil :-)
Hi. I cant remember which book I was using, but I only own two...A Haynes Restoration Manual and the Haynes Manual for the mini. Two sort of similar books but also quite different :-)
Yeah the one that came with it wasnt great. Im not sure why they dont provide a decent one straight from the box, maybe its a way to keep cost down. But a nice little upgrade for sure.
Ive fit my subframe ready for the front panel & couldn't remember how the front went with the pear drops. I seem to have lost the bolts 😢. Watching this & ive remembered, thanks 😊.
Wow, looks like a few issues all at once, I tried mini sport , did they say how long before the R R is back in action? The next one an hour away is that on the way to North Wales? The hub nut looked very loose, I'm sure I saw about 180lbs for this on line, good luck 😊
A little bit of mixed messages from Minisport as initially I was told summer time but have since been told there’s no time been given as yet. I believe there’s a computer issue. If it gets sorted soon I’ll book my car in. If not, I believe there’s a place in Morecambe which has some experience tuning minis. The hubs now had a new cone washer fitted and been re tightened…just hope this one lasts 🤞
Yeah, just one of those things I guess. I'll spend a good few weeks checking everything...should keep me busy :-) Plus everything is a bit more familiar to me now so not quite as stressful as when I first bought the car.
He did offer his services...and if I lived closer I definitely would. But hes so far away which is a shame. If hes ever passing this way then that might be an option. Other wise I may just have to wait until the 2 rolling roads near me get fixed.