Charlie - Mini Mk3

[Jared Mk3]

Hey man, can you PM me some photos of the rusty 1275E? It may have some bits that I would like

I'll see what I can do - away this week though. What you looking for?

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Went to clean up a few things on the car today and decided to take some pictures. I was initially worried about the silver calipers behind the silver wheels, but it's not too bad. It's actually kind of subtle :
 

 

 
Ever so slightly over-arched :
 

 
My second favourite view of the car :
 

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Also, just a picture of the sound deadening on the roof to replace the original stuff :
 

 
It's lightweight and should do the job just fine I think.

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I was going to replace the original door switches with later Rover spec items as somehow my car landed up with only one, but I managed to find another one on one of our other cars. I cleaned them up this morning :
 

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So exams are finally done and I decided I'd waste some time today. I made a start with the dashboard - I'm going with carpet to improve sound deadening. Since this section will all be behind the dash pieces I had made up, this won't be seen too much, but it still needs to be done properly. I haven't finished it by any means, but it gives you an idea :
 

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I did a little more of the dash area this afternoon :
 

 
And with the gauge pod in :
 

 
I'll be the first to admit that it currently looks terrible, but it shall be neatened up a bit as I go along. This will be behind the metal dash, as said before, but it still has to be neat.

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Did a bit more carpetting this morning. It didn't turn out too bad I think, just one small wrinkle on the passenger side, but that'll be covered by the under dash tray.

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I'm trying to use the glorious sunshine to full effect today. I made up two pieces to close off and neaten the gap between the dash and door pillar. Like so :
 

 
It's like this on both sides. It doesn't look too neat, but with the correct grommet in place and the door rubber, it should help neaten it up a bit.
 
With the last bit of glue I stuck on the piece that goes under the door :
 

 
I just have to wait for everything to dry and then I'll cut off the excess pieces. I've made up the piece that goes on the firewall, but just need to get some glue and I'll be able to stick it on. Once this is done I'll finally get to fit the pedal box and master cylinders to hopefully bleed the brakes. 

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I finally got around to doing the worst part today - the firewall. It came out quite nicely I think, no wrinkles or anything of the sort. 
 

 
Considering all of this has been done by hand and having no patterns to work from, I think it's come out quite nicely. I also finished off the crossmember with the sticker and then section underneath the door on the passenger side. Almost done with the carpeting now. There's still a couple places to fix up here and there, but all in all, I think it's nice.

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I fitted the pedal box and accelerator pedal in yesterday afternoon :
 

 
Just see that I need to do a couple little touch-ups. I also have new pedal covers on the way, so these will be taken off. 

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I put in the last bit of carpetting this morning. Undernewth the seat base :



On the exhaust tunnel :



I just need to sort out the section by the handbrake. 

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I finished up the tunnel today and the handbrake lever: 



A few bits to neaten up still. 

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I cleaned out the car today and made a start on the dreaded rooflining. I've tentioned it to get the wrinkles out :

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A box :



And some of what came out of the box :

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I fitted the badge to the bonnet, not bad :

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I was bored and it's raining, so I fitted the master cylinder extension :

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Another box :



The main reason for placing the order, Cibie H180 lamps :



There were a few other things like some gaskets and various seals.

I also decided to fit up the master cylinders, with new gaskets etc :



She's still a bit dusty and dirty, but you get the idea. Also took a couple with the mirrors on :





So glad I decided on these. They really provide the look I'm going for. 

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I fitted the headlight bowls today and decided to see what the lights would look like :



I also put the yellow covers on :



I like both looks, but prefer the yellow, it breaks the colour scheme. 

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I put the new pedal rubbers on, but still need to clean them up properly and get around to doing up the steering column :



I also did a bit more on the headlining. It certainly is starting to lose the creases :



I'm liking this view more and more :



And just to have some fun, I put on the rims that came off my brother's car :



Just, NO!!! 

[Vinay-RS]

Hey man, can you PM me some photos of the rusty 1275E? It may have some bits that I would like

I'll see what I can do - away this week though. What you looking for?

Don't know to be honest, but usually rusty old cars have some parts that are in good condition that other cars might not have.

[Jared Mk3]

Hey man, can you PM me some photos of the rusty 1275E? It may have some bits that I would like

I'll see what I can do - away this week though. What you looking for?

Don't know to be honest, but usually rusty old cars have some parts that are in good condition that other cars might not have.

Just let me know what sort of things you're after and I can have a look.

[Willy]

Jared

What finishing strip are you going to put on the edge of the arches.

[Jared Mk3]

Jared

What finishing strip are you going to put on the edge of the arches.

I was going to use a chrome one, but the one I have is next to useless and I don't know if I like it or not. I'll probably end up using a rubber strip in the end.

[DomMINIque]

I read your thread on the old forum so just scroll through to check any comments.

I saw this and thought you'd lost your mind! 

Luckily not.

[Jared Mk3]

I read your thread on the old forum so just scroll through to check any comments.

I saw this and thought you'd lost your mind! 

Luckily not.

Never fear - I definitely would not go down that road! 

[Jared Mk3]

Made a start on the steering column today. Wet sanded with 2000 and then cut and polished. I don't want it to be perfect. I like that it has some scratches and chips on it - gives it that patina feel I suppose.
 
Clean on the left, dirty on the right :
 

 

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I didn't sand the steering wheel, I just cut and polished it. Came up really well, but the thought of getting it dirty now bothers me haha... 

Not the best picture, but the flash shows how clean it is now :

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Nowhere in town was I able to find a set of staggered fit amber globes for the indicators up front. They finally arrived this week and so I got them fitted up. Looks really neat I think :
 

 

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This is how I mounted the mirrors to the body, with a grommet :



And just because we were bored, mine and my brother's Clubby :

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I haven't exactly done all that much lately, but I decided to pull my finger out today and do something. When I started working, it was well over 30 degrees C outside. During that time I went over the pedalbox again and made sure everything was right and fitted the steering column bracket. I then started modifying the underdash tray and finished with this :
 

 
It promptly started pouring down after this, so I can't do much more at the moment. I still haven't glued the headlining in - have to wait for assistance with this part . . . Oh well.

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I managed to contort my poor arm into getting the dash tray to fit. This is the finished look :
 

 
You can't quite see it in that picture, but the heater pipe fits very tightly up against the tray and in the cut-out.
 
I also did something different to the norm and fitted the washer bottle here :
 

 
With the bottle out of the bracket, I'm able to get a compressor in for the spring, so I should be ok. All to try and save as much space as possible. 

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I cleaned and polished up the door step plates today (not the best picture, but they're clean!) :
 

 
And fitted them up :
 

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The rooflining is about 80% glued in. I don't think it looks too be bad at the moment, for someone who has never done something like this before :
 

 
I cut the front piece out roughly (it was getting dark). This will be neatened up later on.

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Well, at long last the rooflining is done! :
 

 
I fitted the interior light as well, along with the door rubbers, window rubbers and quarter windows. Both windscreens are in, but the locking strip will be put in tomorrow. I'm happy to say that there are almost no creases as well.
 
Both door scuff plates are now in as well :
 

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I hit a major milestone today. The windows are now in and the locking strips too :
 

 

 
And she now looks more like a car :
 

 
Just a shot of the two cars together :
 

 
My brother pointed something out to me today. The profile of my door handle is different to those used on the other internal hinge doors :
 

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I really like this view of the car, especially since it has the chrome around all windows :
 

 
Just the right amount of poke at the back :
 

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I decided to fit the door card before work, with all the handles and pocket. You can also see the rear view mirror in this picture :
 

 
With the door open :
 

 
I must say, even with the new door rubbers, it still closes with a confident 'clunk' and with the lightest of touch (my brother helped with this). 
 
And, just because I can and because there's lovely sunshine :
 

 

[Jared Mk3]

I did a little more today - put some covering on the wheel arches and put the card in :
 

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Well I was itching to see what the interior might look like, so I put the rear seat in :
 

 
It probably won't be liked by everyone, but I love it. Everything is all tied togther - white roof and headlining, grey carpets and white and grey seats. Perfect.
 
Also, before fitting the seat, I put the blanking plate back in. I sprayed the rear of it black (there was light blue overspray) and left the front section painted light blue. I did this to keep a piece of the car as I got it way back in 2007. It won't be seen, but I'll know it's there. I also used a white marker and signed my name and the year there as well.
 

 
Not the best pictures because of the sunset, but you can still see I suppose. Also placed a small order with Minispares for a couple things I need.

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I was really curious to see what the interior will look like with all the seats in :
 

 
I like it. Comfort and safety for the driver; the passengers will just have to deal with it

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I've been asked a couple times now as to what my dash area will look like. Well, I mocked things up today. The RHS unit will stick out quite far and face the driver directly. The LHS unit will be angled to allow the driver to reach anything a little bit easier. Like so :
 

 
I also put a small extinguisher in, in case I need it (touch wood I don't) :
 

 
Lastly, I put both seatbelts in. It's not the best picture, as it was getting dark, but really, it's only a seatbelt :
 

[Miniac]

I still want that accelerator pedal of yours.

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I also really love the little sticker bomb touches.