I'm just getting the bug back.....
Discussion
so i rebuilt a 71 cooper about 6 years ago, since sold, but not forgotten.... I am in the near future going to be given a larger amount of garage space.... can you see whats coming!!??? 
I want to build my self another mini, nothing special, not worried about make spec or trim as its all going to be as i want it. What and where is the best place to get a rust free rolling shell? Ideally it will have an engine so i can PX it, but other then that i am only interested in the lack of rust.
I have seen new shells for about 4.5k but i cannot help thinking i would be better picking up an incomplete project. What would be a good price for a rust free shell? 1k?
I bought this months Mini Mag and i was surprised at the cheapness of parts! but not many shells in the free ads..... Also how much would a pre tax vin plate be if i wanted to have a tax exempt motor... (i know this is dodgy, so might buy a crapper and parts swap....
)
The impitus for this is i have just very generously been given an arden 8 port head...... I'm thinking 1330, 8 port head, 5 speed box, LSD, half roll cage, matt black paint and some 10" Revos.
Your comments please ladys and gents....
oh and 5k is the limit for complete build.
I want to build my self another mini, nothing special, not worried about make spec or trim as its all going to be as i want it. What and where is the best place to get a rust free rolling shell? Ideally it will have an engine so i can PX it, but other then that i am only interested in the lack of rust.
I have seen new shells for about 4.5k but i cannot help thinking i would be better picking up an incomplete project. What would be a good price for a rust free shell? 1k?
I bought this months Mini Mag and i was surprised at the cheapness of parts! but not many shells in the free ads..... Also how much would a pre tax vin plate be if i wanted to have a tax exempt motor... (i know this is dodgy, so might buy a crapper and parts swap....
)The impitus for this is i have just very generously been given an arden 8 port head...... I'm thinking 1330, 8 port head, 5 speed box, LSD, half roll cage, matt black paint and some 10" Revos.
Your comments please ladys and gents....
oh and 5k is the limit for complete build.
Edited by GingerWizard on Friday 2nd April 10:26
tangent police said:
Sell the Arden and do a 1380 with a BMW head.
If you're doing a Mk1, keep the arden.
Full cage rather than half.
I was thinking, road rat/sleeper with old school mini power..... (thats what i am thinking at the moment) I remember only ever seeing one other mini with an arden head, running amal carbs off a bike. (needed priming apprently) it was a miniworld feature blue and burgendy i think! What sort of power is expected with these heads? 130bhp? I was going to rollcage the front, not rear... If you're doing a Mk1, keep the arden.
Full cage rather than half.
ginger
if your budget is 5 grand for the whole car there is no way you will be able to include the build an 8 port motor in that.
id be tempted to either sell the head for a bit more project fund, or sit on it until later.
8 ports are fairly complicated and there is a lot of other expensive stuff that needs to be bought to make them run well and produce good power/torque.
as a rule of thumb i would say that to build an 8 port motor and box inc ancillaries will cost about ten grand.
if its a second hand head and you want to use it you will need to budget to have it tested and machined - check the cc of the combustion chambers as a lot have been skimmed to scrap - fine if your running them on a 970/1071 - but too small if you want to use them on a big boy.
dont forget that you will need s rods, special cam, manifolds etc etc!
if i was building a car with your budget is stick the money in the suspension and big a cheap torqey 1275 - then save up for a bigger engine.
if your budget is 5 grand for the whole car there is no way you will be able to include the build an 8 port motor in that.
id be tempted to either sell the head for a bit more project fund, or sit on it until later.
8 ports are fairly complicated and there is a lot of other expensive stuff that needs to be bought to make them run well and produce good power/torque.
as a rule of thumb i would say that to build an 8 port motor and box inc ancillaries will cost about ten grand.
if its a second hand head and you want to use it you will need to budget to have it tested and machined - check the cc of the combustion chambers as a lot have been skimmed to scrap - fine if your running them on a 970/1071 - but too small if you want to use them on a big boy.
dont forget that you will need s rods, special cam, manifolds etc etc!
if i was building a car with your budget is stick the money in the suspension and big a cheap torqey 1275 - then save up for a bigger engine.
Well i have been doing a bit more research and the Arden 8 port is as you say, pretty hard to run successfully. I have not seen it yet as it is in the north of the country, but i think i might be tempeted to sell it as you mentioned.
I have been scouring the free ads and i have seen a few rolling shells with all the metal fabrication done for about 1500 notes. As welding is not my strongest point, it is likely to be the most expensive thing i need to do to the shell. The rest of the car i am planning on building with various parts i already own (lsd, RH fuel tank, Paddy hopkirk sump and gear selector guard)
On my last car i built the engine from scratch with pretty impressive results. (i'm not going to give figures as i got ripped last time i mentioned it!) This time i think i am going to do the head work my self. I have read and re-read Vizards book about 5 or 6 times now over the years so fancy doing all the porting my self. As for the engine i am thinking something like this
1330
Custom Head
Custom Plenium chamber
276 Kent Cam
1:5 roller rockers (double sprung rinspeed valves/bronze guides)
1 3/4" SU or 28/36 Webber
3-1 Longman Mani
2.5" Play mini center exit SS exhaust
Helical drops and box (do'nt like whining!)
Quaiff LSD (already owned!)
Uprated fuel pump
Center oil pick up
Uprated Electric fan
3 Engine breathers (always been a great believer in them!)
The engine internals are all going to be standard fast road kit stuff. No forged pistons or 4 bolt center mains, carbon push rods and a like.
Now i just need to find a shell i am happy with....... might as well go and look at ebay...
Your thoughts?
I have been scouring the free ads and i have seen a few rolling shells with all the metal fabrication done for about 1500 notes. As welding is not my strongest point, it is likely to be the most expensive thing i need to do to the shell. The rest of the car i am planning on building with various parts i already own (lsd, RH fuel tank, Paddy hopkirk sump and gear selector guard)
On my last car i built the engine from scratch with pretty impressive results. (i'm not going to give figures as i got ripped last time i mentioned it!) This time i think i am going to do the head work my self. I have read and re-read Vizards book about 5 or 6 times now over the years so fancy doing all the porting my self. As for the engine i am thinking something like this
1330
Custom Head
Custom Plenium chamber
276 Kent Cam
1:5 roller rockers (double sprung rinspeed valves/bronze guides)
1 3/4" SU or 28/36 Webber
3-1 Longman Mani
2.5" Play mini center exit SS exhaust
Helical drops and box (do'nt like whining!)
Quaiff LSD (already owned!)
Uprated fuel pump
Center oil pick up
Uprated Electric fan
3 Engine breathers (always been a great believer in them!)
The engine internals are all going to be standard fast road kit stuff. No forged pistons or 4 bolt center mains, carbon push rods and a like.
Now i just need to find a shell i am happy with....... might as well go and look at ebay...
Your thoughts?
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