Mini Mayfair Paddy Hopkirk rep

[Darragh]

Working flat out at this wee car between work and supra, finally got the bonnet finished, the original black was a vinyl and it looked terrible, was embarrassed looking at it, so painted it instead and the finish came out great, @Neil@rockvale sorted me for the letters to give it the finishing touch, now to make a decision to do four bonnet pins more updates shortly

 

[Darragh]

More DIY from stuff laying about the garage, done it in a way so trolley Jack, bar and breaker bar don’t slide about and make contact with the battery, plus looks better, it’s down a little to the left for a reason, when the wheels get refurbed they will have wider tyres so that’ll level it out, done that on purpose mE aN eNgINeeR

 

[Darragh]

One advantage to recovery work is rocking upto garages with a car to be fixed and buying stuff that’s kinda hard to find, 10”x5” from what I can make out they are genuine Wolfrace wheels, already sand blasted down and with a little prep painted, I’ll work on these the next few days, I primed one and it took very well

 

[Darragh]

While waiting on the welder freeing up time I’ve done more tidying, new gators over the steering rack and two brand new track rod ends, gearbox seal replaced at the gear change end, had a little carpet over so was gonna carpet the whole boot but thought this way looked better , painted the new wheels, changed the brand new tyres over and got new wheel nuts, the wheels won’t go on until the car is welded and everything is painted red , four new shocks is all I’ve to get for the car to be perfect and ready for mot.

 

[big_pete]

If you are dropping down to 10” wheels you might need to change the brakes too if it’s running 8.4” discs. Can convert them to 7.5 or 7.9 and they fit grand then

 

[Darragh]

@big_pete last owner already done the upgrade , in the sale he stuck in the bigger calipers with the rest of the spares that came with the car, only welding that needs done is the inner wheel arches behind the suspension mounts, not structural and I forced the holes if I didn’t touch them I’d have got a good few years before touching it

 

[Darragh]

Something tells me from the picture the four shocks are knackered , they compress down but don’t go back up, that would explain near loosing my fillings when driving, got the KYB self adjusters as the best of both worlds, was gonna get GAZ adjustable shocks but it’s not a track car so would be a waste,

Test fitted the Wolfrace wheels and sadly I’ll have to run the black wheel arches, I don’t mind I like minis with and without them

Once inner front wheel arches are welded I’ll have the front painted and built up ready for mot, can’t wait to drive it, Car is still in the air in last picture, sits a lot lower when on the ground.

 

[Darragh]

Quick update, welding all completed, didn’t need much, got the whole floor , sills and front arches painted the right color of red , new suspension mounts and bolts and car finally down with new wheels on, I’ll take it a drive tomorrow and get the suspension to settle, test fitting the wheel arches, I won’t stick them on until the car has had a full detail on the paint, slowly getting it perfect for the road

 

[southsky sunrise]

Needs the cooper rim’s banded for ascetics imo still a cool we car I’m just the wrong side of 17st to enjoy one

 

[Darragh]

@southsky sunrise they are in the shopping list the beauty of this car is I can change it around , I’ll be doing the same with the Supra, have plenty of options for what look to go with

 

[Tufty]

I was with Paddy Hopkirk Junior a few weeks and I showed him this he was chuffed that his dad's legacy still lives on.

 

[Darragh]

@Tufty so many people don’t know the history of Paddy Hopkirk, I’ve always known about him but then I am a rally man lol

 

[Rob]

That thing is class, brilliant project for daddy and daughter! The first run out for an ice cream in that will be a special day for you both.

 

[Darragh]

@Rob she will be wanting to drive it herself lol

 

[Tufty]

@Tufty so many people don’t know the history of Paddy Hopkirk, I’ve always known about him but then I am a rally man lol

You are correct not many do.

HIs son Paddy Junior works for McGard and has no interest in cars or rallying at all i find this weird due his Dad's history in the sport. However some of the stories he told me about his Dad were cool he achieved a lot in life.

 

[Darragh]

@Tufty I always seen his daddy at the NEC Motorsport show in Birmingham at the mcgard stall, I have been educating the people who don’t know who he is then the old people start educating me about him

Washed the truck today and brought the mini out for a bath considering it’s covered in isopon dust from me working on the supra bumpers, Autobrite Snow Foam cleans it up very well, sadly didn’t have time today to get started on the deep detail on the paintwork but it’s now clean and sitting well in the garage ( engine didn’t like the wash )

Ps drove over one arch and broke it in half, that’s the decision made to buy four new ones

 

[DJMCA]

Set of pressed plates or retro style would finish that off nicely, those are too modern imo

 

[Darragh]

It had pressed plates on when I bought it but one was broke in half and the other damaged taking it off, new plates are for mot as it’s a 1995 car and I’m not sure on the legality of them, I will get fresh ones made up around March next year

I also still have the headlamp covers with leather strap, I don’t want to be drilling anymore holes so getting thin magnets to hold them on, they were originally stuck on with double sided tape which wasn’t a nice finish

 

[DJMCA]

Ive pressed plates from ebay on my 03 daily and they MOT no bother. Just have to have BS stamps etc.

 

[Darragh]

Car is finally ready for mot, been working away over the last few months

Took the rear shelf out and re died the carpet, painted the speaker grills and it’s looking tidy at the minute

Replaced a few sensors around the engine to get it running right but it’s still over fueling so good chance it might need a lambda sensor, I’ll get it on a computer before I spend any more money,

Heater matrix decided to leak out its little pipes, two screws and matrix was in my hand, new connectors and she is good to go

Fuel filter used to be held on with a cable tie, it now has a fresh filter and a cool bracket, took the rear bumper off and rubbed it down then gave it fresh paint followed by loads of polish to hopefully stop any unwanted rust

Car runs and drives great, after driving over the old wheel arches I got new ones and took my time painting them with a heat gun to help, they turned out alright,

I’m in the process of fitting a AEM wideband guage that I have decorating my garage, once motd I’ll finally have it out to all the car shows

Took it a few local test drives and everytime I stop people are taking pictures, no harm but you can’t look cool at 5’ 9” in a mini lol I look like an idiot

Monte Carlo magnetic signs away to get replicated into sticker form so they don’t blow off

 

[Darragh]

Went to CC mini mechanic outside Moira to get it on a computer to see why it’s over fueling, said all sensors and everything is perfect and recommended taking the Pipercross filter off and going back to stock as it’s drawing too much air , temp repair with an election poster to restrict the air flow and straight away car runs perfect , spark plugs no longer black and car not conking out when coming to a stop, now on the hunt for a standard air box with K&N filter , even the exhaust has got louder and sounds unreal,

MOT time

Both the mini and evo are 1995, some difference

 

[carmad.]

your wee girl is gonna love being out in that

 

[Darragh]

@carmad. sadly can’t upload the wee handbrake video lol she is a proper westie when I done the big one at the end of the street, she shouted yeooooo

 

[gixermark]

that's a very cool project, and great in include the daughter.......... both my girls are slowly showing some interest in 4 wheels, and like yours.... enjoy the SIM too........ i'm tempted to get them a cheap toy to maybe start to explore on track in the next few months if i can get the time..

 

[Darragh]

@gixermark my wee girl is a proper princess who is slowly getting into cars ( she has no option as I have motorsport on all the time and never shut up about cars lol ) the day I lifted her from school she said she was super happy and was beaming the whole way home, the look on her face makes it worth it, I’ve already got her using the Milwaukee gun and started showing how to jack the car up and change the wheels, delighted she isn’t a tom boy but you can have a princess daughter than can fix her own car