2000 Rover Mini Cooper Sport Restoration Page

Chapter 3 - August to October 2014

A few more months into the project, and progress continues to be made. During the late summer and early Autumn the complete replacement of the rear subframe and renewal of all the running gear that fits to the subframe has been replaced.

I was lucky enough to find a 2nd hand reinforced Subframe for a Sports Pack for £100 (instead of the usual new price of £360+). In addition to this, I also managed to pick up a couple of refurbished radius arms, complete with hubs and renewed brake components for £220. Miscellaneous parts were purchased to get all the other nuts, bolts and washers required to complete the build of the new subframe.

So, with the new subframe parts to build, I then set about removing the old one, a job made easier by my previous work replacing the 8 subframe mounting bolts with new ones from Smiffy's bits. So the exhaust was removed (will re-use as in good condition), all the brake and fuel pipes disconnected, and the battery positive lead removed. The fuel filter and adjoining pipes were completely corroded and could not be separated, so new pipes, filter and filter housing were required. The positive battery cable had been previously repaired with a crude connector found under the car! This actually made life easy for the subframe removal as I did not have to remove the whole cable, just the bit from the joint to the battery. A replacement cable was obtained from ebay for £10.

With all the bits in the way now removed, the subframe was unbolted and lowered with the help of a pair of trolley jacks. The full state of corrosion and damage to the frame can be seen below. Once the old subframe was off the car, I further dismantled it down to bare bones. Some minor parts, like brake pipes and the trumpets on the suspension were to be reused.

The area under the car was cleaned up, and the new subframe had the new radius arms and other parts assembled ready for mounting onto the car.

The fuel pipes, brake pipes and handbrake cable were all re-attached. The brakes were adjusted and the brake fluid renewed and bled. After a couple of months of being on axle stands, the car was reunited with its wheels and put back on the ground. The replacement battery to started motor cable was run in and connected up, and the exhaust remounted. The car was then fired up and moved under its own power

A couple of other jobs were also done - the makeshift horn has been replaced with an original and all the original wiring that had been bypassed was reinstated. The steering wheel 'coupler' behind the airbag was faulty which is why the horn was replaced with separate wiring and a button installed on the steering column cowling. This was all unnecessary - all the previous owners needed to have done was replace the coupler, takes 30 minutes. The bonnet was removed to help access the engine bay where some cleaning was also undertaken.

The seat mounts have been removed and sent off along with the top radiator mounting brackets to Smiffy's bits for sandblasting and powder coating. New cones and shocks await to be fitted to the front suspension, then other than some minor bits and pieces, it will be time to choose a body shop and get all the rot sorted. This will not likely be until the new year now, due to funds going on Xmas and other things.

 

A further update will follow in the new year !

So to round up this report, here are the things we have bought / spent money on:-

(Previous costs :- = £1259 + the cost of buying the car)

Costs from August to October

Subframe £100

Radius arms and brake gear £220

Additional miscellaneous parts for new subframe build £235

Air bag coupler (for horn) £15

Battery cable £10

Genuine Rover Mini horn £5

Genuine bonnet stripes, coach lines and Cooper Laurels £48

So this reports total spent = £633

Total so far = £1892 +cost of buying the car

Difficult to put a value on labour saved by the work done DIY so far.