Hey everyone. I'm a new member here. Was on Bimmerforums, e46fanatics, bimmerpost, and TahoeYukonForum for years under the same user name. Used to own a commercial shop that restored VW, Porsche, and BMWs from the mid 60s to mid 2000s. Got out of the car scene after some major life changes and selling my shop. About 10 years went by and my kids started growing up and they got interested in Minis - 1st Gen exclusively it seems - so I'm back at it. We have an '02 Cooper (total restomod project), an '03 Cooper S, and an '05 Cooper S all in various states of service and restoration at the moment, and it looks like probably two more might be in our not-too-distant future. Looking forward to learning all I can and maybe contributing where possible.

 

Welcome and welcome back ! Lots of good history on the cars here.

So resto mod - do tell. Any engine transplants

 

No immediate plan for an engine transplant on the '02 resto mod. It was a $500 purchase because the previous owner had already put two Midlands 5-spds in it and destroyed both and so I thought it was a good candidate for the Getrag 285 6-spd. Engine runs fine at 92k miles. So, the first thing will be a 6-spd swap with a Quaife LSD. If that goes well, I'll move on to a suspension and brake refurb, then a repaint, and then a total interior replacement. If I get through all of that, I might consider an engine upgrade from RMW or Detroit Tuned or Lohen or whatever, but it will stay normally aspirated. Of course, if the engine goes oil pan up at any point along the way, it gets moved to the top of the priority list.

 

welcome to the neighborhood. Pictures are highly recommended.

 

Sounds like a good adaptable plan !
Way might be your best source for the Quaife - I believe they told me once they are the NA source:

https://www.waymotorworks.com/quaife...ferential.html

I am torn between this of the Wavetrac for my build

 

Thanks, we do keep them in stock as they are really the best diff for the MINI and bulletproof.

 

Welcome to the forum - looking for more details and pics to follow...

 

I think both are good. I had the Quaife in my E46 M3 - zero complaints - way better than the viscous diff.

 

the '03 and the '05 R53s

the '02 project R50

 

I had a torsen in my 250 hp Miata ( turbo )
and have
Eaton Truetracs in my 400 hp Jeep (LS conversion ).

 

Jeep LS conversion - I’m jealous. I had an XJ I bought for that purpose but that plan died to make room for the Minis.

 

Looks nice ! Welcome aboard