I have a pristine John Cooper Works I love. (picture) But it's so choice I only drive it on the good days. I want a junker I can drive any time and work on.
So
Tomorrow I am flying to CA to buy this lime green Mini. I will be gutting the int. Adding a full cage, two new seats, harnesses, and new gauges. Jack at 7 is building me a new 1380 short block. I have a alum. 7 port cross flow head with 4 port fuel injection coming from MED in England. I also have a straight cut 5 spd, 3.7, also coming from England.

I'll have the car home Wed and will start on the int. But the motor and tranny won't be here for a couple of months. I'm an old hot rodder from way back and have been itching to get greasy again, so hopefully this will be a fun project for me.

 

Well so much for the pictures. it won't let me attach them, even after I've named them. Any ideas?

 

Lets try this

 

Good luck, if you haven't driven a classic with straight gears, you might want to find someone that has one and go for a ride. The gearbox is really loud.

 

Thank you, I have been warned. But I was also told the standard gear box wouldn't hold up to the power.

 

Your JCW is _gorgeous!_

Enjoy the new project.

 

Thank you.

 

They both look Great, keep us updated on the progress. The Green Machine looks like its going to be a FUN Project for you!!

 

Hi..and as for sc/cr g/box there a great noise when you floor the accellerator........

 

You have a beautiful JCW. Can you post more pictures of your car inside, engine and suspension. I am putting together an MPI and I wanted to see other late models for guidance. Thank you

 

You bet,here's a couple more. I'll get more for you when I get home.

 

Mike and I flew down to LA yesterday, bought the green mini, then headed for home. The engine runs well but starts missing and back firing at high speeds. We found it will smooth out running with the choke out. We're about half way between LA and Sacramento. The fog got real bad. Couldn't hardly see. Then the clutch hyd line split, so no clutch. And the heater isn
t hooked up so no defrost. So we pulled off at a hyd inn for the night. As soon as the local Napa store opens we'll fix the clutch and be on out way. Next stop 7 enterprises.

Over all the car is solid, body rust free except one front fender around the head light, that will need some attention.

 

Made it home yesterday afternoon. I never realized CA. was so darn long. I'll post some pictures later today.

 

Well here's what I'm starting with.

 

And some more. Not the rust around the head light. This is the only rust on the car.

 

Some of my goodies going into this car
New suspension pieces and new drakes, with front disc brake conversion.

 

And some new body pieces.

 

I'm definitely jealous!

 

Interior is gutted and I started working on my new aluminum dash. The big hole in the center is for the new spedo I have coming. The three small holes are for three more toggle switches.

 

We got all of the old suspension stuff removed yesterday. We're having trouble with the big sub frame bolt on the passenger side. The welded nut in the body came loose so we can't unscrew the bolt. So we spent a half a day cutting and grinding and it's still not out.

 

We got the new brakes and drums on the rear, just waiting for the shocks.

 

Looks great! Keep us posted, this is fun.

 

All suspension work is done. Got the shocks today and installed the rear caster/camber adjusters.

 

Here's some front suspension pics with my new disc brakes,

 

Here is is sitting on the ground. I wanted it as low as possible. It's pretty low. We also installed solid body mounts, all new Zerk Fittings, and all new bushings everywhere.
Tomorrow I start working on my new fuel tank and drop the roll bar off at the painters.