Most liked posts in thread: The Phoenix - The GP Roadster Project

I'm starting a list, "signs you may be certifiably insane"...

* develops, but "recovers" from, strange obsession with Union Jacks
* attempts to rebuild own automatic transmission
* commits to convert automatic transmission MINI to manual, buys a totaled GP as a donor, on faith, sight unseen
* vows to build a car that never existed, but "should have" (MINI GP Roadster)
* buys a Clutchmasters clutch, knowing that they fail frequently
* puts a Chevy S-10 part on a MINI
* after flipping a convertible end over end and surviving, buys another convertible
* commits to complete body swap on a car, without a second thought
* owns three non-functional MINIs at the same time (if they were cats, would qualify for Crazy Cat Lady)
* vows to design and build a unique convertible top for a non-existent car
* buys RMW TVS kit (which isn't yet running on ANY car) for a car that is in pieces
* spends hours sifting through Google image search results for "convertible top latch"
* contemplates using parts from old Impala, VW Thing, or VW Rabbit on MINI Cooper
* ... more to come

 

Nah, I mean I'm stripping all the trim off (mirrors, door handles, skirts, everything out of the engine bay, etc.).

I have time to do that stuff, might as well not pay the paint shop to do it.

But they're doing all the actual paint prep and painting.

It's a REALLY good shop that does all the Porsches and Ferraris and Maseratis and stuff around here. Best shop in the region, probably. But that also means their labor rates aren't cheap... so I'll do as much as I can to make the painting bill as low as possible.

 

I have a concept. That will be one of the last things I do, after it's running. So I can drive it to the top maker.

Will be a bikini top, similar to this, in black.


With a matching tonneau covering everything behind the main hoop, integrating with the OEM rear roof bow and the side trim.

 

That was my original plan, actually. But when I measured for it, looked like fitment might be an issue with the way my cage is built. So I dropped back to the convex race mirror. Which looks better, anyway.

 

Light day today. Had some other stuff to do, only spent about 3 hours, most of that doing clean-up duty. MUCH more organized now, sorted out some parts I won't need, tidied up. Wife is much happier. And I don't have to drag stuff around and move a wheelbarrow, every time I'm ready to work...



There's a mountain of parts in the other garage. Most of this stuff I won't need for a while, but there are a few things in the pile that will get used, eventually. And I'm going to need to use that press. So the pile will need to be re-assembled a few times.


Here's the mountain of boxes, waiting to go to the dump. Where's Waldo? There's something kinda valuable peeking out from under the pile...


And some junk and stuff.


A tale of Three Minis... A-panels from Blimey, GP0769, and the Locutus Mk2 shell. Plus Blimey's boot.


Not much progress. Played around with positioning for the battery cut-off for a while. Also cut and installed the rear bumper grills, to fit around the Mini Fini hitch. Note: pay attention to where your thumb is, when using a hole saw.



Still need to paint, cut and install the GP bumper trim. Thought I'd get to that today... but not yet. Did take time to do some surgery on my thumb nail. Much better, now I won't snag it on things.

 

Spent a couple hours sorting parts between my two garages, organizing all the stuff I need to finish and making another pile to go do the dump.

It's a lot of stuff...




Hopefully everything I need is either out of, on top of, or in front of this pile...


In the process, unearthed my strut bar, and decided it needed a repaint. So did that.


Found the lower seal for the boot hatch, got it installed.

Started hanging front suspension parts on, replaced a broken wheel speed sensor, connected brake lines. Still waiting on new ball joints to finish the suspension.


Pressed the mid-shaft bearing back onto the repaired right RMW axle, ready to install.

Fire sleeve came for the PS lines, got that installed tonight. Better.


Birthday present to myself... Camber/Caster gauge arrived. Still need the adapter for it, and my toe plates. Then will be able to do my own alignment stuff...

 

All explained above. We do not speak of it anymore.