OK, now here's some freaky *****... <cue Twilight Zone music> Last summer, I started "the Transmogrification of Blimey". At the time, I said that my vision was to build a "GP Roadster"... something like a cross between a first gen cabrio, and a 2006 JCW GP. Then, after the first track day in my mostly complete "GP Roadster", my automatic transmission dies. After 7 months of fighting with it, I decide last Sunday to convert to manual. I need a donor car. I figure out how to search auctions and come across what is one of probably only a couple of GPs to be salvage auctioned this year... and it's up for sale in three days. I get a wild hair and decide I must win this car, no matter what. I could use it to really convert my car into a GP, I think. I pay a ton to get the car. I win it on Wednesday. It will be here tomorrow. Earlier this week, after joking about it with my buddies, I registered the domain "GPRoadster.com" and directed it to the BlimeyCabrio.com blog. I haven't updated that blog since 2009, but figured I'd start updating it with my new project. The last entry? When I installed GP rear trim on Blimey, in 2009. Tonight, I decide to try to figure out which GP it is. You can't see the roof numbers in any of the photos I have. Coincidentally, the car was in Cleveland, where my Burning River buddies are. And they happen to know the former owner (who only had the car for three months). They put him in touch with me. I trade messages with him, get the GP# (GP0769) and also the contact info for the original owner. I call the original owner, who purchased the car new and owned it for 8 years. After 10 minutes on the phone, we realize something... About 4 years ago, I purchased a used OEM JCW exhaust on the marketplace here, and put it on Blimey. Blimey ran this exhaust for 3 years. Just took it off after MOTD last year when the mufflers finally failed, and put on the Miltek, as one of the first steps in the GP Roadster project. The guy I was talking to on the phone? He's the same guy who sold me the exhaust, 4 years ago. That's correct. You read that right. I ran the OEM exhaust off THIS SAME MINI GP for three years. Until I began the "GP Roadster" project, and took it off for a better exhaust. And now I'm going to use the rest of THAT SAME GP to complete the GP Roadster conversion of my cabrio. Oh yeah, and this. GP Steve had this GP posted for sale on MA back in October. In the sale thread, Chuck posted this: Fate. Saint John Cooper is steering this cosmic MINI from wherever he is.
That is pretty cool! I called that guy yesterday. He said the passenger seat was a total loss. Except for the seat sensor.
This GP has your name on it, reminds me of the Audi ad [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkaJfbbHgM0"]Audi Certified Pre-Owned TV Commercial - Bumper Sticker - YouTube[/ame] Good luck on the kangaroo driving for the first few miles.
So, this happened Stuff just got real. It's pretty much everything I hoped for. :biggrin5: On the outside, everything from the front wheels to the rear wheels is in nearly perfect condition. Skirts and underbody panels are intact. I can reuse all of the front bumper parts except the painted cover. Wing spoiler looks perfect. Wheels look perfect. Actually has a Milltek exhaust on it, bent just a little, but should be easily fixable. Interior is dirty, but in good condition. Luckily someone figured out how to get the windows closed. Drivers seat is broken and both seats are worn, so Chris may get his seat sensor. We'll see. Everything I need from the interior should be fine, though it may be a few weeks before I start putting any energy into interior work. Started the disassembly. Engine and transmission look fine so far, other than the normal front-of-engine leaks that haven't been fixed, and lots of broken plastic stuff that I wasn't counting on being intact (SC intake tube, JCW intake, snorkel, coil, etc. So far, so good. Fingers remain crossed.:fingerscrossed:
If I lived closer I'd be down in shot. I love stripping cars ...should have got a job in a chop shop LOL
FrankenGP: Weekend One Long weekend, I probably put in close to 20 hours on the car. Made much progress. I'll do a more detailed writeup on my blog in the next day or two - but here are some highlights: Most things on the front of the engine were pretty crushed, as expected. Casualties included: Radiator AC Condensor Alternator Intake Manifold SC Intake duct Snorkel JCW Airbox (sadly - cracked) Transmission mount Lower engine mount Bumper cover Alloy Bumper Fan assembly Valve Cover Coil Intercooler cover That's a lot, but only a few things in there I didn't expect, and none that are critical to my project. Broken valve cover was a bit of a bummer But I was able to salvage the important part. Surprised to see the intake manifold shattered, but no big deal. My other one is ported, anyway. Took most of a day to do "exploratory surgery" and get the broken stuff off. Charged the batteries (yes, it has two little ones) overnight, and this morning, LIFE! Enabled me to get the hatch open. Then I removed the catch so it wouldn't latch again. Pulled exhaust (a nice Milltek, already sold), brake calipers, underbody panels, GP side skirts, lots of trim, heat shields... I'll be re-using much of this stuff. Axles have seen better days, but I think I can recondition them. Finished removing engine. Easier after doing Blimey's previously. Started pulling out the dash, removed the shifter and cables. Only things I have left to do on this car before I can do the transplant, are remove pedals, clutch lines, key cylinder and other needed computer modules. Lots of prep work to do on the engine next weekend before it's ready to implant in the roadster. Needs a lot of cleanup, and installation of several things over from Blimey's current engine to replace broken and inferior parts. This looks like someone has a serious condition. But foreshadows things yet to come. First sacred piece of GP0769 transplanted on a new chassis. There will be many more.
Wow, ton of work there! Looks like fun though. All those parts laying around, for a split second there I thought it was Dick's garage.
By the way, I'm posting more stuff on GPRoadster.com Which also happens to be BlimeyCabrio.com Some repetition, but some content there that won't be here. You might want to follow it.
On my 02 the manual release is under the trim piece in the back. the one that runs under the hatch. update, I'm sorry its on the passenger side under the carpet and rear seat.