The Phoenix - The GP Roadster Project

Discussion in 'Car Builds, Projects, Idea's Experiments' started by BlimeyCabrio, Jun 24, 2014.

  1. TheModFather

    TheModFather Well-Known Member

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    On most of the 02 cars I have seen the cable isnt there, but the release has the lever the cable attaches to.
     
  2. cct1

    cct1 Well-Known Member
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    I'm reasonably sure it's not on the GP. It was a six ounce weight saving measure.
     
  3. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    #243 BlimeyCabrio, Mar 16, 2015
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2015
    I'm reasonably sure it isn't either. Where the rear seat would normally be, there is a rube-goldberg seat delete design that uses a large black styrofoam section with two compartments (where the jack block extensions live!), covered by the carpeted cover. The release would normally be located under where this styrofoam bin is... but it is held captive by the GP side panels. So you have to remove the side panels (effectively strip the rear of the car) to move that styrofoam... to see if there is a release under there.

    I can't see any evidence of the cable that would route to there. So I'm pretty confident they left it out. Safety standards only make the hatch release a requirement if there is a back seat, or if the "trunk" is physically separated from the "passenger compartment", or something like that.
     
  4. UKCoopeR

    UKCoopeR Active Member

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    Very cool project, good luck! I will be following along and living vicariously through your adventure!
     
  5. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    You can cut styrofoam with a razor blade and find out really quickly. :lol:

    Oh and I hope you also swap over the ECU & BCM with at GP speedo and don't forget the key/ ing switch so the immobilizer does not lock you out from starting your car.
     
  6. TheModFather

    TheModFather Well-Known Member

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    You have to crawl all the way through the car to the hatch, and pull the hard plastic cover up that covers the actual latch mechanisim. (Not the hatch side, but the body shell) On the inside of that latch is a tiny lever that a barrel nut and cable attach to... (Its on the passenger side rear of the latch) If you trip that with a screwdriver, the hatch will open.

    The latch itself was used on all the R50/53 hatchbacks (not cabrio's) and is the exact same on all of them. Most of the 02's just dont have the cable because it wasnt yet required, even though all the bracketry is there, and the latch has the relese lever for the cable.
    The GP may not have some of the brackets (Because assembled in Italy) but I doubt they chanded the latch. ;)
     
  7. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    Stupid question but I have closed my hatch with the battery disconnected, dumb! So I hooked up a battery using the + bolt under the hood and opened it. Is it too damaged for this to work?
     
  8. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    That would have probably worked. But so did charging the battery. It's been open for 2 days now. :)
    And catch is off, so will never be a problem again.
     
  9. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    That's the plan. All that will happen 3/27-3/28 if we stay on schedule.
     
  10. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    So I think everything is off the GP that I need right now.

    Got the garage cleaned up and shoved the GP carcass into the back corner, to make room for the cabrio. Got all my parts organized. Everything that I need is either on the engine, or in a big box. Everything that can wait til later got shoved in or on the carcass before I rolled it out of the way.

    [​IMG]

    All the donor parts, and some new parts. The rest of the new parts are coming in the next several days.

    [​IMG]

    I thought I was going to rebuild these axles, but just discovered that one of the tripod bearing assemblies is toast. Ordered a pair of remanufactured axles instead, will return the boot kits I bought for this set.
     
  11. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    Joked with the wife that I could probably fit three MINIs in this garage, on dollies like this.

    She was not amused.
     
  12. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    Great day today. Took Blimey out for his last run as an automatic, and hammered in 3rd gear for about an hour. Then brought him home, and backed him in next to the donor, to begin the transplant.
    [​IMG]

    Decided to start with the brain transplant, since that's the part I was the iffiest about. Installed the GP's ECU, EWS, cluster, ignition cylinder and key... and started right up! Ran like crap because the tune is all wrong for the engine that's in there... but it ran. Which is a great sign. And I successfully reinitialized the GP key to lock and unlock with the remote. Win.

    Reinstalled the dash, this time for good.
    [​IMG]

    Re-learned how to use my remote tuning tool, and downloaded the ECU. Emailed off to Jan for tuning magic.
    [​IMG]

    Pulled out the parcel shelf, and a rat's nest of cables fell out. Eight years of electrical mods. Time to unravel and uninstall some of that (GPS, radar detector remotes, laser jammer, CB radio... ).
     
  13. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    I am really enjoying this thread.
     
  14. cct1

    cct1 Well-Known Member
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    Dash is looking good. And yeah, this is a kick-butt thread!
     
  15. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    When you are done with the motor and everything else you should pait it Thunder Blue. :idea:
     
  16. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    #256 BlimeyCabrio, Mar 21, 2015
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2015
    That is, in fact, the plan. With appropriate skirts, bumpers, wheels, interior, trim, decals... It's going to be a complete and epic 2006 GP Roadster. Except with better seats. Will debut in that form at MOTD 2016... the 10th anniversary of the GP.
     
  17. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    #257 BlimeyCabrio, Mar 22, 2015
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2015
    Spent most of the day unraveling eight years worth of electrical mods. Lots is stuff I don't need anymore was inhabiting the space under my dash, my cowls, my engine bay, my bonnet, and anywhere else I could shove something...

    Much better now. Did manage to finish getting the EWS unit swapped, and got the pedals out while I was under there.

    It's mostly about this, really.
    [​IMG]

    Finally got Blimey jacked up and started tearing into the front end. Shed the bumper and wheel wells, intake, IC, and most of the engine harness. Unbolted header and drained coolant. Should be able to get the engine out tomorrow.
    [​IMG]
     
  18. Kenny kustom

    Kenny kustom New Member

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    BlimeyCabrio 2.0 - The GP Roadster Project

    So, why not just do a jcw tune to the cabrio?

    ( not being a smarty pants... Just wondering. )
     
  19. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    #259 BlimeyCabrio, Mar 22, 2015
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2015
    1) the GP has special software beyond straight JCW software. Only available on GP ECU's. Even if you're getting a custom tune on top of this, the GP software is the best 1st gen Mini foundation to start from.
    2) the GP engine has half the miles of my old engine
    3) the GP engine has a JCW head on it. Which I'll eventually upgrade to a BVH
    4) this is now as much about saving the "soul" of GP0769 as anything else. Think of it as doing a "chassis swap" on 0769, more than just doing an "engine swap" on Blimey
     
  20. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    #260 MCS02, Mar 22, 2015
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2015
    You bring honor to your endeavor. The lost GP's cray out from their grave in joy for there fallen brother who's soul will rise agin as a GP Roadster. At night you can hear the song of their supper chargers in the wind. It is sung to bring you strength. So once agin their brother song will echo through the Dragon. :D
     

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