1991 Mini - Project Trig

[Mini 360]

Another weekend, another show down. Fraserburgh Vintage Vehicle Fair this time. Ignore the vintage bit, there were 11 plate Focus RSs there......

Met up with Alex and Chelsea and headed to our convoy start at the cock and Bull Pub



Foggy this morning but it burnt off pretty quick



And picked up a few more at Tesco Fraserburgh before we headed in together to make our stand.



I was on the corner of the pitch so got the banner.



And I got to work cleaning for the show and shine



I didn't win anything (an externally restored purple Mini won best Mini instead) but we did win the club stand shield. Rare victory when the RS Owners club name is all over it from previous years!



Again, no issues for me which is always a bonus. Home tired and burnt to a crisp but a good day out.

[Mini 360]

Well I took this photo the other weekend since the sun was out but on closer inspection at Fraserburgh the paint was covered in swirl marks from poor wash technique and quick detailer to remove muck at shows.



So Greig popped out to help me get rid of around 90% of the swirl marks. Taped up and ready to go





Greig takes polishing VERY seriously



Mirror shine



And a pic of the boot. Just because.



Thanks to Greig for the help. Halved the time it took to do the car and its now ready for Tain on Sunday (after a few coats of wax that is).

[Rally]

Your paint is just insane. I'm beyond jealous. I love your car.

[Mini 360]

Thanks a lot dude! I'm paranoid about keeping it this way, especially since its been painted so many times now.....

[P78]

i like that butt, and i can not lie


since this car is pretty much done..


start on the van

[Mini 360]

i like that butt, and i can not lie


since this car is pretty much done..


start on the van

: Like your thinking but the van is my dads retirement 'project' (read, tidy up and enjoy, weekend toy) We are both going to a show in them this weekend though

I would do the van totally differently to him but its not my place to tell him what he can/cannot do to it

[Mini 360]

Also, I'm having naughty thoughts about 10" splits at the moment......but the cost of parts to do it scares me!

[Mini 360]

Tain was on Sunday and sadly it wasn't as sunny as last years with rain most of the day. Still a decent turnout though!

Joined up with AMOC and IMOG in Inverness to roll into the show together.



Car was looking remarkably clean given the weather on the way up the road.



Arrived and given it was so wet, the car looked fine, so I didn't bother cleaning it.



However I still won second place in the Custom Car class. I won last year but this year I was defeated by a Westfield running a Mazda MX5 engine. Not too many custom bits on it that i could see but hey ho still got a trophy!





Just shy of 250 miles done with no issues at all. Think these long distance shows are giving me faith in the long trip to Kent in July. Next up, Glamis Extravaganza at Glamis Castle in a couple of weeks time

[Mini 360]

Not much to report. Could have gone to Glamis show today but I really couldnt be bothered. So instead I replaced a wheel bearing on the passenger front. Wide wheels on these things really dont help the bearings last......

'Gentle persuasion bar' for the hub nut



Dirty old knackered things



And MINI put a link of their article onto their Facebook page. It proved rather popular :lol:






Next up, the long long trip to Kent for the IMM2014. Cant wait for that!

After that, who knows. Don't know if I want to take it off the road after that or not. Not feeling the love for it at the moment as its not in a condition Im really happy with. Engine bay and running gear are an absolute state and need a lot of work to look right again. Arsed!

[Mini 360]

My heater wasnt heating and I had a couple of minor exhaust leaks. Managed to fix both issues





Then gave it a wash down ready for minor paint correction and waxing tomorrow before the 600 mile trip to IMM in Kent on Wednesday.



Tucked up, ready to go



Then had impure thoughts about splits.......

[Mini 360]

Brace yourselves for another large update post!

So after going to the International Mini Meet in Birmingham in 2009, I naturally wanted to go back in 2014 when it returned to the UK, in Maidstone, Kent. 615miles away :lol:

The car didn't really need much prep work to get it into shape, just a machine polish to rid most of the swirl marks and the heater actually heating the car. With a quick coat of wax applied by Katie, it was ready to go!





9.30am start at ASDA Portlethen with the rest of the Aberdeen Mini Owners Club who were convoying down with me. Dave in his MPi 'Red Dwarf', Gavin and ben in their Japanese 998cc, Chris in 'Skippy' the Australian import Clubman (awesome car with lots of subtle differences to UK spec), me in trig and Scott in his mid 90s Jap import Mini tartan (complete with air con and green tartan interior). Gary turned up before we left in his mint condition 1275GT in Damask Red too!



Various stops on our way to an overnight stop in Northwich, (somewhere in Englandshire Im told) Skippy was burning oil, so Chris was a busy man topping it up regularly.





Still looked tidyafter a few hundred miles in roasting heat and bug splatter.



...so it was straight to the pub next to the Travelodge for a free pint!



Up early the next morning to get down to Kent. More fuel stops en route....





and eventually we arrived in Kent, to find a massive queue to get in. So we took out our camping chairs and shared stories with friends and new faces whilst we waited to gain entry.







By the time we got in it was nearly dark..... in the end it took 3 and a half hours from arrival to entry. Bad planning on behalf of the Southern Mini Owners Club.





And heres a few pics of the car at the show. Most from my phone as I stupidly didn't take any pics of it on my camera. Hopefully someone else has and I find some pics online soon.



Dave from the Club was dressed as Mighty Mouse for the entire day on Saturday. Kinda gutted Aaron didnt get a pic without him in it to be honest.



Then as a form of revenge for Trig farting black, watery soot (after a night of heavy rain meant my exhausts filled with water...) onto Nicol's nice and clean cream shorts, he put bits of duct tape thread onto the car to look like scratches. And yes, I did fall for it and yes, it was bloody funny.



Thats the only pics of the IMM itself I took (I spent most of my time taking video and drinking into the small hours of the morning) but there are a few from the route back. Exiting the site was a nightmare, as the dual carriageway was shut due to an accident, so we were sent down a tiny single lane country road. Jams ahoy!







Somewhere in deepest darkest England...



I learned as we were near the Dartford tunnel (The Dartford tunnel was epic. Down to 10mph, up to 40mph, pop pop pop on the over-run galore ) that truckers hold no respect whatsoever for small cars, so I bailed on the convoy for fear of getting wiped out and arrived an hour ahead of everyone else at our overnight stop at Lancaster. It helps on the motorways to have a relatively powerful and torquey 1275cc engine when compared to the 998cc cars.



Up early the next morning for the final stretch home and grabbed a pic as we crossed the border.



....and finally I got home after a total of 1276 miles, in uncomfortable bucket seats, with solid suspension and barely any sound proofing. A great trip and it was done without a single fault with the car. Cant say much better than that!



Next up, we have Cleanfest at Fife Airport where I've got a prestigious hanger spot. After that its time to take it off the road and get that engine and box seen to.....thats all folks!

[E30Cavey]

Also, I'm having naughty thoughts about 10" splits at the moment......but the cost of parts to do it scares me!

Do it! 10's FTW, the cost is a big factor, been wanting to get Force racing wheels for ages but can't seem to justify the cost of it all! Awesome work on the rest of it though

[Mini 360]

Do it! 10's FTW, the cost is a big factor, been wanting to get Force racing wheels for ages but can't seem to justify the cost of it all! Awesome work on the rest of it though

Thanks dude! Looking at £1500 quid all in to change which is £1500 towards a much needed house deposit....so its a distant dream im afraid!

[Z33_Taxi]

Jut read through the whole thread. Amazing job. When that pole hit you, I head my breath....but then everything turned out for the better

[Mini 360]

Possibly an update, possibly not. All depends on if this makes it onto the car or ends up in the bin :lol:

Always wanted a carbon fibre steering column cowl to match my dashboard but unless you have a MK1, it isn't catered for and costs £300-350! So I thought I would give carbon skinning a bash! For those not in the know, its applying a layer of REAL carbon fibre onto the part, bonded and cover in layers of clear resin to replicate a full carbon part. Many many many times nicer and classier than the carbon vinyl/carbon dipping available (both look absolutely hideous and nothing like the real deal). Still not cheap but results are worth it.

Heres the cowl....(painted it cranberry red and quicksilver years back but it never made it to the car as I changed my mind on it)



Two pieces, pretty smooth curves thankfully



but the key recess scares me a bit! Lots of contours to battle.



Heres the carbon. Don't get much in the starter kit but not too pricey to buy separately.



Will keep this up to date as I go

And no, I won't be using the car this year as previously stated. House deposit is more important these days