RSP Cooper 1.6 8v conversion

[big_jim]

Hello guys, Iv been building this for approx 6 weeks now and thought it was about time I started a project thread....

I bought the car in March and planned for it to be a cheap track toy, with the potential to develop at some point...

I took it to my local mini specialist to have it MOT'd and rolling road set up with the A series in it.

This is when I found out the gearbox was shot at....

So I removed the engine, sourced a low mileage gearbox replacement and never got round to sorting it before I found this site and the Vauxhall conversion, lol.

I also found out it is an ex hill climb car...

I bought a 2nd hand Allspeed frame, a pedal box and an E16se engine for the conversion....

I know pictures speak a thousand words so here it goes....

when I bought the car

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/mini021.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/mini023.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/mini024.jpg

Fibreglass bonnet and Miglia arches

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0017-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0019-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0024.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0025.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0034.jpg

Moved to its stripping and rebuilding space

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0115.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0116.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0117.jpg

Engine out

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0119.jpg

Seat in

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0122.jpg

Up in the air for stripping

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0124.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0125.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0128.jpg

Subframe off

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0129.jpg

New frame

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0135.jpg

Pedal box

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0137.jpg

Engine

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0139.jpg

Front very carefully removed so it can be re mounted

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0167.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0168.jpg

More pictures to come once uploaded

Jim

[big_jim]

Here we go again, this update will bring us up to where I have got to today,....

Top arms refurbished

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0192.jpg

Calipers refurbished

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0196.jpg

Bulkhead box fitted

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0207.jpg

Inner arches tidied and painted

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0210.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0211.jpg

Suspension fitted

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0227.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0228.jpg

Frame fitted

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0229.jpg

Extra floor strenghtening

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/IMG_0231.jpg

Engine in on 2 mounts due to ripping a mount in half, oops....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/265515_10150242502659218_530309217_6994877_7615778 _o.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/266525_10150242499289218_530309217_6994839_1556545 _o.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/272856_10150242503969218_530309217_6994889_1837874 _o.jpg

New disks to aid stopping, allong with green stuff pads, braided hoses and dot 5 fluid

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/271504_10150245049749218_530309217_7025997_213455_ o.jpg

New engine mount fabricated due to this being a large block frame and me fitting a small block engine... Also incorperating alternator mounts...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/280985_10150245035159218_530309217_7025821_5437914 _o.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/272151_10150245040334218_530309217_7025870_8114449 _o.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/271821_10150245046064218_530309217_7025960_6963544 _o.jpg

Exhaust altering/fabrication started

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/278692_10150245047884218_530309217_7025991_8027645 _o.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/279126_10150246008509218_530309217_7032939_5206508 _o.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/279202_10150246010399218_530309217_7032948_6212274 _o.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/Big_jimbob/278224_10150246009564218_530309217_7032942_8387050 _o.jpg

What do you all think??

Thanks
Jim

[Owen]

Looking good dude. Mini looks a lot better with the Miglia arches on :) .

[cooper_mark]

looks like your making good progress...
also sent u a PM

[wee man]

Where's that frame from if you don't mind me asking

[big_jim]

PM'd about the frame....

[MattG]

just to confirm , thats not an allspeed frame , it looks like one . but its not.

good luck with build

Matt

[big_jim]

Apologies guys, iv just been reading through my messages to the guy I bought the frame off and it is an allspeed copy frame not a genuine one. Was gonna comment on the amazing quality of the frame.

It has been fun making the mount to fit the small block engine in to a large block frame.

Today I have painted the engine mount/alternator bracket and fitted the alternator.

I now need to re jiggle the engine to the correct postiton and tighten all the mounts to keep it there.

[Oz]

I'd also be surprised if its a genuine RSP - RSP's had a sunroof and the Inner Wing fan set up is from a later car. I'd say its a mainstream Cooper

[big_jim]

It was a hill climb car in an earlier life which was rolled in the mid 90's by a guy called Dennis Cope, I have a pic somewhere of it competing.

The car was re-shelled in approx '97 into a later shell.

I will go find the photo....

[big_jim]

Here she is, the doors still had a feint outline of the stickers that this pic shows....

Allong with "Driver Dennis Cope"

http://www.harewoodhill.com/gallery/galleryImage.asp?ID=5199&setYear=0

I only bought it as it was so so solid! and it still has the MSA scroutineered cage....

OH and the shell is the most solid one I have ever seen (I worked at the local Mini specialist for 4 years!)

Jim

[dig-mini]

looks good making good time keep the speed up.