1275gt Rebuild And Vtec Conversion, Here we go!!

[declfc]

Ive had my 1979 1275GT for 12 years now and it was been rebuilt once 10 years ago but not a complete strip down and I have added various bits over the years, but it has never really been off the road for me to do a complete rebuild. Always loved it and it has been good to me, but it has come to the stage where the body work is getting a little bit rusty in places. I had two choices, sell it as it is, not sure how much i would get for it? or start again and do it properly now with all the knowlage I have gained over the years. Well ive had it 12 years so I couldnt sell it could I!! Im going to relace the engine with a honda vtec (im going to use the kit that watsons do.). Going to start on the body work first Strip down, sand blast, replace any rotten any body panels, Respary (black with white roof) Easy!!!!. Im going to keep a log of it on here and post the pics of the various stages, so feel free to add any comments and advice.

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Photo-0043.jpg
Thought it looked quite good here!

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Photo-0041.jpg
It begins.....

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Photo-0049.jpg
It dosnt take long to take it apart, hope it goes back together as quick!

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Mini4.jpg
My little helper,

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Mini6.jpg
Well it was never gonna win any concours but I thought engine bay looked quite nice.

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Mini7.jpg
Bye bye A-series!!!!

[declfc]

Engine is out!
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Mini8.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Photo-0062-1.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Photo-0068.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Photo-0071.jpg
Sold all this lot on ebay for a tidy sum!

[declfc]

Daddys little helper!

Youngest mini fan in England!?!
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/DSC00633.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/DSC00634.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/DSC00635.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/DSC00636-1.jpg

[declfc]

The more i take off the car the more rust i find!!!
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Photo-005c.jpg
A couple of sills in there!

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Photo-005d.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Photo-005e.jpg
Its falling apart!!!!

Not to worry I now have a brand new one of these!!!!!
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Photo-005b.jpg

Honestly, how bad does this look???? I think ive found all the bad bits now, basically, its the same the other side around this area, boot and rear valence and other ends of the sills by the rear arches. Oh and I have a little hole in the roof, passangers side front, by gutter hole. Not too sure wgat to do about this hole.

[declfc]

:D :D :D
Got my watsons kit now. Found it for sale on here. (bargin) I was a bit suprised at what the kit looked like when i got it but im in the process of cleaning up all the metro doner bits and replacing any critical bits. Not all done yet and gonna get some MGF/Metro gti discs and calipers but all good fun.

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Photo-0112.jpg
Built up the drive shafts. Cleaned up and pimered up ready fro spraying.

Oh and yes that is a Honda S2000 Speedo you see. Gonna have fun with that one!

[declfc]

Here is my engine B16A JDM 1994 170BHP!!!!!!!! Oh yeh!
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Photo-0114.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Photo-0115.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Photo-0116.jpg

I couldnt resist whipping the cam cover blasting it off and primering it up. Gonna be sprayed a nice shade of super fast VTEC red!!!!

Just need a gearbox now!!


.

[declfc]

I took the cover off my ECU (dont ask me why, I just take everything apart!!) I saw this sticker on the chip? Is this stadard or is this an upgrade?
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Photo-0110.jpg

[duck]

Looks like its got an aftermarket chip fitted, I'd be a bit cautious about it to be honest as it could have any map on it (9100rpm rev limit is to high for a std engine and 4400rpm is to low for VTEC to engage).

Is the chip soldered to the board or is it fitted into a socket ?

Good luck with the project, looks very interesting :D

[declfc]

Its fitted into a socket.

[declfc]

Ok, a little unsure about this now. Not sure what has been done to my engine! As you can see from the exhaust manifold that isnt a standard one and the chip isnt standard. Could be a good thing..... could be bad? Does anyone have any way of identifing if other bits have been upgarded cams ect? I guess im just gonna have to put it in as it is, then get it on the rolling road see what i have there. Its a B16A 94 Engine. I think im correct in saying that that was 170bhp standard?

[declfc]

Hi just to let you know im still going. Havnt done much lately as im building an extension on my house so my wife has said i have to trim my spending for a while! :?
So ive just been sourcing a few bits i needed and cleaning up and renewing a few bits ready for the rebuild.

Inlet manifold striped down, cleaned and re-built.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Photo-0005.jpg
Before
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn164/declfc2002/Photo-0013-1.jpg
After

[Mini_Filip]

fantastic!

how do you do that! Did you blast the inlet with glass beads?

[declfc]

We hve a high pressure de-greaser/steam cleaning chamber at work. Striped it down put it in there, it looked quite good after it came out of the cleaner but i wanted it better so i then then sparyed it with some aluminium coluored high temp engine paint. Replaced all the nuts and bolts with stainless ones. Oh and a bit of elbow gease (available at all good motor parts shops across the country!!!!)
Im happy with it. :)
I was gonna blast it but i was a bit worried about damaging sealing faces and stuff.

[captainjack15]

Wow looks great mate.

I can't wait to start getting mine together :)

Your manifold look fantastic mate :)

[Mini_Filip]

de-greaser is a great thing!

fantastic work! hats of :)

[tavis1]

Your little helper is priceless! I have one of those too!

[declfc]

Hi, everyone, just to let you all know im still here, havnt done anything to my mini for about 2 months now as ive been building an extension on my house. But the mini is going in for shot balsting soon so I can have a real good look at how badly rusted it is.

[gadget555]

|