My new project - 1975 Mini Pickup

[Richard1]

It's been a while since I had much to post. I spent 10 days in Tarija this month and a lot of it at the body shop nudging him along, as well as taking the padded dash to one of my upholsterers for re-covering.

It had taken a lot longer than anticipated to get the engine in, as I discovered that the sub-frame they sent with the clip was not the right one for this engine/trans setup, so I had to find someone with another mini with the right sub-frame, take the measurements and modify mine to receive the engine.

I took a set of new seatbelts off the back area of a new delivery van I bought, and we adapted them to the side walls of the cabin.

Padded dash before and after

Saturday, after I left, my body guy sent me pictures of the painted (but not yet polished) pickup.

He should be polishing today or tomorrow, and I'll go back to start assembling things.

 

[obi_waynne]

Thanks for the update, you'll get there keep up the good work!

 

[T9 man]

Hi Richard, it has been a long time buddy and I can see why

 

[Richard1]

I got away for a few days to start on assembly. Body guy had not yet finished some of the detail or polished the painted body, but I took my parts and tools to his shop and started with installations.

With my pressure he finally painted the interior of the bed

Since I'm putting power disc brakes on it, and the booster has to go on the right hand side, I adapted a second pedal support and actuating rod to go from left to right.

Also had to fabricate some brackets to hold the radiator and alternator.

Put in the brake lines adapting the metric booster and valves to the English threaded lines, calipers, and cylinders.

Finally made the adapter plate for the in-tank fuel pump.

I'm going back in about 10 days, and this time hope to finish.

 

[obi_waynne]

I wish you all the best with it, thanks for the update - very detailed and informative as always.

 

[old-git]

Nice work, especially all the fabrication. A man after my own heart.

 

[T9 man]

 

[Richard1]

Several delays and time restraints, but I've come close. Since this is a jigsaw puzzle of 1975 rear, 1991 front, and 1993 SPI engine, some things did not fit easily. But most has been overcome.

First, the gas tank cleaned, patched, and adapted to the in-tank pump

I also fabricated stainless license plate brackets and light on the tailgate, and finally finished the paint, which allowed me to get it out of the body shop and home where I polished it with Meguiar's Ultimate and began the wiring, exhaust, and interior.

As with the Corvair, I went with LED lighting

And covered the floor and roof with Fatmat

Ran out of time, so I still need to make the carpet and put the headliner in (materials purchased), so this is how it stands today.

The wiring has caused a lot of problems. It was relatively easy to make a rear wiring harness and thread it up through the cabin and bed, but I was missing the control module for the computer, and once I got it from the UK, I found that there are different wiring versions for the SPI engines. I called a friend and we think we have that understood now. It does run if i dribble gasoline into the injector body, so all is good from there.

 

[T9 man]

I can't believe how much this project has come on since the autumn last year Richard, you must be so pleased with your efforts, the whole thing looks fantastic

 

[Richard1]

I got the engine running fine after getting a control module from the UK, but the transmission refused to work, spitting out oil instead, so I had to pull the powerpack again and disassemble. finally found the problem in the forward clutch pack, where the pressure plate was broken.

I found a machine shop in the UK that makes them, so now I'm waiting on them to send me the forward clutch assembly.

While I had the power pack out I made a couple more modifications to the chassis o make it easier to install the engine, repainted it and installed springs instead of the rubber cones.

 

[T9 man]

It's looking ruddy marvellous Richard, cannot wait for those photos with you driving that beauty

 

[Richard1]

Somehow I managed to end up with this in two separate threads, so the finished part is here: http://www.torquecars.com/forums/threads/my-custom-mini-pickup.35881/#post-296396

The pickup is a dream to drive (as long as there is nothing in the road taller than 9 cm).
I taught my 10 year old grandson and granddaughter to drive it on their last visit.