I've not done much (any) actual work on Sydney for several weeks now, but that doesn't mean that no progress has been made. In fact I now have more bits of Mini than I had before. After the last round of work I discovered that the front subframe from the old shell will not fit on the new shell due to a difference in age of about ten years. This led me to search for a new(er) front subframe. ebay came up trumps again and I found a front subframe for something like £75 in Horsham. As a 'bonus' it came with a free engine and gearbox and all the front suspension. As the auction progressed the seller decided to throw in a rear subframe with all the rear suspension too. Anyhoo, I won the auction and then panicked about how to get it home. I called my Dad and twisted Johnathan's arm into helping too, and on a very cold Monday evening a few weeks back we went to Horsham to collect. Getting it on the van was relatively easy - there were four of us (including the seller). Getting it off wasn't too bad (push and mind it doesn't land on anyones feet). What I haven't mentioned is that the engine, gearbox and subframe were all still attached. As were the two front wheels. And the steering rack. The real problem was that the gearbox was stuck in gear, meaning that we could successfully push the whole thing in a circle, but not much else. It took about an hour and a half, but we finally managed to get the whole thing into the carport sideways through the side gate (the main gates wouldn't open wide enough due to the half Mini on stands just behind them), where it has remained since. The good news is that I can't see anyone pinching it without being noticed. The bad news is that I need to strip it pretty much in situ as I can't move it on my own, and besides there is nowhere to move it to.

More when I get round to it. Oh, and I must get some pictures up here soon...