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Project Sydney
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August 2, 2005
Creeping Insanity
I managed to find some time last weekend to progress work on Sydney. The work was actually quite simple - I drew a large square on the roof of the new bodyshell and then cut round the square with an angle grinder. So the new 'shell now has a hole big enough to fit a couple of people through in it. There is a reason for this bout of insanity, namely that I purchased a sunroof some time ago and in order to fit a (usable) sunroof you need a hole. As we go to press the hole isn't quite the right size, but thankfully it's on the small side rather than the 'buy another new bodyshell' size. A little time with the trusty angle grinder and a small hammer will, I'm sure, rectify the size issue.
July 10, 2005
For Sale
This weekend has seen little progress in work towards getting Sydney back to the road, however I have done some tidying and that means I have some bits to sell that I definitely won't be needing. Currently they are on ebay, but if anyone knows anyone who might be interested please send them my way. Currently available bits are:
June 5, 2005
Emmulating the Exxon Valdez
This weekend saw some work on the project for the first time in a very long time. Another project of mine (which actually involves a lot more physical work, believe it or not) has meant that I needed to clear some space and access through the carport. So I set to this weekend with the specific aim of moving the engine and subframe purchased a while back. To move either meant separating engine/gearbox and subframe. My plan was actually quite similar to the plan I had when removing the engine from the old car - jack the engine up and hold it in the air with blocks, then unbolt the subframe and lower it away from the engine. It worked very well, right up to the point where I started lowering the subframe. At this point the engine started to tilt and I was on the wrong side of it to stop the tilt. Having failed to undo the sump plug I knew that there was a reasonable amount of oil left in the sump. What I didn't realise was that when tilted the oil would flow out of the driveshaft sockets at the back of the differential (I've managed to drain the oil every other I've removed an engine), and then steadily across the floor of the carport. And then on under the gates and across the pavement outside. Several expletives followed, along with a trip to Homebase to pick up a bag of cement. And, of course, the work stopped again since it's not sensible to work of a car with lots of cement dust in the air. Until next time...
April 17, 2005
Progress once more
The ever-lovely Claire has given me time this weekend to spend getting all greasy and smelly again. And so I hammered and cut and removed more bits from the old car in preparation for the new one going on the road. The front end (wings, a-panels, inner wings, front skirt, bonnet) have now all been completely removed. Some with the aid of a spanner or two, others with the aid of our trusty angle-grinder. And what a great tool that is. The neighbours decided that the whole street needed to hear some crap 'R n B' this afternoon, so I rolled out the angle-grinder. It had the dual effect of avoiding me having to listen to music that is, quite frankly, pants as well as drowning it out for them. Fabulous. Back with the car, I also separated the engine/gearbox and front subframe that were removed from the main body of the car some weeks back. Not a lightweight bit of kit, but then it was already on the floor, so didn't have far to fall if I dropped it...
March 11, 2005
No I haven't forgotten
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...
January 24, 2005
Continuing the dismantling
Spent a couple of hours working on the old motor again this weekend, and in doing so made surprisingly good progress. My aim at the moment is to strip the old shell as quckly as possible so that I can free up some working space - I effectively have two cars in the carport at the moment and not that much space around them. If I can remove one shell then I'll have a lot more elbow room and be less likely to lose things... So, this weekend's work. I started by expecting to spend only an hour or so since it was well after lunch on Sunday when I got going, so only really expected to remove some trim and tidy. Then I got to thinking; just how much work was involved in removing the engine? Normally this would involve a hoist, lots of grunting, some swearing [and perhaps fractured toes], but in the absence of a hoist I decided to drop the engine out through the bottom and lift the body. The body is, believe it or not, easier and lighter to lift than the engine and gearbox combined. So ten nuts and bolts later I had the engine stood on the jack. Then it started to drop [you may recall that the jack is slightly more like blancmange than a jack], so I found some blocks and the front subframe, engine and gearbox are now sitting approximately eight inches off the floor with the body on some stands just above. Hurrah! More in a couple of weeks, as this coming weekend sees the birthday of one of the small people in my house.
January 16, 2005
And so it begins
Not quite hot on the heels of Project Barry, but on the heels nonetheless, comes Project Sydney. For those who don't know and haven't cared up to now, Sydney is a 1973 Austin Mini. I am owner number 8, and have now started the rebuild that will, hopefully, see Sydney restored to something like his former glory. The main problem at the moment is the floor. Yesterday I started work on stripping the car down to its component parts so that everything can be examined, cleaned, painted, repainted, replaced or whatever else is required. I jacked the car up [at which point my jack decided to act more like a blancmange] and lowered the car onto a pair of axle stands. Unfortunately the car kept creeping towards the floor after the jack was removed. The reason? The floor is knackered - totally inhabited by the evil tin-worm. I had an idea this was the case a while back and so I've purchased a replacement body for the car... Anyhow, for now I'll stop rambling. The headlines for today are:
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