A quick photo update then...
So... I spent the last week stripping out the insides... all has gone well except I can't get the upper dash off (until the screen comes out I think) and I've been unable to move the pedal box... there is some 'repair' welding under the bonnet and I'm wondering id the pedal box has become permanently fixed... If so I can work around it so no real problems.
There is a big hole in the drivers floor (which has been previously repaired) but apart from that it all looks fairly sound...
Then I started on the mechanics... removed everything removable without any real issues (except it is impossible to find a 1 5/16" socket in Cyprus so 34mm had to suffice for the hub nuts). Also, explaining 'ball joint splitter' to a DIY shop owner that speaks no English is a challenging experience. I've found the two Haynes manuals (Service and Repair and Restoration) to be invaluable although they do sometimes gloss over points and use technical terms which I had to look up (I'm a complete novice at this). The Intermong has proved a life saver once or twice too...
All the bits that came out look okay although I'll need new tie bars and lots of 'repair kits' to get it up to scratch before it goes together again... Interestingly I pulled one drive shaft and lovely shiny ball bearings fell out of the pot joint while in the other they were brown and looked just like Malteasers (yummy) obviously corroded and quite pitted....
I originally planned to remove the front subframe complete with engine and running gear but then changed my mind and decided to leave a 'running chassis' for a while... Time will tell if this was the right decision or not... A hydraulic engine hoist was an outrageous €840 so I bought a 1 tonne chain hoist and fixed it to the (concrete) roof of my garage with a 20mm rawbolt with a ring on the end...
So having disconnected everything and 'removed the four bolts that hold the engine' which require gynaecology expertise I lifted the engine out...
Dumped it on the floor...
And pushed the much lighter Mini back out of the garage...
My plans are now for a complete engine re-build while I can hopefully get somebody else to weld up the body...
I've had the Rostyle wheels shot-blasted and painted and will pick them up today and get some rubber on them (for motivational reasons). Have found a man that can re-upholster the seats in the original vinyl so they will go off this week....
