mk1 questions

Ok. as was said in my "hi" post, by rum tum tugger, the mk1 is becoming a bit scarce, so armed with that, i'm wondering a few things.

1/ I have currently fitted 2 hoops to fit the foreign (to the scamp) vinyl/canvas roof, and made up some metal door frames which opened suicide door esque.

However, I have noticed that there are pictures of mk1 scamps with a vinyl/canvas roof with incorporated doors that roll up.

Does anyone know if these, and the frame to it are still available or if anyone has one lying around somewhere they'd be willing to sell rather than me finishing the metal doors and possibly ruining the car in the process.

2/ The car had a rear seat, which unfortunately was rotten as it was made of wood and the car has been left outside for the best part of a year with no cover over it and the roof off. Were these part of the kit as standard?

3/ I've been reading up on here and on the mini forum about the vosa rules coming in, and it looks like the car is still registered as a "mini" but, with a "tourer"? body type.. I was told by the previous owner that the donor car was a countryman, so would that mean theres a possibility that it hasnt been re registered as a scamp? or shouldnt i worry?

4/ As was said in my original post, the clutch is slipping, it doesnt look like there is that much room to work by the bell housing, is it possible to do a clutch change on the scamp without dropping the subframe out of the car or should i look forward to fun?

Thats all for now, but i'm sure i'll come up with some more

1. The original kit had vinyl hood, frame & rollup sidescreens as an optional extra. A number of owners, for various reasons, made their own, and generally these look OK. In my own case, I made up a frame to reinforce the hardtop (another story) and got a coachbuilder to make the hood.
   
2. The 4-seater version included an ali seat panel, but the standard 2-seater was meant to have a builder-supplied board covering the back. Needless to say, all sorts of user variants and modifications turned up, so I think you can feel free to make up your own design.
   
3. In the Mk1 era, the rules were that if the major components came from a single donor, the Scamp was registered as a change of body, keeping the old registration number. It looks as though this has been done so you should be OK. If it has been tested, taxed and on the road in its present form, and especially if you have documents to prove it (e.g. an old MoT cert, or photographs), then you are definitely OK.
   
4. Just possible, I've done it. You need to remove the carb, radiator, exhaust, gearchange and offside engine mounting, then jack up the clutch end of the engine enough to access all the housing bolts. It helps if the inner front wing is removable (bolted rather than riveted). If you do have a hoist though, it's almost as easy to lift the engine out.
   

Have fun!

Hi. My Mk.1 came with the remains of a canvas roof and the two pivoting steel hoops to support it, unfortunately the doors had been lost. I don't know if it is an official scamp version or one someone has had made-up but it appears to be of the correct age and was made professionally. The canvas has been attacked by mice quite a bit, beyond repair I'd say, although it could be used as a pattern to have a new one made. I won't be needing any of it as I'm in the process of making a removable hard-top so if it's of any use to you, it's yours.

Will need picking up from Kent though, which quite honestly would probably be more trouble than it's worth, but the offer's there just the same.

Hope you enjoy your new Scamp.

Clifford.

Thank you both for the replies. I'm going to give the clutch a try tomorrow and will let you know how it goes.
Reguarding the roof, Very kind of you, I'd be very grateful of it even for just the pattern. I'll get in touch sometime and if it's ok, I'll pop down and collect it.

That's fine, it's folded up in the loft and not going anywhere so there's no rush.

Clifford wrote:That's fine, it's folded up in the loft and not going anywhere so there's no rush.

I wish i could fold my Scamp up and put it in the loft. It would make a lot more room in the garage for other project.

Ok, been busy this weekend.. but not overly productive =/

The clutch hasnt been done, because, when i first picked up the car, the clutch was very sticky, and wouldnt fully travel back. It now is and seems to be ok.. touch wood

I made a bit of a mistake.. I decided that brush on hammerite was a good idea!... and no.. no it isnt.. especially when its done in hot sunlight and dries faster than you can get it on SO..

I've nitromores'd the paint back off, and given it a "for now" colour with a very "for now" finish.. which while bad, is better than the finish i had with the hammerite.. i think (the log book say's the car's still blue, so i presume it was never changed when they put the *cough*lovely*cough* green over the metallic blue it was originally)

Unfortunately it will have to do for stourport as i'm not going to get any more time to work on it this week till friday after work.

Its rough.. very very rough hehe. but i have access to a sand blaster (part of my job) and will be doing a proper bare metal respray and replacing the alley panels that need it when i have more time, so please be gentle ;p

Incidentally I will have to do a good job with it, as my dad, as seen in this pic, works for bmw making the new mini (ya i know.. dont hate me!), and after talking to his bosses about the car, they want to see it in the factory and drive it up the track!? (Maybe we can make it a day out or something if anyones interested and show them some of the different models?)

Things still to do before this weekend:

Brakes are baaad.. hopefully just need adjusting on the back.
re fit all the popper fasteners for the roof
re fit the frame for the roof
repair spare tyre... again

Should be ok

We did have a trip around the Mini factory a few years ago with the club, though another wouldn't go amiss if you fancy putting one together for us.

I like the colour, Trophy Blue?

Those 12" tyres are awfully close to that front chassis rail and the rear swinging arm mount - if it rains next weekend those rear wheels won't be going round for long

I like the colour coded loo roll!

Maybe you could put a loo roll holder on the dash board in case you get caught short in the woods this weekend.

We would know who the culprit was then wouldn't we

A loo roll holder hmm?

The tyres are very close, and, the original wheels that came on the car were 10 inch, however, i dont have any with any good tyres on, and i luckily had the revolutions in our shed. I think they'll have to do for now, unless i can find some amazingly cheap 10 inch wheels and tyres heh.. like. take em away cheap

Still havent had chance to get back to it and get the roof back on yet, so hopefully will get chance tomorrow.

My mini's got more pressing problems unfortunately (all 4 front subframe mounts are beyond saving and the subframe is moving around so much that you can see the tower bolts shifting as you turn the steering wheel =/ so it has to take priority as it wont be me driving it down. (before you say it.. not a donor! )

Will talk to my father this weekend about arranging a day out at the bmw factory. If enough people are interested i'm pretty sure we can get something together.