Patchwork

NEW?  CLICK HERE FOR DAY ONE!

---UPDATES ARE ON MONDAYS---
Click here for a 3 minute video of the entire build.
 

Time for working on the mini has been scarce but I was able to weld in the patches and spray one with undercoating.  Next will be sealing all seams with automotive seam sealer then spraying the entire bottom half of the firewall with the rubberized undercoating and the top half with gloss black.

Patch welded in the inner fender with one layer of undercoating.

Other side of inner fender with patch, the rust was through this doubler and the wall.  Moisture was able to sit between the the two and rust from the inside out.  This could look a bit better however it will all get seam sealed and hidden.  Also, the driver's side was solid due to the hot air exhaust from the radiator blowing right there.  On these classic minis, the radiator is located and  blows through the driver's side fender well and consequently the driver's side tends to stay rust free.

Both left and right floor pans welded up 100% and ready for undercoating.

Tranny Gear Ratios

NEW?  CLICK HERE FOR DAY ONE!

---UPDATES ARE ON MONDAYS---
Click here for a 3 minute video of the entire build.
 

This week the only work that was done on the Mini was some welding of one of the patches for the floor.  Not done yet, when I get it finished I'll post some pictures. 
I also found out the 67 tooth ring gear means the transmission that came with the JDM B16 has a 4.7 final drive ratio and not the 4.4 as was stated when I purchased it.  Luckily, I contacted the Honda race shop "Speed Factory" here in the area and they had a complete LS gear set in excellent shape as well as a geared LSD and were willing to install that in my case in exchange for my gear set and LSD.  I love it when I can trade with no $$ involved.  So now I will have a 4.266 final drive ring gear that will give me a 3.27 final ratio with the .714 5th gear.  That is as good as it gets for tall gears in a B-16.  Of course I need the tall gears due to the unique 10" rims the old mini is loved for.  So now I should have around 3300 RPM at 60 MPH and about 3900 at 70MPH with my 165/70x10 Yokohama A032R tires.  This also allows 60MPH to be at the top of second gear so only one shift will be needed for a quick 0-60 time.

Rust Repair

NEW?  CLICK HERE FOR DAY ONE!

---UPDATES ARE ON MONDAYS---
Click here for a 3 minute video of the entire build.
 

Next I cut some steal sheet to the proper shapes so I can go about patching the rust spots in the floor panels as well as above the passenger fender skirt.  The previous owner welded a patch on the inside floor but did it OVER the original rusty metal.  I'll cut it all out and weld in a new piece then grind it flush.
I hear the passenger side rusts out faster due to the (stock) radiator hot air exhaust drying the driver side fender out more.  Just a rumor but it runs somewhat true with my car.

Passenger's side floor

Patch

Area to cut

Driver's side floor

Patch

Area to cut

Passenger's side above fender skirt

Patch

Area to cut

Floor ready to cut

Trany Build

NEW?  CLICK HERE FOR DAY ONE!

---UPDATES ARE ON MONDAYS---
Click here for a 3 minute video of the entire build.
 

On the last day of my Christmas break and spending time with family, I was able to spend a day with the Mini but wasted a few hours trying to put the transmission case on with the reverse idler gear upside down.  After taking parts out of the tranny and trying to put the case on until it mated correctly, I found the conflicting component.  I confirmed this with a wonderful YouTube video HERE.  That video (part three) of a B16 tranny tear down is excellent.

LS fifth gear installed (top gears)

Goo is on

Case is on and the "fun" snap ring about to be replaced

Case back off (several times) but now figured out this reverse idler gear was on upside down, here is is correct

Transmission ready to install

Tranny ready to go with "like new" throw out bearing