Hi all.
I'm a complete newbie on here so I hope I'm posting this in the right section.

I have recently bought my first Coupe 20v turbo and I must say 'what a car'. They truly are fantastic. I got the car for a great price but it does have a few problems. Came with loads of history and has MOT till may 2012.

I've been messing with cars (mainly Minis)since my early teens and now at 32 decided to ditch the Mini scene and go for a coupe as I have always wanted one.

I've built from scratch a couple of minis the last one being a Mini turbo producing around 180bhp and must say it was very very quick but reliabilty was a problem.

I also own a fiat Multipla pre facelift which is ace for the family.

My coupe is gonna be a work in progress as I love a new challenge so engine is my first mission. Thats coming out and stripped ready for some maching. I'm gonna fully rebuild it to standard factory spec except fit a heavier duty clutch, and bigger intercooler. I'm not after huge power as I want a sporty car for me and the missus to enjoy together.

I'll fully spray the shell and tidy the wiring in the engine bay as it looks messy.

I'll be picking all your brains in the search feature so hopefully I wont ask questions that have already been anwsered.

I'll put some pictures on soon to show my progress but wont be for a couple of weeks as I've got a Bravo 20v in my garage at the mo having the Cam belt and clutch done.

Cheerio. Gavlar

Welcome Gavlar to the best car forum available, full of friendly people and a massive reservoir of knowledge especially for the £15 membership. Good luck with it, maybe see you at a few meetings?

Welcome Gavlar. Looking forward to seeing your progress reports, just started rebuilding a coop engine myself...

Hi and Welcome to the forum .

Hi and welcome.

Hi Gavlar and Welcome! Your not far from me, will be nice seeing another coopster round and about

Hi, good luck with the project, you'll find all the advice and help you could ever want on here. How anyone runs a coupe without this forum is beyond me! Has anyone mentioned checking your oil yet?

Hi and welcome

Welcome and good luck!
Tim

Sounds like you have a plan I used to own Multipla's, two of them over the years, pre and post facelift (diesel), excellent cars, truly under-rated by the vast majority.

Welcome to the club mate, look forward to following your progress and hopefully meeting up at a local meet one day.

Welcome to the forum. Glad the Coupe has gained another fan.

Welcome to the forum

My first part arrived today. A Scorpion stainless exhaust from Tim42. Its mint cant wait to put it on.

hi and welcome your in the best place for help, advice and lots of laughs, just got a coupe myself and everyone's being great on here with me, looking forward to seeing your car pic's, happy driving

It's a slipery slope!

Welcome and , yes it is a slippery slope!

Welcome

Yes the slippery slope does begin.
Now got a Stainless steel tubular exhaust manifold, Cam belt kit and water pump.
Gonna go to the autosport show in January and keep an eye out for a paddle clutch kit.

Welcome. JBT's CG Motorsport ones are tried and tested, they're a good compromise between comfort & performance.

..... and price, compared to a Helix

Well I've hit my first snag. Carpet is wet on the drivers footwell. Tastes like anti-freeze. Must be Heater matrix or pipes. Also once warm the radiator starts to steam, looks like something is leaking at the bottom of the radiator.
I've ordered a set of silicon hoses, Bargin off Ebay but they are coming from China
Gagging to get started on it.

Hope you get to the bottom of it quickly and get it fixed, but .....



How do you find out in the first place what anti-freeze tastes like to compare it?!!!

Anti-freeze tastes sweet. Stick your finger in your expansion tank and then touch your tongue. Spit it straight out. Its an old skool tip.

Be careful with this item, there's a thread on here by countrycruising (Joe from FCSS) which shows many photos of failed stainless manifolds. The welds aren't up to much and they begin to fall apart into their component pieces.

Thread

Luckily I'm an Aerospace Tig Welder so I'm now going to take the manifold to work, grind out a channel in the welds and re-weld them with argon backing. Then have it NDT'ed to check for cracks.
I've found the thread about the manifold.

Cheers for the heads up Gunzi

I was always told I had to swallow

haha too funny, naughty lady

Well quick update. I've done nothing to my coupe as of yet. Just been buying parts.
Im insulating and painting my garage ready for the build, however........

I've brought another coupe! This one is a 20v non turbo and for my wife and for £228 couldn't miss that bargin.