Mad House Minis

Motor and gear box in Austin Healey

This is a picture series that shows rust repair on Minis.  Some Minis, particularly older ones have very bad rust issues, if a customer chooses, we can repair the most ‘Swiss cheese’ Mini imaginable.  Even though some consider rust to be ‘Natures light weight kit’ the common feeling is that Nature doesn’t always choose the best areas to shed pounds.

Updates:

date: July 17, 2006
The first set of pictures has been uploaded.  Included are two different Minis with bad rust holes.  Note that in the current set of pictures there has been very little finishing work done.  Stay tuned for the finished product.

This is an Austin-Healey mk1 Sprite, otherwise known as a “bug eye” or “frog eye.”  This is one of the latest projects at Mad House Minis, it’s fate is currently unknown.  We’re considering possibilities and options for what to do with this car.  This car is available for sale, as the purchaser, you would have the final say as to what modifications, color and options this car would have.

Updates:

June 1, 2006:
Listing date.  This is a work in progress that is available for purchase.  Contact us for information if you’re interested in buying this car.

A complete restoration on a Mini Van.   Pictured is stage one, completely stripped out and ready for the sand blaster.  This car will be for sale when it is done.

June 1, 2006:
The minivan is one step closer to completion, it’s been sitting during the Greasecar project, but now it’s on a move, slowly but surely.  It’s suspended on a purpose built stand to be cleaned up and have the rust repairs made.

April 18, 2006:
Our brand new project is a restoration on a Mini van.  Stage one is complete, the uni-body is all stripped out and ready to be hauled off to the sand blaster.  This vehicle will be for sale in the range of $12,000 to $15,000 when it is completed.  Right now, it’s not much to look at.  Stay tuned for updates!

The latest project is a Red Mini Cooper .. we will be unbodgeing the engine and gearbox as well as a complete rebuild of the suspension front and rear. Look forward to many updates on this page soon .

This project was done for Grease Car Vegetable Fuel Systems.
http://www.greasecar.com/

May 17, 2006: We’re back from the Tour de Sol! A few pictures have been added.  Since this project is officially completed, this page will be replaced with a page dedicated to the grease car and all the specifications.  There will be a second page highlighting the process of piecing the car together.

May 9, 2006: After long hours and without a second to spare, the Grease Car Mini is done and on it’s way to the Tour de Sol!  Check out all the new pictures from the painting progress.

April 28, 2006: The car is in the paint shop for its final coat.  Stay tuned for pictures of the finished product!

April 27, 2006:
The car has had primer coats of paint applied and been sanded, we’re hoping to have it painted within the next couple days.  Stay tuned for the pictures from that.

April 24, 2006:
The first primer paint coat is on, new wheels that fit the brakes are on their way, and the exhaust system is on its way in.  Should be looking pretty and driving around by the end of the week.

April 21, 2006:
We’ve been prepping it for a paint job.  The front brakes still are not on the car, but we did drive it around the yard some.  As it sits, the only brakes are the parking/emergency brakes.  Progress has remained steady.
Title: Driving around the yard
Size: 16.1mb
Length: 46 seconds

April 18, 2006:
We’ve run into some problems with the front brakes. The rotor and caliper are just too big for the wheels we have, and the lug pattern on the hubs is rare and hard to find wheels for.  But, it drives.  We rolled it out of the shop yesterday evening and drove it around a little bit, so it moves, it just doesn’t really stop.  Check out the most recent pictures.

April 14, 2006:
On Thursday we got a big shipment of new parts, it was like Christmas at the Mad House.  Progress has been steady, look for added pictures at the bottom!

April 10, 2006:
The Grease Car is running!  Check out a short video here (without exhaust):
Title: First Run.
Size: 4.9mb
Length: 14 seconds

The latest project here at the Mad House is a combined effort, cross promotional car with grease car. The motor to be shoe-horned into the Mini is a Peugeot 1.5 liter diesel engine out of a ’96 Rover Metro.  The car will be fitted with a vegetable fuel system by the grease car folks.  The car will compete in the annual Tour de Sol.  This car is being pieced together with a kit from a UK supplier, our plan is to use it as a prototype to put together our own diesel kit in the near future.  The kit used on the prototype requires extensive modification of the nose of the car.  Our plan is to provide a workable diesel engine conversion that fits in a standard length Mini nose. The kit we’re using fits under a standard Clubman bonnet.  We may continue to use this diesel motor, but there are serious considerations for a possible turbocharged power plant in the future. This project is in full speed at the moment, stay tuned for more details!

If you’re interested in building your own diesel or grease car Mini, or you’re interested in a Honda v-tec powered Mini, contact us at:

Address:
Mad House Minis
23 Main Street
Williamsburg MA, 01096
Phone: (413) 268-0044
e-mail: cosimo@madhouseminis.com