328 replies to this topic

[panelbeaterpeter]

Exciting! I imagine your arches will still need cutting, but fingers crossed! I'll send a message re: the MG

[scrippo]

Yeah I'm thinking the arches will prob still need doing. If so I'll add that to the list of things for the body and bring it over on a trailer Pete!

I'd love an MG in my life.... Not sure I'm actually allowed one though

[scrippo]

Hi all,

Been a bit quiet with the mini since me and Dan did the brakes. Had no money whatsoever to buy the last little bits I need.

You might remember the sequence of pictures showing the back of the mini in the garage, way back when I picked up the resprayed shell. Well I have another one to add.









Sorry about the rubbish quality but it proves I now have electrics! Planning to have it completely finished by March.

Edited by scrippo, 17 February 2010 - 02:48 PM.

[G-baby158]

Have just gone through the hole build of 20 pages and i must say, wow! you have done a fantastic job and so has Pete at the panels. But i think i've missed something about the seats. I thought you was using them how you got them?

[scrippo]

Thanks for the comment.

Yeah I was going to keep the seats as they were, but couldn't find anywhere that did matching trim for the rear seats, so got the whole lot re-done. I'm pleased I did as I think they look better than before.

[scrippo]

Just gone out into the garage and all the electrics are dead!

I guess I'll have to get the battery out and charged again!

[scrippo]

Hi all,

Well its a small update but quite a significant one. Today I've booked the mini in to ML Motorsport in Kent for an engine set up, dizzy recurve and suspension set up. I'm hoping I can get it to MOT standard, so I'll be able to drive it home! It's going in on March 15th, and I've been told that all the work may take a few days, but who's counting! What was funny is when I described the spec of my engine, the response was 'That'll be a bit lairy!' Apparently my 286 cam might make emmisions a little difficult to achieve, and idle won't be great, but we'll see how that goes, if it's unrealistic on the road I'll get a milder cam put in and sell that one on ebay. It may also give me a great excuse to do something with the 1275 engine I have in the garage as I could eventually get that rebuilt (with a BMW K series head ) and use that instead.

So, in light of the booking I need to get the following done before the 15th;

Book trailer hire (hopefully for the last time!).
Number plates bought and fitted.
Recharge battery
Adjust the handbrake
Finish the engine breathing system (I've been waiting forever for parts from SC parts to do this!!!) Should be easy when parts arrive.
Inflate all the tyres to correct pressure.
Torque up the hub nuts and fit split pins.
Do a general look round to check everything.

Hopefully MLM can also trim the wings so they stop fouling the wheels.

Then following tax and MOT it'll be drivable! I think after this it'll cease to be a rebuild, so I'll move on to a new thread which will describe my ICE build (which will be subtle, no 15" Wharfdales here!), minor repairs to the bodywork (fitting grill lip etc) and general expected mini problems! I'm making up a tool kit to keep in the boot for these!

Trouble is I'm already looking at a VW bay camper rebuild. A cheap one needing full rebuild has again become available to me. Just need somewhere to put it!

Cheers,

Scrippo

[scrippo]

Hi all,

Another small update. These arrived today!



£40 from Framptons. Really pleased with them. They are pressed aluminium with a black border in the standard larger font. Nice and retro. I was tempted to go for black plates but in the end didn't fancy the risk of fines, so went for the right colours. Now all I need to do is measure up so I can drill the holes in the right place without ruining them, and then fit them on. I also still have some felt padding left over which can go behind the rear plate to stop it rubbing/vibrating on the paint.

Still no parts from SC Parts yet. Although I've been told by email they were sent on Thursday morning so here's hoping they'll be here on Monday.

[scrippo]

Hi all,

Been a while since I updated as to be honest I haven't been up to much.

Today I was in a bit of a panic as the mini goes to MLM on Monday and I'm hoping I can drive it home after they've sorted it. So today I did the following;

Sorted out my Garage! The place looked like a bomb had gone off, so I sorted out all the crap and then took a trip to the dump to throw a load of rubbish away. That took all of the morning and some of the afternoon. The place is dead clean now, and I can actually walk around without hitting things. Should help avoiding more mini scratches.

Once I did that, ignoring my rumbling stomach I fixed my Mrs' Avensis. Her washer pump had packed in, and I couldn't find one anywhere. Toyota wanted £54 for one! Eventually I found one from a Carina at a breakers for £5, so a bit of swapsies on the connectors and guesswork on the wiring, the pump now works. Off to get some grub, then back out to the garage again.

Now getting dark, I started on the mini. I fitted the number plates. I was worried I was gonna ruin them by drilling in the wrong places, but I managed to find the old front plate, so I just used it as a template, then for the back I stuck it on with velcro in the right position, marked the holes, then drilled it. Job done!

I'm still having trouble with the breather pipes. It seems that shops are just sending me what they have knocking around. At the moment I have 2 thirds of the piping fitted, but the third pipe is wrong, so this may have to be a job for MLM. I also fitted the final connector for my fuel pump onto the solenoid, so this is now complete.

I had some play on the steering, but it turns out that the adjuster bracket I've fitted just wasn't tight enough, so a tweak with the spanners sorted this.

My electrics still don't work. I tested the brand new battery I put in. 0 volts! Thought my multimeter was on the blink, so tested my work car. Fine! Tested the mini again and nothing. Presumably something has drained it (I may have left something on by accident). Took the battery upstairs to charge and my charger won't charge it! It seems I've also lost the receipt so its probably wasted money. Fortunately the old mini battery I had will charge, so that'll go in when it goes to MLM.

I still have one or 2 other bits to do, like fill it with coolant, top up the oil, and find a fuel tank breather pipe, but I've checked and double checked everything, so hopefully it's OK. The only major sticking point is the wings hitting the front wheels when you steer, which is a pain in the rear! I still also have to fit the lip to the bonnet and top of the grill which can wait until after engine set up.

Monday's plan!

8:30 - Be waiting at door of trailer hire to pick up trailer.
9:15 - Get home, meet Dan load mini onto trailer. Make final checks to car (I think everything is OK)
On way to MLM, fill mini with fuel. Be checking very carefully for leaks!!
10:30 - Get to MLM, give them list of stuff to do )
Sometime that morning/day, Hopefully hear engine running!!
Drive home, get some lunch
Replace brake pads on mate Dan's focus.

Then sit waiting for MLM to ring, hoping its good news!

[analogue_radio]

Busy busy!

I love cleaning the garage, always find I work better when I'm working in a nice clutter free area.

I think I might go sensible and buy some of the right coloured plates for when mine is on the road.. don't fancy the horrible plasticy things, so those metal ones look really suitable.

[scrippo]

They look really nice on the car. Suit the theme of it perfectly. I was tempted for some plates with riveted numbers on them, but changed my mind. Also considered a stick on front plate, but went with pressed alloy instead.

Cheers,

Scrippo

[panelbeaterpeter]

Good plate choice! I'd go for them myself but I have a habit of pranging the front one, plastic is cheaper!

[scrippo]

Thanks Pete,

I've drilled the holes a little bit high on the front plate, so I might have that habit too as it sits a bit lower than other minis I've seen. I'll see how it goes. I'll be getting a stick on one if I keep slapping the other one.

Can't wait till Monday, but I'm a bit scared that my mini is gonna fail the MOT and need lots of stuff doing! One last check over needed I think.

Good news on the battery front. The old battery I had was a 065, which was actually better than the one I bought anyway (I'd bought an 063). For some reason the new one now also charges, I'm not sure whether it was a fault in my charger. I think I'll be selling one of them to recoup some cash, probably the new one.

[GreaseMonkey]

Good luck for Monday

[scrippo]

Thanks Greasemonkey.

Mini goes tomorrow!!! Fingers crossed! Will update everyone tomorrow. It could either be the best day or the worst day ever!

Scrippo