328 replies to this topic

[analogue_radio]

Hope things go okay mate

[scrippo]

Hi all,

Well, today is the day. The mini got taken to MLM. Got the trailer and with my mate Dan we took the trip to Higham to finally get the mini finished.



When I got there I met Andy, who is a nice guy. Spoke with him about the engine spec, and I needed doing to the car. Sounds like running in isn't going to be much fun!! Should be ready in a few days all being well, just need to get the train down there to pick it up and drive it home!

Scrippo

[zebidee]

Thats going to be an exciting train journey!

Love those wheels by the way!

[scrippo]

Oh yes it will be zebidee. Already looking at train times!

[scrippo]

Hi all,

Just had a phone call from Andy at MLM with a mini update!

It's been running! He's spent a decent amount of time on it today and had some teething problems, but got it running.

The carb was all gummed up and seized solid, so virtually all of the internals had to be replaced in this to get it going again!

Also, I need to replace all the fuel hosing pretty soon, as apparently I've used the wrong stuff which will sweat and leak fuel. A fairly straightforward job which I'll do ASAP when I get it home. There was a minor fuel leak in the boot as apparently you have to use loctite on the union threads, which Andy is doing. It definitely has a high lift cam as Andy describes it as being "rough as a**eholes"!! Potentially another job for the future then. As they say a mini project is never finished.

Apart from this and a few other odds and ends it's been driven up and down the yard at MLM and should be going in for an MOT later this week!! I'm generally pretty happy as I'm only an amateur and this is my first project, and as yet there's been no catastrophies!



Will keep you all posted.

Scrippo

[scrippo]

No update today. Hoping no news is good news........

Fingers crossed!

[emalee]

I've been Watching this quietly for a while

Have to say you've done a amazing job on it

and its sooo good its all running and major step forward - teething problems are expected after a complete rebuild

won't be long till your on the road

[scrippo]

Hi all,

Thanks for the kind words Emalee. Its so close now!

Another update from MLM. I called today as I couldn't wait to know what was happening. Andy's been pretty busy. It's not the best news with the engine. Turns out that my 1380 is quite a worn unit and the advise was run it until it pops. Luckily it's driveable, so I'll be able to use it, but I'm really glad I've kept my spare 1275 Metro engine as I'll be saving for MLM to rebuild me a fresh engine.

Apart from that, Andy has been doing a full report on the car as he's been checking everything, so I've got a things to do list when it gets home, but this is expected. I'll still need to fit the lip on the bonnet when it get's back, so that'll go on the list with the other stuff and finishing the stereo system.

MOT tomorrow!! All going well I'll be picking it up next week, as I'm working the weekend. On the collection day I'll have a full update with pictures.

Scrippo

[panelbeaterpeter]

Come on Scrippo old boy! stop keeping us in suspenders.

[scrippo]

Hi all,

Well........

It's home again!!!!!!! It felt amazing driving it!

Unfortunately my excitement took over taking pictures, so I haven't got any, sorry!!!

Got a call on Friday afternoon from Andy. Mini MOT'd and ready to collect. Sailed through!!! I was virtually on the train before I'd finished the conversation! The train to Higham seemed to take forever, but after an hour on the train and a LONG walk from the station to MLM It was time.

Felt dead strange when I got there and Andy threw me the keys and said take it for a spin. I was actually moving this car with it's engine!! Andy's submitted a full report with lots of little jobs needing doing, but nothing major. After a bit of a chat it was off to the post office for the tax. Then the journey home!

Had to keep it under 3000RPM all the way home, so avoided the motorway and kept it to the B roads as with a 3.44 final drive I was only getting 50 in fourth! The engine is a bit of a beast! Really burbles at tick over, and barks when you boot the throttle. You can feel it's really eager, and was really tempting to rev it right up! Gonna be fun I reckon! The steering is so direct, and the suspension pretty firm so you can feel everything in the road. I reckon the solid subframe mounts have a lot to do with it, as with the new shocks. I love it though, it feels so raw!

Had a few teething problems on the way home, the windscreen wipers got stuck on!! And one fell off! Fortunately I was doing 5 miles an hour at the time and pulled in to reattach it. Obviously some problem with the switch. The fuel gauge showed half all the time, even after I filled it up! Andy had said the temperature guage was a bit keen, so needs looking at and the voltmeter is potentially under-reading. All minor things.

Other than that it's great!!!!!! Will give it a wash and polish and update with some pictures.

Scrippo

[analogue_radio]

Brilliant! I can't wait for this day myself!

[panelbeaterpeter]

Great news John, looking forward to pictures.

[GreaseMonkey]

I bet you have a grin from ear to ear!! Great news, well done

[scrippo]

Took the mini for a blast today. Discovered it's leaking! Also really frustrating that I have to cut the acceleration at 3000rpm!

Water is getting in through the windscreen seal. Turns out on closer inspection that the seal isn't sitting properly at the bottom.

Got a couple of days off this week, so plan to get out and do a load of odd jobs, clean it then take some pictures. I think this thread is coming to an end, so I may start afresh with a new one when it becomes a running project!

Scrippo

[CobraV8]

Awesome project thread mate - I have just read from start to finish. I must say you have done a fantastic job and should be proud of the result.

I do hope you realise that if you ever sold the car you would regret it - so keep it and enjoy all that hard work.