346 replies to this topic

[Retro_10s]

This fan has always had a squeak at all speeds, turned out to be a dry bearing on the grey side, so with the fan removed (stabbed myself with a screwdriver for good measure) I have been able to eliminate the squeak cleaning out assembly and lubricating with some medium weight machine oil. I took the opportunity to clean the commutator at the same time

The motor is now back together fitted to the open case, and running smoothly. Nothing else to do on it until the new foam appears, which was less than £3 from 'DemisterMan' on eBay.

:) Cheers

Edited by Retro_10s, 13 September 2022 - 06:55 PM.

[colinf1]

Looking good Retro, at least you will have all these nice clean parts to put back in once the shell is done. I have the vast majority of my parts refurb'd and in boxes ready to reinstall...when ever that will be....

[Retro_10s]

Looking good Retro, at least you will have all these nice clean parts to put back in once the shell is done. I have the vast majority of my parts refurb'd and in boxes ready to reinstall...when ever that will be....

Yeah I've been going through bits and bobs checking I have everything, and refurbing what I can,...Can't find my indicators which is a shame, must be somewhere!

Thanks for the comment !

[Retro_10s]

Found a photo of the mini when it was on the road!! I don't think I posted this photo to the thread. This was shortly after the engine had been installed and before I decided to sort the paint out. I did really enjoy the car in this iteration. I hope I can keep some of its character in its new guise

[Retro_10s]

I'd almost managed to forget the smell of flatting back paint, pink bogeys for days! I managed to get the brake master-cylinder off without any trouble at all, the clevis pin was much easier to get at compared to the clutch pot. Cleaned back the rust, and though it's pretty rough around the mounts I'm happy that it's just heavily pitted rather than rotted out. I will get some rust treatment on and some etch primer on the bare metal areas. Then I gave the bulkhead a rub down, all seems fine, It'll get another once over before I put prime it up. I also want to pick away at the seam sealer on the left and see what that's hiding.


After that I decided to try and get the choke/heater cables off, WHAT A PAIN, I thought it would be a doddle but NO, I found it much easier to get the actual switch panel out instead, so that's what I did


Dirty but not damaged.

I cleaned it up and then couldn't resist fitting the switches into it, very pleased how tidy it all looks


Pleased with today's progress, I didn't intend on flatting back the bulkhead but it just sort of happened in the end, and didn't take long at all
Cheers.

Edited by Retro_10s, 14 September 2022 - 05:04 PM.

[Retro_10s]

Today the foam sheet arrived to finish the heater off, the matrix had a strip running around the edge, so this was replaced, and slid into place, then capped off with some dirty yellow foam 😁


Then re-foaming the diverter flap:



Checked the selector is allowing air flow to the correct area (bit fiddly to get spot on but seems close enough to me) a nice satisfying clunk on selection. I can't seem to embed the GIF I made of it working.

All buttoned up and ready to be stored away for when the time comes to hook her back up.


I am in two minds whether or not to fit fresh air vents,.. in its standard guise it doesn't have any, but I have all the ducting apart from the eyeball vents and the plastic rings that bolt up to the upper flitch panel - to be honest they seem surprisingly expensive second hand! Would be nice to have some fresh air I think.

Edited by Retro_10s, 15 September 2022 - 05:23 PM.

[1984mini25]

You can get the flitch panel bits new for the same price as what most are asking for old, broken and brittle second-hand ones. https://www.ebay.co....:Bk9SR9L42a_oYA

[Retro_10s]

You can get the flitch panel bits new for the same price as what most are asking for old, broken and brittle second-hand ones. https://www.ebay.co....:Bk9SR9L42a_oYA

Madness! Luckily it's not something I'm desperate to get, still mulling it over. If only I had a 3D printer eh!

[1984mini25]

 

You can get the flitch panel bits new for the same price as what most are asking for old, broken and brittle second-hand ones. https://www.ebay.co....:Bk9SR9L42a_oYA

Madness! Luckily it's not something I'm desperate to get, still mulling it over. If only I had a 3D printer eh!

 

 

Everything's gone up in price recently (last few years) I've been after a replacement ash trash for the upper dash rail for mine after snapping one of the retaining clips, but the prices for a half reasonable second-hand one... 

[GraemeC]

I don't think that's a bad price for a full set of new ones.  Slightly cheaper at MS but then there is postage on top - even with TMF discount I think the Minimine ones will work out cheaper.

[Retro_10s]

Today I decided to give the n/s wing a hard flatting back, the pattern between paint layers was just making it too difficult to get a real gauge on what sort of condition the panel surface is in.

So... Flatted back and lightly primered up, I'm pretty pleased, it's shown up a few light scratches that can be puttied over, but much much less work than I was anticipating 👍


Certainly feels like dejavu doing all this again.

Edited by Retro_10s, 16 September 2022 - 04:14 PM.

[Retro_10s]

Today I have primed the firewall, prior to that I had my first experience with what Americans call 'scuffpads' (usually branded as scotchbrite),.. I spotted some in Halfords as 'abrasive nylon pads'. They are amazing. Fantastic at getting into the hard to reach areas and much longer lasting than wet and dry. I am very impressed!

Anyway, firewall rust has been removed and then treated with kurust for good measure. Then primered it up. Pretty Pleased with that


Might tackle the scuttle and windscreen surround next.

[Retro_10s]

Wiper motor partly stripped, not to say it wouldn't work just fine as is, but it was filthy,.. and seemingly worse on the inside,.. I've cleaned the commutator, and will set about a full de-grease, clean, and re-grease tomorrow. I need new wiper boxes/spindles (the part the wiper arms attach too) as the threads have crumbled.

[Retro_10s]

Wiper motor, is now re-greased and buttoned back up, I need to remember to buy the rubber pad that cushions it against the bulkhead, I have the original but it's badly disintegrating. Surprised at the cost of replacement wheel boxes for these.


Speaking of bulkheads. I decided to paint mine today:

It's not quite the right shade of red,.. but it was close enough for a part that is probably never going to be seen once covered over in bulkhead insulation.

I have used the minispares bulkhead insulation kit before now but the Hessian back made SUCH a mess Of the engine bay, hair everywhere!, has anyone got any tips? Different product that's tidier but effective?

[1984mini25]

If you haven’t already, remove the gear with 110 on it (think it’s an e or circlip on the back) and clean the shaft/brash bushes. As even after doing exactly the same as you to mine and previously fitted new wheel boxes, I found the wipers still only worked when both were completely clear of the windscreen, as the gear/shaft was sized up with corrosion and dried grease.