723 replies to this topic

[stevede]

Hi folks

Well, made it to Stanford and put the car on the stand.

Good to meet and have a chat with a few of the folks around.

I didn't spend too much time on the stand as I wandered off to have a look round the show and the time just seemed to dissapear. Finally left around 3.

Car ran faultlessly all the way there and back. Just one slight issue........ Sorry, what was that? Did you say something? Eh!

Yes, next purchase needs to be some sound deadening LOL!

Few ideas from the show re the grille and yes Adcuz, no issue at all on the MOT front.

Minmaff: Seatbelts were done bt FDTS Seatbelts in West Byfleet. 01932 342 043. Sue Taylor email [email protected]

Regards

Steve

[Dolly 89]

just looked through all the pics and read little bits and peices it took me forever the evening has dissapeared but you have a very impressive looking mini there. What does Zoe think of it or is it know your mini lol mk1 grille would look good if you havent already got something sorted. i think i noticed it at stanford but didnt really take much notice with not reading this before hand. well done to you a really impressive project

[minimotor_JD]

Looking awesome steve, really liking the colour
I've got my engine sorted and just need to put it in the mini as well all the other little bits then I can start her up.
I think should be good by end October.

[minispecial]

If this actually for your daughter she is one hell of a lucky girl!
absolutely stunning mini, well done

[minimaff]

Minmaff: Seatbelts were done bt FDTS Seatbelts in West Byfleet. 01932 342 043. Sue Taylor email [email protected]

Regards

Steve


Thanks for that Steve, will contact them in the near future.....

[olds_kool_lews]

saw you at stanford hall! parked next to you, would of come over to say hi but nerves got the better of me! car looks fantastic though!

[MiniMan65]

But...................

There's always a but....................

Classic schoolboy error! Didn't check the length of the new bolts they sent me



I would say the air was around the same colour as the car! But. a bit of work with the hammer and a punch and some paint building with a touch up brush and it's getting there. Hopefully I can get it so you can't tell.

Maybe, just maybe, the next update will be to say it has passed the MOT and is fully legal.

Thanks for stopping by

Regards

Steve

If it makes you feel any better (and I know it won't) I did exactly the same thing several years back to my shiney new paintwork only I managed to do both sides before I found out I'd done it. In my case it was the right bolts but no spacers but it didn't make the damage any easier to stomach....

[panelbeaterpeter]

I did that to my first mini, it was the same colour too!

[Timty]

It was great seeing your mini in the flesh Steve it looks absalutley fantastic! (i'm the one who accosted you on the way out!) had a good nosey at it on the stand though!

[DanNomNom]

I swear I saw this in Taunton this morning, if not I saw one exactly the same colour with black revo's
Looks amazing by the way

[daveeeeee]

Love what you've done, need to go through this thread again later to catch the last ten pages

This mini look great, I posted on the first page, makes me sad I didn't carry on with my build I might be finished by now hah!

[Hekmat]

Great work Stevede, love the car and the attention to details. I hope my car turns out half as decent as yours.

[sonikk4]

The car looks the biz and loving the seat belts. Its been a while since i visited your thread and what a difference. If its not a rude question how much did the seatbelts sting you??

[stevede]

A rainy Sunday afternoon and time for an update. Many thanks as always for the kind comments.

suzzy 273: Still undecided on the grille but got some good pictures at Stanford with some ideas. Zoe thinks the car is great and refers to it as her car, but she isn't taking driving lessons at the moment so for now, it's all mine!!.

minimotor JD: Look forward to hearing that you're running. It's a great milestone and a motivator to get it road ready.

minispecial: The car was (and still is) for Zoe to use, but she now thinks she'll be to scared to drive it when she (eventually) passes her test.

Lewis: Realised it was you when I saw your name on the back of the car. I thought I'd maybe catch up with you later in the day but most had gone by the time I got back to the stand...... Next time!!

MiniMan65 & Peter: Glad to hear I'm not the only one. The touch up is getting there. A one eyed man on a galloping horse would never spot it! Bit more work to do yet, just need some decent weather.

Timty: Thanks for saying hello. Next time I attend a show and go on the stand, I'll make sure I stay there a little longer to get to meet more members.

DanNomNom: I'm quite often down in Somerset as my sister lives there and I visit our business unit in Bridgewater occasionally. But never been in the mini so I must have a double.

Daveeeeee: Noticed you've started work on yours again. Good luck.

Hekmat: Thanks for your comments.

Sonikk4: PM sent.

Apologies if I have missed anybody, not intentional.

On with the update:

With the car now running the updates aren't going to be quite as frequent, but ther's still plenty to do.

I've covered just over 500 miles in it so far and enjoyed every minute. Even took it to work. My bosses face was a picture when he asked me for a lift to the station!!!

Had an early issue with the points where some contamination and lack of lubricant (me not knowing) meant the plastic part of the contacts that rubs on the distributor spindle was wearing away, causing the points to close. Once rectified, (with the help of the members on here) no problems.

I uprated the needle and took off the pancake filter (far too noisy) and fitted a K & N in the standard air box. The car feels much stronger now (and quiter) and runs a treat.

It doesn't like running cold so either the waxstat, or still the needle, but I will get it on a rolling road once everything has settled.

The first time I drove at night I realised just how bad the lights in the aux gauges were. If you remember back, I uprated the ones in the speedo but left the others standard.

A "purchase" at Stanford gave me the excuse to do something with them. Apologies for the photo's as I seem to have got out of the habit of taking pictures at every stage.

A before......Once I had remembered the camera.



I at first thought I could just replace the bulb with some LED's



But it didn't seem much brighter, so...............................

Dissmantle the gauges



Mark & drill 2 holes in each



Clean up & paint the insides



Re-build and pop 2 x 5mm bright LED's in the top as well as retaining the standard bulb.

Missed the pictures on this one but the LED's just sat in the top, insulated and held in with tape. Couldn't do a more permanent fixture as the lights had to go in after the gauge was put back in the binacle.

They seem much brighter but I need to wait until dark for a final verdict.

And the purchase.................




I also bought a Savage switch panel (just need to save for some switches) and have ordered a matching heater panel from Roofless along with a lower dash rail cover from Retro.

With a bit of luck, I will get the dash area looking something like before too long.

I'll update as I go.

Many thanks for dropping by.

Kind regards

Steve

[minimaff]

Once again you pull another trick out of the hat, love the clocks, and the led's work well.

You can come to mine and fit lots of leds on my car lol

Keep up the fab work Steve