723 replies to this topic

[Petrol]

Just read the thread, very interesting and thanks for taking the time to post it all up. Some interesting mods you have done and love the LED stuff - Oh and the switches are a touch of class!

What's the prob with the paint? "is not faring too well having been sat outside for a couple of years"

 

Best

 

Pete

[stevede]

Just read the thread, very interesting and thanks for taking the time to post it all up. Some interesting mods you have done and love the LED stuff - Oh and the switches are a touch of class!

What's the prob with the paint? "is not faring too well having been sat outside for a couple of years"

 

Best

 

Pete

 

Hi Pete, thanks for your comments.

 

The problem with the paint is that I think I put too much on in less than ideal conditions. The paint looks as though it has crazed and will need sanding back to a good base & repaint :-(

 

Regards

 

Steve 

[Petrol]

Hi Steve,

Crazing usually happens when too much time is left between coats. What happens is this, the paint starts to harden and shrinks, then you apply another wet coat so you have the first coats going off and shrinking, then a wet coat on top. This causes the crazing.

 

On the + side though, rather than a respray you could always flat the problem areas back and burnish them with something like Farecla G3 (coarse compound) then Farecla G10 (fine compound) It's a bit of work to do this but might be easier than a respray.

 

Hope that helps

 

Pete

[stevede]

Hi Steve,

Crazing usually happens when too much time is left between coats. What happens is this, the paint starts to harden and shrinks, then you apply another wet coat so you have the first coats going off and shrinking, then a wet coat on top. This causes the crazing.

 

On the + side though, rather than a respray you could always flat the problem areas back and burnish them with something like Farecla G3 (coarse compound) then Farecla G10 (fine compound) It's a bit of work to do this but might be easier than a respray.

 

Hope that helps

 

Pete

 

Hi Pete

Thanks for the information. I think in my case it's too much paint and although I will give flatting back a go, it looks too deep for that to work.

 

Regards

 

Steve

[stevede]

Hi All

 

Another quick update on where I am at with the engine & Gearbox rebuild.

 

I thought I had got all the bits back together, but when I checked the gasket pack & noticed an "O" ring. Upon checking where it fitted, was gutted to discover that it went under the selector fingers and should have been the first bit in.

 

I had to strip the gearbox down again, and I'm still not certain it was actually needed.

 

A re-fit of the main shaft saw me move a selector, only to go too far and the balls & springs from the 3rd & 4th syncro head skywards. On the 3rd attempt (yes I did it twice), all seemed to go to plan and I was back to where I started with just the diff to go.

 

I managed to sand the mica washer in the diff kit to the required thickness, & completed the diff build.

 

 

 

Diff in place & shimmed up

 

 

 

And finally, together as one

 

 

 

Have been speaking with Minisport about the machining I need doing. A couple of small bits I am having done by a pal who has a full machine shop (no boring or honing gear though).

 

Have received the carb rebuild kit and will get on with that next, as well as some checking on the cylinder head I bought a while back.

 

That's all for now

 

Thanks for looking in

 

Regards

 

Steve

 

[Nossedout]

truly love the colour of the mini! good job mate!!!

[minimuk]

Nice one and very clean garage part yr working in, re synchro balls and springs ,....I had my fair share of experience in shooting them everywhere on rebuilds of a box or 2.....you made me laugh when I read yr last tread. 

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

Hi All
 
Another quick update on where I am at with the engine & Gearbox rebuild.
 
I thought I had got all the bits back together, but when I checked the gasket pack & noticed an "O" ring. Upon checking where it fitted, was gutted to discover that it went under the selector fingers and should have been the first bit in.
 
I had to strip the gearbox down again, and I'm still not certain it was actually needed.
 
A re-fit of the main shaft saw me move a selector, only to go too far and the balls & springs from the 3rd & 4th syncro head skywards. On the 3rd attempt (yes I did it twice), all seemed to go to plan and I was back to where I started with just the diff to go.
 
I managed to sand the mica washer in the diff kit to the required thickness, & completed the diff build.
 

 
 
Diff in place & shimmed up
 

 
 
And finally, together as one
 

 
 
Have been speaking with Minisport about the machining I need doing. A couple of small bits I am having done by a pal who has a full machine shop (no boring or honing gear though).
 
Have received the carb rebuild kit and will get on with that next, as well as some checking on the cylinder head I bought a while back.
 
That's all for now
 
Thanks for looking in
 
Regards
 
Steve

Is your work bench in a garage or a hospital?

Edited by HUBBA.HUBBA, 27 May 2013 - 07:35 AM.

[stevede]

Thanks for the comments on the garage   . It is only half of one as we split it in half a few years ago to make a utility and access to my office which is in the loft. 

 

As I run a business unit selling medical consumables (among other things), I do find that some of the products we sell double up nicely as component trays.

 

 

I am in the process of making my work space as clean and organised as it can be. I am replacing the old up & over door very soon and will also be updating the boiler in the corner which will give me more floor room. Wall cupboards will be updated & the tiling continued round. Floor to be decided.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Few more of the box build I missed

 

Swarfega path clear which says it can be used neat on parts does a cracking job. Half the price of gunk & smells much better.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm on with the carb at the moment so will post up some more pictures very soon.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Regards

 

Steve

 

[grahama]

Great looking box Steve, your work is always nice to see, medically clean workspace , very nice!

[stevede]

Hi All

 

I thought I would post up just a short update. Few more bits & pieces completed.

 

Thanks for the comments Graham. We'll have to arrange a meet.

 

I was paranoid about dropping something into the freshly built gearbox so I thought I had best seal it up to keep it "fresh" until needed.

 

 

 

I received a rebuild kit for the carb and set about that.

 

 

 

 

Fairly straight forward with a decent set of instructions. All seems good inside and I have replaced the main spindle & bushes as well. Couldn't seem to get the outside clean, but then it's going under a standard air box.

 

 

 

A center main strap was acquired and a pal machined the cap for me.

 

 

 

Did some measuring on the cylinder head chambers to calculate the CR. Many thanks to Cooperman and his excellent write up & formula. 

 

 

 

Currently averaging 24cc and the pistons I have ordered have 6cc dish. The head needs a skim to clean up so will check the deck height on the block with the pistons fitted and work out what's needed & how much I have to play with.

 

 

Have a call in London tomorrow, which handily is not too far away from Minspares so my order is in and ready for collection. I'll get the machining done and we should be good for a build

 

Will keep you all updated

 

Thanks for dropping by

 

Regards

 

Steve

 

 

 

 

[sonikk4]

Tiles in a garage, how very rude    the only tiles in mine are under Erm waiting to be fitted in the house. 40 sq mtrs of the damn things.

[jagman.2003]

Tiles in a garage, how very rude    the only tiles in mine are under Erm waiting to be fitted in the house. 40 sq mtrs of the damn things.

 

I know, clean work bench space as well. How the other half live. But I'm glad to see the oil is not being topped up in one of those cardboard things to piddle when in hospital..! Nice engine build though. Good luck, seems to be coming along quite quickly.

Edited by jagman.2003, 13 June 2013 - 07:20 AM.

[zony]

Hi Steve, truly awesome project. I am well impressed with your attention to detail. I have a 98 Sportspack and the front end is shot. Reading your vast blog has given me the confidence to have a go. I redid the back end last your, similar to the rebuild you did.

 

In hindsight if you were redoing the front end what would you do differently and is it worth paying the extra for heritage panels. I used 50/50 at the back. Boot floor panel and valence were copy , all the others were heritage. ( I want to keep the engine and subframe in.) (unless its too rotten not to)

 

You said you wished you had fitted A panels first. What I need to know is a laymans guide to the best way of doing it.

 

Many thanks its a great car you must be very proud of it. Tell Zoe she must be bonkers.

[stevede]

 

Tiles in a garage, how very rude    the only tiles in mine are under Erm waiting to be fitted in the house. 40 sq mtrs of the damn things.

 

I know, clean work bench space as well. How the other half live. But I'm glad to see the oil is not being topped up in one of those cardboard things to piddle when in hospital..! Nice engine build though. Good luck, seems to be coming along quite quickly.

 

 

Never thought of using one of those..... Good idea.  I have used the wash bowls in the past when doing an oil change on my bike, and in the early pictures of the 998 being cleaned, you can see some bed pads on the floor to soak up the mess. 

 

Fortunately, I'm not at the stage (yet) where I need to use them personally if you know what I mean