1065 replies to this topic

[MiniMan65]

If you need some inspiration mate, I finished a Mini project (not a mental VTEC like your goodself, a much more mundane rebuild) the weekend before Le Mans 2 years ago, had it MOT'd on Monday, failed, retested the next day and we hit the ferry boat Wednesday evening with a fully loaded car for the trip down and we were still getting various electrics to work as we queued for the boat...

BUT....

The car made it all the from Hatfield-Dover-Calais-Le Mans, spent 4 fantastic days hooning around the town/circuit/campsite and then made it all the way back again with only a few popped fuses and a leaking brake line.

IT CAN BE DONE....BELIEVE MATE.....I WANT TO SEE THAT CAR ON THE MULSANNE STRAIGHT LIKE MINE WAS!






DO IT!

[mighty mini jack]

Been keeping a close eye on this from Day one Kam, doing awesome fella!

[ginger_monkey]

update update how'd it go today. I'm not gonna be up at 2am for your post

[george91]

Nice job so far mate, enjoying reading this, keep up the good work.

[Kam]

Cheers guys for positive posts, MiniMan65 that is some uplifting pictures there mate

Well I managed to pick up the trailor and get the mini to the rolling road



And get the mapping done as the base map was very lean. Starts up, idles, revs smoothly. He said the engine is totally fine (my main worry as ebay jobbie) and the lambda is spot on even though I'm running no cat



But couldn't get a power run done as the driveshaft boot gaitor popped off! (luckily it didn't split) Looks like plastic cable ties are no match for the metal ones, or maybe the other way round



Theres bit of grease on there ceiling aswell They have just had the ceiling cleaned due to the last mini vtec doing the same thing but mine was tame compared to that one, that minis problem....yep plastic ties aswell.....

to be honest I got metal ties with the boot gaitors but thought the plastics would be good enough He said on a normal car yes but you dont own a normal car now so you gotta think outside the box

He said get the metals on and book it in for a power run but the map is done for driving anyway so got the car home around 6pm and put on some metal ones and had a little drive down a private road **cough cough**

Errm yeah......its a bit effin quick!

But didnt have time for all that so back in the garage to get it ready for the MOT at 9am following morning. Now although I know the guy who's doing the MOT I did say dont do a 'mates' MOT treat it like normal as its gotta be safe, I didn't want to take the pee so went to get all the main stuff on, got to around just after midnight and the indicators wasn't working? After some troubleshooting I found the relay behind the dash wasn't clicking and there was a short somewhere and the headlight was cutting out on full beam. I called it a night at 2am as I really need a new flasher relay and MOT starts in 7 hours.

Got to the motor factors this morning at 8am and got all new relays, put them on and got intermittent clicking but no indicators, hazzards and intermittent wipers but flasher and horn works, and still had a list of things to do at least for a MOT, mate or not, so had to make a decision.........

Rode to MOT place just before 9am and told him I was pulling the plug on the deadline, I still had other things to finish off on the car after I had sorted out the lights, he said he can try and squeeze it in tomorrow if he has any time but cant promise it but MOT wednesday wouldn't help as I still needed to get tax etc and have at least a days shakedown, besides he's already moved it twice for me around other people anyway so I cant ask anymore from him, he has been top notch though but theres no guarantee the car would be fit anyway?

I also haven't been excited about going to Le Mans again, its just been about "will my mini get done in time?" Theres no motivation now to get on with it, will just do bits n bob when I get back. I will be taking it to the nurburging in september with TMF lot, that wont change

Its nice to read peoples replies on here aswell during the build, it does help I'm not saying the build has stopped but my excitement has been transferred from the build to my trip, one can wait one can't, so will see how I feel when I get back from listening to fast cars going round again and again and again and again.....

Next time I will get my finger out quicker and get on with stuff

I am gutted big time as the last seven months has been to take it on this trip, but sometimes you gotta use common sense over excitement?

Bonjour

[Kam]

Just found my motivation for my build for when I get back

http://s172.photobuc...nt=MAH00366.flv

Its amazing what 3 hours can do September TMF retro run is now the new deadline

Bring it on, again

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Does that mean you won't be making Lemans this year Kam? I'm too excited about the race, it's a highlight of the year for sure. Just been sitting here on my birthday watching practice and quali all day LOL i know how to celebrate.

Ps, to get into the spirit of proceeding's, do you still have the pictures of the Min all stickered up for last years Lemans? I lost them on my computer and can't find where you posted them! it looked brilliant.

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 10 June 2010 - 12:09 AM.

[ginger_monkey]

unlucky mate was looking forward to you getting it on the road for your trip but best not to rush the build as that's when things will go wrong and in a build like this if things go wrong it can go very wrong. I'm gonna be coming down your way in the next few weeks so will have to pop over and say ello. See you car and kick your arse into gear to get it finished

P.S how much did they charge for your rolling road session?

Edited by ginger_monkey, 11 June 2010 - 05:30 AM.

[Kam]

Does that mean you won't be making Lemans this year?

I was going anyway Craig, just wanted to go in the mini, thats all, its nice when folk in 430's Gt3's GT40's give you the thumbs up

unlucky mate was looking forward to you getting it on the road for your trip but best not to rush the build as that's when things will go wrong and in a build like this if things go wrong it can go very wrong

My thinking aswell, also mapping is £450 flat. I know people here have done builds and gone on long runs straight after MOT's etc but unless its a hybrid build then its a different kettle of fish?

I got to Le Mans and had an awesome time as usual, but the guys in our convoy were gutted as they wanted to see the mini like last year, these lot drive TVR's M3's etc so just goes to show how much the mini is loved

The car will get done......

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

I watched 14 hours of Lemans but went to Beaulieu Mini show on sunday so missed the end,

Can i jump on your convoy to Lemans next year Kam?

This is the closest i got to Circuit De Le Sarth this year!

[Kam]

Can i jump on your convoy to Lemans next year Kam?

Did you mean driving? Are you gonna be driving by then? If so then definately but you will need to check the european laws on ages for driving over there?

I would say jump in our car but its only me and my mate that head out, we meet the others on route, problem is we only take one car so two people in a mini with all the gear is already pushing it because I couldn't take the mini this time round he managed to borrow a beemer from his mate last minute, but he wasn't meant to be driving it there

All fun

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

If i find a job before christmas then i should be driving by then indeed mate!

I see what you mean, that really is pushing the poor little Mini Talking of Mini, anymore progress?

[Kam]

Talking of Mini, anymore progress?

to be honest Mr J, I've stayed away from it for the last few days, needed a break, start fresh and all that, not really anything to update?

That dont mean I cant go buy things for it though So picked up a tool to make sure some new steel tie wraps stay on the CV boots this time to prevent them popping off as plastic ones are utter **insert word here**



Oh yeah and some heritage clubman panels





I'm ditching the fiberglass front end and going for a steel pull away, I would be too ashamed to drive my mini with the front on there that I put on! I should've got the front without the A panels in the first place to save me cutting anything major or got a bodyshop to cut it up, live and learn eh?

Managed to pick up a clubby bonnet aswell as heritage ones are difficult to find! Secondhand ones ain't exactly a walk in the park to find either, but I got one



I've managed to sort out the indicator problem I was having that messed up my MOT and me taking this on my trip!

Basically my hazard light switch was not working or lighting up, the stalk would operate the flasher for the headlights and main beam but no indicators and the flasher relay was 50/50 as sometimes it clicked and sometimes it didn't, as I hadn't of touched anything on the wiring as its all original mini lighting I changed the hazard light switch and flasher relay, turn key and still the same problem?

Checked the inline fuse aswell that controls the hazards (purple wire 15 amp) multimeter was buzzing on the fuse so nothing wrong with that? Now don't ask me why but I changed the fuse anyway? And hey presto it all works now! So in the end it was a lonely 15 amp fuse that prevented me from taking the mini to Le Mans!

Looks like the love/hate relationship is still going strong? Like I have said many many many times, I hate electrics, they should be banned on cars

All game on now though

[davethemini1293]

hey kam looking good still!
would you consider selling me your FG front when your done with it?
cheers

[Kam]

hey kam looking good still!
would you consider selling me your FG front when your done with it?

Selling? Are you having a giraffe?

I'm not sure where this could be used? Its more out of alignment than Jodie Marsh!!! I was gonna bin it as I really cant see where it would help anyone on a mini, so your welcome to it when I'm done with it!

Whats its gonna be used for out of interest?