1065 replies to this topic

[Rosslin Racing]

its like climbing a mountain the last bits allways a barsteward, kam its looking good.

[Juju]

Jesus H ********, Kam! You've achieved so much since I was last on here!

I really hope you get the best out of it for your trip. You deserve it.

[Kam]

Cheers guys, and doctor! I'm getting kicked here whilst I'm down so far with this car, maybe its getting me back????

Speaking of kicking someone whilst there down......Bodyshop guy has let me down I picked up the car late wednesday night, it was dark it was raining, car was outside and wet but had a quick look round and seemed fine, he said he had a couple of issues but he sorted them out, said cheers and drove home.

Thursday morning, before I head off to work I thought I'd have a good look round the car in the garage and see the work he's done properly in the light those couple of issues he mentioned is far from a normal mistake??? There was paint run under the window on the passenger door and he's tried to smooth it down but left one area with no paint atall and runs are still there! Also on the bonnet at the very front center point it looks like the laquer has come away but closer inspection shows somethings knocked or brushed against it and cut into the paint???

I'm proper f****** livid now! Straight on the blower to him (as I knew his workshop was closed today) and tell him straight, he also knows I'm taking this to germany wednesday and I've been working on it for the last year, he apologised and knows where he messed up - this just set me off, the fact he knows it was like that and didn't tell me when I picked it up, they aint easy to spot but it aint on. He said he's away now till bank holiday weekend but will be back sunday afternoon so if I drop off the car to him then he will start on it and it will be done by tuesday morning - so thats ONE DAY BEFORE I LEAVE and I still got things to sort out on the car!

Told him he don't need the whole car just the bonnet and pass door so will take them off and drop them off to him sunday so I can at least finish off stuff on the car here, and that I WANT it back done properly and on tuesday or else, he knows he messed up and will sort it out.....

Apart from that everythings peachy NOT

Got back from work tonight and straight back on the car, another late one first up, took off the exhaust - the last thing I want to do at midnight!



I thought the blow was coming from the link pipe to manifold, but turns out it was coming from the lower section of the manifold itself where it clamps together





Clamps seemed to be nipped up but not 'very tight' also the pipes weren't pushed in fully, they were about 80% in so I reckon that and the fact the clamping force wasn't there and the run on the rollers had worked it loose. I had a little drive of it beforehand and its no way pulling like it did before and popping like mad, did not feel quick atall and when I parked up I could hear the air escaping from the front.....

I'll try that first before I go to work and go from there, then I need to get the door and bonnet off......

Also I took off the vtec solenoid, I know I took it off the other day but me being a plumb I only took off the top cover I was meant to take of these three 10mm bolts





A load of oil came out so its passing through and checked the gauze in the solenoid itself as they are known to clogg up



All fine there, I should really check the electrical connections first as the guys mentioned above but me and electrics, well, you know

i have a spare vtec solinod is you find yours is faulty

Sean, you could be a lifesaver for me, again! I'll get this one checked out and let you know

Are you using an aftermarket ECU to control when the VTEC kicks in? If so, does that switch an earth or switch a live? Maybe you need a constant live to the solenoid with a fuse, then the ECU will switch the earth on?

Too many bigs words there for me Matt I'm using a DTA ecu and I don't know anything about it! The guys at the rollers said they have put the vtec on for 4500rpm but I need 60% throttle, so I'm guessing that means I can feather the throttle at 6000rpm on the motorway and I won't have vtec? I think?

I know what your feeling with the vtec not working. I still havent got mine sorted. If you want to know if your solenoid is working get a switch and feed a 12v to it then straight to the solenoid like I did. Get the car up to temp and revs and press it. You'll know what to expect then and it proves the problem is elsewhere.

Hey Chris, I thought you emigrated or something

I might just go without the vtec for now? When I trailered it to the rollers the first time and the cv boot gaitor popped off they put a cap at 5000 rpm until I went back to them with the cv boots sorted out, I did about 300 miles like this and the car was pulling amazing, I was wondering if I needed vtec atall but I was only going upto 5k aswell. Might look into that switch idea though, can you just leave it switched on all the time your driving? Bit like nitrous, ready and armed!

With the exhaust blowing recently its been struggling to go, usual thing, foot flat down and no go, if I sort the exhaust out and turns out that was the problem I'm guessing it'll go like it did before expect now they have done the fueling upto 7000 rpm in 5th (when the boot gaitor went this time) so I should be okay upto 7k? That was 127mph, should be enough

[ginger_monkey]

Haha well I have been out the country for a bit but that's just work. Been busy with other things and the car has taken a bit of a back foot. Will be getting back on it soon With the switch for VTEC I use it when I'm foot down and pushing on say getting onto a motorway or some overtaking. Then when you let off I switch it back off as it's only meant to be on when the throttle is down. It'll still run ok like that but it's not what it should be doing. Make the switch easy to get at and if possible have a little push switch on the steering wheel (NOS LIKE) that'll stop VTEC when you let go.

[Kam]

Latest update

Still no word from the bodyshop guy to sort out his mistakes, unless I get the car to him by the latest tomorrow (bank holiday) as agreed with him, I'm wondering whether to take it atall as it makes me cry just looking at it

Bonnet



Under drivers mirror, theres some discolouring, white stuff is just G4 compund



Passenger door, there was runs, he's tried to plan them down and looks like held it in one place only as paint is gone!





Really at a lost with this, he knows what he's done wrong and possibly messed up my trip and said he will sort it out, problem is I'm having trouble getting hold of him, he said call me sunday, late if needed.......

I aint taking it to germany looking like this, period

Also oil update (yes oil!) this is important kids so please listen

I decided to change the oils for the rolling road session (bottom of page 14) was using mobil one (engine) and hondas mtf-3 (gearbox) so I thought I'd try some millers in both just for the rollers (honda manual does state to use engine oil in gearbox aswell)

Out on the road with millers in both, gearbox definatelty aint as smooth as before, some gears were occasionally hard to get, but the worse of all was the engine braking!!!! Wayyyyy to choppy, any gear floor it let off and you get that awful surge, definately wasn't like that before so drained the gearbox oil last night. Picked up some standard honda main dealer MTF-3 transmission oil earlier and chucked it in, in my own special way

While I was at honda I thanked the guys at the parts department aswell as they did me a letter a few weeks ago to confirm my engine details for dvla, and I had my V5 come through, nice one lads

As for my blowing exhaust, I've sorted it! Sort of?

I've done the clamps up supertight now as they wasn't exactly what I would call tight but it still pops, not all the time like before but its still there, took it out for a drive earlier terrorising the cars round here and it pulls quick like it did before (still no vtec mind) so it was only the tightness of the clamps in the end, but......

although it drives nice now even with the vtec not working it sounds like a rally car, its spits and pops and I swear it pooops a quick flame when aggravated! Don't get me wrong, its all nice and everything......if you got lairy arches, lairy bodywork, lairy paintjob lairy wheels etc but mine doesn't, it looks innocent, shy and nervous! Sound don't suit it

Oh, and gearbox is nice and smooth, nice gear changes just like before, and engine braking is smooth no matter what gear or revs, if you ever wondered if oil makes that much of a difference.....trust me, big time!

I will make a quick vid before we go away

[Kam]

With the switch for VTEC I use it when I'm foot down and pushing on say getting onto a motorway or some overtaking. Then when you let off I switch it back off as it's only meant to be on when the throttle is down

Hmmm gonna be interesting watching you go round castle combe next month, talk about multitasking!

[Deathrow]

I've just caught up with this and Kam, I have to say that you're an inspiration sir!

I've been having my own issues with Elliots heelboard lately but seeing you crack on after your cambelt issue has given me the wake up call I needed. I know now that the way forwards isn't to bury my head in the sand and mope about it but to get down there tomorrow and try and fix what's wrong, so that I can get her finished and get back behind the wheel.

I hope your bodywork man does the honourable thing and fixes his mistakes so that you can take the car to the ring like you deserve to.

Good luck!

[Kam]

Update:

Car is in bodyshop, he says I WILL have it back tomorrow, he doesn't know if it will be morning or evening, morning would be nice seeing as I still got things to do on it, but still. I said concentrate on the bonnet and pass door only, theres no way he can do the whole lot, the rest of his balls up he can sort out when I'm back. He had picked up some more paint before I got there so he knows how important this is.

Getting the car back from the bodyshop either the morning or evening before we head out is not my ideal situation but its out of my hands now, yes I could take it looking like its current state but thats not how I do things....I'm gonna go on the basis he will come through so I'll get the bits and bob I need today so I'm ready for the car when its back here, looks like I aint gonna have time to breathe tomorrow.....

[Kam]

I've been having my own issues with Elliots heelboard lately

Cheers Deathrow for the kind words hope you do crack on with Elliot, if thats that bad then put the tools down go in for a cup of tea and some time away from it and watch a bit of wheeler dealers and you'll soon be back out there, works for me, and I hate tea

[The Matt]

Offer still stands if it ain't ready........but it will be!

[Kam]

Latest update, make yourself a cup of tea, gonna be another 'short' one

Bodyshop guy said he will text me today to let me know how its going and how its looking for pick-up tomorrow, he said he will definately text me today without fail. Been out all day and no text, gets to 19.00 and still no word from him

19.15 get a text from him, car is coming along nicely and will be ready tomorrow for pick-up and shouldn't be too late either

He was on a very fine line but getting that text from him has lifted my spirits up again I will still reserve judgement until I see it though?

In the meantime car or no car (car does help!) I got a TMF run to get ready for!

My under riders were looking a bit sorry for themselves, pitted, scuffed, usual things so took them to London Chroming in the Old Kent Road to get them re-chromed, now I know chroming aint exactly cheap but.....£70 for both under riders!

Asked about getting my pitted front clubby bumper done aswell, £280 plus vat!

I'm in the wrong business!

I got the under riders done as they really did need doing, poor picture but they are mint!



As for the front bumper.....well

I just bought a new one from Somerfords



It cost alot less than £280 plus vat!

Clubby front grill was next, new one was out of the question, my one has seen better days, I did 'try' and re-spray but had trouble with the silver/black combo, just couldn't get a good enough split of the colours, so.......after seeing bakker110's avatar I thought sod it! All black! Cheers Andy



Lets face it, it aint a 1275gt so don't need to be all genuine clubby looking, right?

Also george91 mentioned half way down on page 14:

not sure you'll be able to keep it on the road though with 4.5" wide wheels lol

as for the steel wheels George, dont worry, they should hopefully hold out as I've got a surprise for them that should help them on the track seeing as they are only 4.5's will reveal later

I was gonna reveal my super secret weapon for my wheels at brands hatch but might aswell now, first things first, it aint super or a secret, and it 'might' not help round a track

Super rover plastic hub caps batman!!!!!!



Check out the spokeage!



These are the ones you get on the Rio, You know, the rio one with a clubman front Got these brand spanking new (yes I did genuinely buy these!) from South Lakeland mini center If you need any bits, ask these lot, they can get more strange parts than most

Not sure if its proven that these 'caps' will help me on track? The cars not setup for track, its setup for sunday driving! All fun

I also picked up a while back up my old plastic hubs that I sold to oli8925



He was using my old steelies to move 'baby' around at the time, he's got them on his vauxhall viva at the moment due to a mishap in the rain and pranging his wheels, hope you get the suspension sorted out soon mate and thanks again

I'm keeping these here as I fancy getting some Yoko A048-R on another set of steel wheels and putting oli's hub caps on there soley for track use as theres a couple of scuffs etc so don't matter if I 'clip' the apex, mind you they might pop off and go spinning down the tarmac!

Steel wheels rock!

Its all part of my quest to demoralise people out on the road who underestimate someone driving a mini......

Everythings ready to go on and in the car to be packed, all down to the bodyshop guy now.....

[Kam]

Offer still stands if it ain't ready........but it will be!

Appreciate that Matt

Mind you, does that include towing me, you know, just incase......

[Deathrow]

Ten points for every trim you can lose on the ring?

Cheers for the kind words as well Kam, I've had a good old measure today and I don't think the problem is anywhere near as large as my brain was making it out to be.

[Kam]

Update:

Bodyshop guy came through, I picked up the car at 15.30, I've been up since 7 running round all day getting stuff and the car is back home, couple of minor little bits he will sort out when we get back but the bonnet and both doors are done. He admitted he rushed it the first time round and apologised again. To me its how people sort out there mistakes rather than lie about it. Car is back home now and thats the main thing.

Also, picked up some new plates earlier, got some small text at the bottom





As for the vtec not working, I gave Geoff Watson a call to pick his brain.......he said the loom is all plug and play so I aint done nothing wrong there. He said try putting a 12v feed to the solenoid switch and see if you can hear it clicking........then he said "actually forget that, check the relay for the vtec, make sure its 12v and not 24v"

He said he had batch of 12v relays come through and a couple of 24's were in there

Went out to the garage, checked relay and would you adam and eve it! 24v vtec relay!

Been rushing out to a motor factors before they shut and ended up going to 3! Got one and rushed back, stuck it in the relay holder, took mini out and after about 15mins driving I found a nice empty private airfield......and nailed it.....



Says it all, right?

I really wanted to drive it some more but couldn't, I got a list of things still to do to it, might have to leave out a couple of bits but will see, and then I gotta clean it and load it up, doubt I'll be sleeping now

Sorry I can't update any pics of the the car, it wont be ready now till either I finish it or its time to leave for brands hatch, whichever comes first! I'm whacked but gotta get on it now. If I get time I'll update later whenever that will be but don't bank on it

[mdickson]

Great news Kam,

Glad to hear that you got the full power of the V-tec working. Enjoy it and have a great time at the ring. See you at Coombe.

Martin.