169 replies to this topic

[oli8925]

You know those days when you just feel like giving up...

[Calman]

All too well....?

[oli8925]

Now got these on their way to me, so will be polishing up my bumper and attaching everything again to fully test out the fog wiring.

What's the best way to protect the underside of the bumpers? They've got a coating of surface rust at the moment and wondered if a coating of Kurust then Hammerite or underseal stuff would do it any good.

Also found a cheap pair of uncracked front indicators which I'm pretty happy about, and cleaned up my vinyl rear seats and sun visors, they came up a treat. Cillit bang and a nail brush in a circular motion, wipe away excess, then vinyl and rubber care spray worked in with a sponge and wipe dry I've found to be the best way.

SL grille is cleaned up best I can so will get that on when I make some new brackets for it.

Currently trying to free up the heater control valve and looking for someone who can make me a new cable for it. Pig of a job refitting it all so not looking forward to it but at least it will be done. The bracket I made ages ago for my aux gauges is out to be cleaned and painted so it ties in with the rest of the car. Rocker covers getting cleaned up (whats the best way to get rid of oil, rust and flaking paint?) and repainted black with a red or white 70's Vauxhall badge painted on when I find/make a template (might need to contact roofless ). What's the best paint to use here? Will Hammerite do, or is high temp paint better or is there something else I should use?

Also drawing up plans to make a board from wood to go in the gap between the back seat and boot (was a bit of flimsy cardboard before), then I'll make a sub box to attach to it and can put my sub and amp in without making holes in the bodywork. Only problem is the board will be at an angle so I will need to make a sub box with an angled back - I don't know what this angle is yet and I HATE woodwork so I'm dreading doing this! Can be a longer term part of the project. (Or I'll pay someone to do it for me)

All little things but it's keeping me from getting frustrated at the lack of real progress. Unfortunately still not been able to get hold of the guy with the spare Viva, starting to lose hope in that plan again

Edited by oli8925, 31 August 2010 - 04:22 PM.

[jayare]

Got some parts for my Vauxhall engine conversion off a guy not too far away from me who's well into his Vivas - not sure if he'll have the heater valve/cables but may be worth a try - http://vauxhallgreenparts.co.uk/

JR

[oli8925]

Ah so you've met this guy/these people in person? Good to hear some encouraging words. This is the company I had trouble getting replies from via email, and then when I finally did get a list of parts it was pretty expensive. But all the same I know they have the parts I need and am planning to give them a call tomorrow to arrange something. I hope he agrees to a courier but if not I'll have to find someone with a biggish car to drive me all the way up there and back.

Thanks for the info anyway

[luvlygal]

All of this giving up talk is nonsense. You're getting there slowly with the little things and the bigger things will fall into place sooner or later. Be patient, Mister!

[jayare]

Ah so you've met this guy/these people in person? Good to hear some encouraging words. This is the company I had trouble getting replies from via email, and then when I finally did get a list of parts it was pretty expensive. But all the same I know they have the parts I need and am planning to give them a call tomorrow to arrange something. I hope he agrees to a courier but if not I'll have to find someone with a biggish car to drive me all the way up there and back.

Thanks for the info anyway

I met a guy called Keith - picked the bits up from his house as it's only about 20 minutes away from me. He replied to my emails pretty quickly and I also spoke to him a couple of times on the phone. He seemed quite interested in my plans for my Mini!

JR

[oli8925]

Yeah think it was Keith I was talking to in emails. Will probs give him a try anyway, to be fair I've not tried calling him so could well have been emails disappearing into the interweb.

I've been patient for the last 4 months thanks, its fast running out now

[oli8925]

Progress has been a bit slow this week because of time and exams.

Have finished all the switches and panel, electronic flasher units for hazards and indicators.
Front bumper derusted and polished.
Have bolted on the fog lights but I think they might be angled too high so will have to see about brackets I guess.

Still to do rear bumper, rocker cover, front seats, boot board and sub, heater cable, dye carpet and a few other little bits.

Got the car booked into the bodyshop in a few weeks (damn holiday got in the way )

Pics of new bits and seats to come soon.

Am also considering getting another grille and looking at modifying it a bit. There are holes in the front panel and I used these holes for the fogs when I mock wired them in. The end result I rather liked for a pair of driving lamps. But that will be a future investment

[bluffin]

Hi oli8925 Nice project you have  . I think it's getting fasionable for a mini owner to have a Viva as well, I recently picked up a 1972 Viva very cheaply and it's not been easy to keep it going, as you have probably noticed we are buying bits off the same car on the Viva Forum. I know what you mean about how hard it is to get parts, basically you have to wait until one is scrapped before stuff becomes available, we are so lucky in the mini scene that parts are so easily available.


Here are a few pics of mine

[mk3cortina]

i quite fancy getting a viva to add to my collection, needs to be a 2 door though.

[oli8925]

Ok, quick update.

Been having a pretty crap time in the past week. First I was supposed to be going on holiday to Rhodes with the gf on Wednesday, then I found out I had a couple of uni exams on Thursday so had to cancel my outgoing flight out and book another flight with easyjet for this morning at 7am. Yesterday I had the exams, one of which went very badly, then whilst doing the final flight checks I find out easyjet have actually put me on the wrong flight and I'm in fact going to Turkey. Panicked last night and managed to get through to their customer services (who?) and get told the flight I'm supposed to be on is fully booked so I'll have to be transfered at my cost on to a flight to Rhodes on Saturday afternoon. Decide to go to the airport this morning just incase I can get on instead of a cancellation or no-show flyer. I then get told there never has been a flight to Rhodes on Friday, and that the next flight is the one I'm already booked in for on Saturday. So so far I've missed 4 days of my 8 day holiday because of exams and easyjet being :xxx:s, I've also payed £200 on top of the £300 the holiday cost just to get out there!

Anyway, sorry about the whinge, this left me with an entire day free. At least I managed to get some stuff done to the car.



Modified the fog light brackets so they'll be the correct height, reattached front bumper to car, test fitted the SL grille, and managed to reconnect the heater control cable (most fiddly cable ever and awful design by Vauxhall!), and from there managed to put my dashboard back together with it all looking a bit cleaner and my aux gauges bracket painted black. Only little jobs but at last they're done and I can forget about them.

Pic:


Also had this turn up as I was wrestling with the bumper:


Front crossmember, upper wishbone, lower wishbone and a control arm
to replace my possibly damaged items. Just need to clean them up and then she's ready for the body shop on Monday week.

Got these from VauxhallGreenParts in the end. Must have been something wrong with my email last time because this time Keith's been excellent, great communication and help. Would recommend him for help with any hard to find Vauxhall parts!

So some progress now I just have to wait till I'm back from holiday...which won't be long anymore *mumbles naughty words*

Edited by oli8925, 17 September 2010 - 07:25 PM.

[Calman]

Nice looking now isnt it! I want to see some wide steels though ...

Take it your not getting the donor now then?

Keep it coming

[oli8925]

Im still trying to get the donor. My dad and I have been trying the guy's phone for two weeks but keep getting answer phone. However his mates just said his phones been playing up and it should be sorted now/soon. So my dad will keep trying while I'm away. Fingers crossed

[Calman]

Sounds good dude, just lemme no whenever. Been looking about for other classics too but dunno...

Running out of pennys atm, just bought my new strap on tool box for work and gota go to nottingham for a week for a mazda traingin corse. Bricking it, us country bumpkins dont like citys