1146 replies to this topic

[hughJ]

Graham your an old friend now and you have helped me all along - I do appreciate. skyblueads, Brams96 and EngineerDaisy great to have your comments - it really helps. EngineerDaisy I live north of Inverness near Alness which is maybe 70 miles from Aberlour. I love that area near the Spey. And SomethingNew71 I sat on it and rocked it back and fore - my garage is so small and full of stuff that riding at around would be impossible! I sure would have liked to.

I took the radius arms back out! I separated the cones and rubber springs - it took a bit of persuasion. Then I took the cups for the knuckles out the radius arm and got the rubber covers fitting over them. I fitted the radius arm and then pushed the assembled cone, knuckle and cup into the hole on the radius arm and then fitted the rubber spring. Much, much easier. Hope that helps anyone following.

I then assembled the brake lines. I also put back the old handbrake cables - their fine just a bit dirty. But I cannot lay my hands on my box of split pins so the cables are not yet routed round the quadrants.





And I've wire brushed the front subframe and 'Kurusted' The Kurust is not dry enough tonight to prime. Looks good as it goes black.



This might be of help on assembling the rear brakes. It is on an Seven Enterprises website an American company selling Mini parts. Their schematic diagrams are very helpful.



The Haynes manual is not very clear about this. I've used many a Haynes manual over the years but the one on the Mini could be more helpful. We are to ensure the shoes are refitted correctly!

A wee bit further along

Hugh

Edited by hughJ, 31 December 2011 - 07:56 PM.

[minimuk]

looking good there Hugh, happy new year to you, soon yr mini will be on the road by the looks of it, progress every day keep it going

[EngineerDaisy]

Cool thats a really nice area of the country as well. I drove my first mini up your way in Tain when looking to buy mine. Both subframes are looking really good and im sure you'll soon get the shell on its own four wheels again I dont know if you've been on www.scottishmini.co.uk as well but there are a few mini people up your way on there, AndyMiniMad on here or BALDINGBEAST as he is on scottishmini and BATESPEED are two off the top of my head.

[BusheyTrader]

I've seen advice against using narrow bore central heating copper piping as fuel line. I can't see the problem copper is after all copper. I used it before on a car. Any advice here?

Hi,

I got flamed by some Americans and Australians on the TR7 / TR8 forum when I stated my TR7V8 had been uprated with copper brake pipes. There have been much publicised headline incidents overseas due to the fracture of "non automotive copper" brake pipes and fuel lines. They don't like the vibrations they're subject to in a car and eventually fracture. Not good for brakes apparently. Have a google on the web.

I'd used the proper automotive stuff available from specialists over here so it wasn't an issue. I think something is added to the copper.

Compared to the overall costs of your restoration, buying the proper automotive copper pipe for brakes or fuel line is only a few pounds extra for your safety. I won't be fitting domestic pipe to mine just in case.....................


Adam

[grahama]

Like it Hugh, coming together nicely, but I too have heard that the copper brakepipes have something else in them. Better change them now if you are going to rather than when it's all built up. Kurust going on my rear sub today if it stops raining, bloody weathermen got it wrong again !!

Happy New year pal.

Graham

[Brams96]

Can't you just run a SS sheathed rubber fuel flexi pipe instead of the copper pipe? If you did would it need to go inside the car?

[GWA1981]

Hello hugh

Just joined the mini revolution ,been looking at a few threads never thought about welding till I found how much it costs! seen your thread and thought what the hell give it a go . 2 months ago was bought a 29 yr hle bucket for my 30th just a little to be done pls share ur knowledge with a novice look forward to u progress. Ps starting a thread Tomoz

[hughJ]

A very good new year to all of you. I hope 2012 is the year we all make major Mini progress!

Thanks for the comments and advice. I can get Kunifer piping on Ebay 2.5m of 1/4 inch should do it.

GWA1981 You will get the hang of welding. I'm an old guy and I 'learned' - I'm no expert welder but I'm quite happy now to run in a weld and be happy it is holding the metal together. If you check my early pages I am just giving the advice given me by others. Get a Clerke welder (I got a 135TE) - they seem to be recommended a lot. I am more than happy with mine. Rent a bottle of gas. Mine is from Air Products (Ferromax) and is about £14 a month. You also have to pay for the gas fill. Get a reactive welding helmet - that makes a huge difference. Practice and practice and practice on 9mm thick steel till it happens and it will. Oh, make sure it is clean! One moment you think you cannot control the heat, the next it suddenly comes. I hated it at first and I have to say I'm glad to be having a break from welding just now. There are also super videos on the net showing how to weld thin steel. You actually pulse the weld. You weld for maybe a second or two. Stop. Then as the red is dying out then start again and so on.

A bad start to 2012. I get bothered with my back and sciatica from time to time. And yes its there. All that grumaging on the floor of the garage with the subframes is not good for an older man. Enjoy your youth you youngsters on the Forum!

I still managed to get the front subframe painted

Primed



And painted



Boring I know!

Hugh

[CLM]

Your front subframe looks brilliant Hugh! And coming full circle as well! From being coaxed into welding to coaxing others! Excellent Tomorrow.. tomorrow I order floors....

Chris

[minimuk]

You must have been high as a kite doing the paint job, good start for 2012, excellent

[GWA1981]

Thanks for the encouragement Hugh just opened an account at boc gonna have a go the weekend ! Let u know how it's going

[hughJ]

Thanks Chris and minimuk. GWA1981 - just keep at it - it will come.

Putting off doing much with my back - I would hate hearing me on the forum - a right whiner! If I don't overdo it it will get better quicker.

I've just been cleaning threads and greasing ready for reassemble.



I do like my poly-bushes!!! I get jealous of some people on the forum with their multicolour subframes!! My green will make up for it!

Crawling along

Hugh

[CLM]

I don't know, I rather like your colorful subframe over some of the others that just get color bombed, very tasteful and I bet those bushes match your car well :)

Chris

[grahama]

mmmmmmmmmmmm nice !!! Lots to do, but get ur back right first you whiner !!

[deebo]

its taken hours but i have finally read all the way to the end! your project is truly awsome you've done a cracking job Hugh, well done