1146 replies to this topic

[Albertini]

Well done Hugh, I bet it won't be too long before you're putting photos on here of it somewhere picturesque (spelt right?) in the highlands. Good work.

[davej]

A massive milestone reached, well done Hugh.

[hughJ]

tino, Chris, Albertini and Dave thanks for your nice remarks. It's a good feeling. There is still a bit to go.

 

Today I got the new front to rear brake-pipe in. Don't know does it follow the original route or not but it links front to back.

 

 

 

 

And my son gave me a hand to get the last bit of glass in

 

 

It's going in the right direction. However even with my trusty old easibleed I can't get the pedal to firm up. I'll have a wee look round the forum for hints.

 

Moving along, Hugh

[sonikk4]

Hugh you may have to pump the footbrake at the same time as using the easibleed.

[Andrew O]

Have you put the calipers on the correct side ? They are not universal.
I made this mistake

Andrew

[Snookles]

You have done some fantastic work, I have really enjoyed reading your blog and loving the photos, I'm looking forward to seeing it all finished!

[Marco1972]

Hi Hugh

Just checked back into your thread and your almost finished !!

It's looking great just those little jobs left to do I'm still at the welding and grinding stage so a long long way off ( so much for my idea of a little light restoration !!!) lol

Keep up the great work you'll soon be whizzing around the lanes of Scotland

[hughJ]

Neil always appreciate your advice, haven't got round to it yet, putting off! Andrew thanks for the advice, how would you tell? I'm pretty sure I kept everything on a side together. Snookles, kind words and much appreciated. Marco1972, I am so glad I am past all the welding, but every stage has its drawbacks. I am just not getting there.

 

This update is just to show I haven't completely ground to a halt. I've fitted out the back of the car and got all the seat belts in.

 

 

 

Working on the front grill

 

 

Fitting heater ducting

 

 

And fitting more at the front, like indicators. I know I've used older style ones, but I prefer the look of them. They needed a wee bit of adapting to wire them.

 

 

Pathetic jobs like a number plate, but it has to be done

 

 

I am toiling with the electrics at present.

 

Headlights are not working. Oil pressure light not working. Indicators not working. And so it goes on. My heater is leaking so will order a new matrix. Brake pedal as already said still not working. Pretty sure the clutch isn't. Things move but its far too soft. Just a whole lot of fiddly boring things.

 

Boring along, Hugh

[Ben_O]

I read this ages ago and then forgot about it!

I just read through it again and have to say you have done some great work. It really is a great story to read and even though you seem to at points like you want to throw in the towel, you stuck with it.

So many people get bored and end up selling and I think its a shame when they do.

Congratulations mate and ill keep looking out for updates on this.

 

Ben

[rally515]

Just read through all 70 pages (jeeze thats a lot!), and now i'm going to bed haha was worth staying up for Hugh, some great fabrication and some very GREEN paint haha

 

Cheers

Cliff

[jagman.2003]

It's getting there Hugh. Keep plugging away with those niggling jobs. You must be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel now.

[hughJ]

Ben I assure you I have felt like throwing in the towel many a day, like today! Comments from people like you really help. I did say right at the beginning that I was doing this topic purely to force me to keep going. If people are watching you its much harder to chicken out.

Cliff glad you like my green. I look at most other colours now and think, 'boring!' Thanks for taking the time to comment.

jagman.2003 they are niggling jobs. You know as you are doing the same as me. Even tonight the carb started leaking so had to take float chamber top off, just check the float valve and put back on. Wastes time!

 

I have put a lot of hours in this week though you'd hardly know it.

 

I have got the indicators working. I had to take the fuse box out and clean up all the contacts.

 

Here is fitting the left side.

 

Took the whole thing apart to extend the wiring and make sure the old style housing has an earth.

 

 

Tinned the wire

 

 

And tinned the extension wire - using red to let me know its not the earth!! And I've got a bit lying around.

 

 

Soldered together

 

 

A wee bit of heat shrink sleeving

 

 

And the earth

 

 

You can't solder onto steel so I just make sure there's a blob on each side

 

 

 

Then fitted

 

 

And a wee adjusting of the loom

 

 

 

And it does work!

 

 

I had to deal with my leaking heater - the only solution was a new matrix - an Ebay job -  £32.84 all in.

 

But its fit wasn't so good.

 

The culprit and the replacement

 

 

Had to elongate the holes in the side of the heater to get the inlet and outlet pipes to fit

 

 

And then it rattled around like a pea in a whistle inside the casing so had to pack it with foam

 

 

 

Note I did this in the kitchen - that's the rug - don't tell Anne!

 

And the flap that controls the hot air flow - I stuck a bit of draught excluder to the replace the crumbled old foam.

 

 

 

So its back in and no leaks! A footer but its done.

 

I've got wipers working, washers working, horn working.

 

I then need to link to the green wire on the stop switch to check where my current was - that green wire goes to a lot of places. What did I do but pull the back of the new switch off as I removed the connector. That's me. So had to do contortions to get that off. Its repaired. Also took out the instrument panel to check the flasher relay and get at the dip relay.

 

After all my faffing about it was the connectors at the front of the wiring loom being dirty that stopped the headlights from working

 

They work now

 

 

But, and with me there's always a but - the dip lights don't work right. They come on when the sidelights are supposed to come on but they don't work when the headlights are switched on. Must be some earth problem. I am screaming with the electrics. And the drivers side sealed beam unit is starting to fog so I must have dropped it at some point and it is leaking slightly.

 

Getting the front panel ready - a very rough job.

 

 

And trying to salvage the fog-lamp - not exactly silvered - better than black and rust.

 

 

So its all maddening jobs.

 

One thing - it moved today under its own power!! So the clutch is working. However it won't go into reverse. Its kind of like a motorbike - just goes forward!

 

Still got my hand in

 

Maddening along, Hugh

 

Can you do a PS? I have dented the passenger side wing with all my leaning on it!! And I had a wee bowl in the Mini to catch the rusty drips from the leaking heater. Yes I did, couped it over and soaked the carpet with nice rusty water. I despair of myself.

Edited by hughJ, 02 August 2013 - 07:54 PM.

[Ben_O]

Nice one Hugh.

Not long to go now then!. Can't wait to see it finished and by the sounds of it, neither can you!!

 

Good luck.

 

Ben

[Deathrow]

Great progress Hugh, you're definitely going to finish before me!

The old style indicators I believe earth to the body through the screw fittings.

[minimuk]

wonderfull work again Hugh, yr on your last round by the looks of it, like the flashing light sound.......you will enjoy your mini 4 sure