1146 replies to this topic

[[email protected]]

really interesting build :) like reading through the updates

[silve1999]

very informative guide on timing, I took some notes ;)

[hughJ]

Graham, Darren, [email protected] and Dave many thanks for your remarks and comment.

 

It's all tidying up and trying to get the car ready for its MOT on Friday - that gives me a goal and a deadline!

 

Got the side repeaters working. Being a Chemistry teacher gives me access to some nasty chemicals. I cleaned these old tarnished wires with concentrated nitric acid. Otherwise the solder doesn't stick to it.

 

 

 

 

It's really good at cleaning up the contacts - only flash it in otherwise you end up with a nice blue solution of copper nitrate and no contacts!

 

 

This looks more like it

 

 

clean copper tins easily

 

 

 

I've got pictures from both sides mixed up but you get the idea

 

And it works

 

 

I'm getting a wee bit carried away with the youtube videos but it shows what's happening!

 

The biggest problem was I kept blowing the fuse 5-6 in the four way fuse box. It has an green/orange wire going to the wiper switch and washer switch and also the heater. I was getting 1Ω between it and earth. That is a short but not always there! I eventually found it was the wire between the fuse box and the switch. Twisting and squeezing the cables made no difference so I eventually cut the cable and bypassed with a bit of blue. I hate that sort of repair but needs must.

 

At the switch end

 

 

 

And the fuse box end

 

 

I now have wipers that work, windscreen washer and heater motor. Before, they would occasionally work,  but eventually it blew the fuse always. That took a lot of time to find and repair. I stupidly unwound the loom between the fuse and the wiper motor and separated the two joined wires. There was no need, but I was trying to find which wire was the problem.

 

I've got the distributor shield in and the hot air thermostatic air intake.

 

 

I got the air ducting on the left in

 

 

 

All the heater ducting is in place.

 

The front grille is back on

 

 

I've fitted grommets to where wires were passing through metal eg front indicators, headlights and foglight.

 

I've got all the holes drilled for the wheel arches and the front pretty much in place. So all I have to do (I think) is get all the wheel arches in place, the door cards and handles etc on and I think its will be ready. I need to go over bits of the paintwork and also waxoil it. Then there are bits to repair and replace as time and money allow but that can be after the MOT, maybe years after!

 

Moving along, Hugh

Edited by hughJ, 24 August 2013 - 08:47 PM.

[Carlos W]

Really excited for next Friday Hugh! When's the first day of term?

[tractor]

Best time of year to be a teacher hey Hugh?


So pleased for you, been following for while now just been a little light on commenting, I wish you the best of luck for Friday


Trac

[silve1999]

awesome news hugh! looks like you will definitely have her done for imm then

[Shifty]

Excellent news Hugh!!

 

 

Don't forget to put jubilee clips on the petrol hoses, you don't want its first journey to be its last!!

 

Good luck with the MOT

[grahama]

Hi Hugh,

 

what is a hot air thermostatic air intake ??    Missed this one on mine lol.

 

Best of luck with the MOT

 

Graham

[sonikk4]

Mate its nearly there, one last hurdle and you can enjoy the fruits of your labour. Good luck with the MOT.

[Marco1972]

Cracking job Hugh

Almost there

Good luck for Friday

[alex-95]

Excellent hugh, Look's great, good luck for friday.

[Carlos W]

Hi Hugh,

 

what is a hot air thermostatic air intake ??    Missed this one on mine lol.

 

Best of luck with the MOT

 

Graham

 

I think it's the funny bit that goes between the air intake and exhaust

[jagman.2003]

Fantastic work Hugh, looks like your going to beat me to the MOT (but only just). Well done, certainly a nice solid & fun mini. Good luck & I hope you get some good driving in over the weekend.

[hughJ]

Sorry gents - failed the MOT!!

 

 

It's not a bad fail but its me again.

 

 

MOTs are a great thing. I needed to see these. I have the repairs done already but Tommy Hansen my tester is away now till Wednesday. I use the Invergordon MOT Centre (have for years).

 

The track rod ends were new so I was relieved to find what I'd done - hadn't tightened the steering arm to the swivel hub!! So that was easy. I noticed at the same time I hadn't tightened the lower swivel nut on the left side - I remember now leaving it till the weight of the Mini would sit on it and stop it turning - but forgot! The hand brake was easy too the spring at the rear had slipped out or I hadn't put it in. I then tightened up the brakes with the quadrant till just dragging and then took up all the slack in the cable so just three clicks tightens. They lock now so I can't turn by hand. Tommy will set the headlamp aim.

 

So hopefully a retest on Wednesday. It's a pity but its good to be safe. On the positive side he really liked the rebuild and said very nice things about it, which my head got a size or two larger. And I got to drive it 12 miles!! It ran just nice.

 

I have spent a fair bit of time this week on it.

 

Shifty - this is for you

 

 

I covered the apertures in the doors with duct tape.

 

 

And fitted the door cards

 

 

The clips I bought did not fit well - they are white ones on Ebay. I would avoid. I am going to order from Old School Minis - they look the right shape. (I've just edited this - the picture looks right but its from Old School Minis I got the white ones! So will try elsewhere). So the door cards will have to come back out. I'll get a trim removal tool while I'm at it. I found my door locks don't lock from outside so would have to take them off anyway. Not very secure.

 

I sorted out the play in my steering - the U-bolts weren't tightened up. How many bolts have I left untightened. My memory is just a shocker.

 

If the electrics were loaded the fan belt slipped - an easy job.

 

I fitted the wheel arches and side trim. Easier said than done - the petrol tank had to come back out to tighten one of the bolts and the rear seats and trim had to come out.

 

The passenger door wouldn't anchor to the floor - all that was needed was to bend the catch backwards.

 

I touched up bits of the paint.

 

I fitted the driver's door mirror

 

 

Here's what a Mini looks like on the morning of its MOT fail

 

 

 

 

I was looking forward to a wee jaunt tomorrow but that will have to wait. Be patient Hugh.

 

As usual thanks to people who have commented - Carlos, Trac, Dave, Shifty, Graham, Neil, Marco, Alex and jagman.2003.

 

Graham this is the thermostatic air intake

 

 

Looking forward to Wednesday. That should be it.

 

Failing along, Hugh

Edited by hughJ, 30 August 2013 - 07:07 PM.

[Carlos W]

Congratulations Hugh!

That's not a fail list, it's a snagging list!