217 replies to this topic

[alex-95]

Ace idea with the plastic. And I think I'll use those speaker box ideas for mine (if you dont mind of course). Not too keen on a full speaker board

Cheers Nathan, go ahead, Thats why I did these, I was hoping to fit them in the rear companion bins but were a tad too big. I'll get the dimensions if you like.

[alex-95]

 

 

Glad to see its been saved theses ritzs need saving !!!

Thanks, it's having a couple of other Ritz parts putting on soon , You wouldn't happen to know what the colour silver the original wheels are?

 

dont know off hand but may be able to find out have a full set of 5 of these little babies ;) 

 

 

If you could that'll be great, ours are a bit scratched and the inside is peeling off. We only have 4 and a steely spare(which could also do with a paint). They look very nice, have you got the original center caps for them?

[alex-95]

  (sorry about the crappy photo(s), The better camera broke)

Edited by alex-95, 04 January 2014 - 07:30 PM.

[alex-95]

Well as seen above we have done abit of work on lulu, As it's going to be driven alot more I thought I would treat the rust bubbles by rubbing them down treating them and respraying the area, But it never goes to plan, I went right through the front of the wings.

took off the headlight.

wirebrushed

 

 

Cut out the old bit and welded in new metal.

Ground it down and etch primed it.

filled it sanded it and sprayed it with the original silver leaf from halfords not a bad match.

 

heres the dimensions I used for the speaker boxes with a bit of CAD help

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here it is after a few coats of paint, we still need to lacquer it.

 

And also got some new tyres fitted on the original wheels, just need to fix and fit 2 of the center caps.

 

I went out for my first proper drive in it today which was good fun

 

We went up to our local tyre fitters to get the mini tracked but the wheels are a tad too small and the clampy things they put on hit the rear subframe so we have to go back again on thursday

I think there was something else but can't remember what that is

 

comments welcome

 

Alex

[lulu85ritz]

Been a while since I was on here nice to see you passed your test congrats! I still miss Lulu my car has now buggered up I am breaking it for parts on to the next car!lol

[myredmini]

Centre caps!!!! I need some of them.

[alex-95]

Been a while since I was on here nice to see you passed your test congrats! I still miss Lulu my car has now buggered up I am breaking it for parts on to the next car!lol

Thanks Ash, you might see me driving around now . I did see that on FB

[alex-95]

Centre caps!!!! I need some of them.

We have 2 good originals with all the tabs, one original with 2 tabs and one from the steel wheel hubcaps with no tabs so we're trying to think of a way of fixing them in, the trouble is the plastic they're made from doesn't like stuff being glued to it.

[alex-95]

Well then, after having had a few drives around in lulu, we decided to get a few things for her, new throttle cable, carb service kit and few other bits. Anyway the carb was leaking a little bit so we took the carb off on friday and fitted the SU carb service kit.

I don't know if you can see but the float needle was a bit worn half way up the tapered bit.

With that fitted we tuned it again and the leak has gone.

 

Then we had a few problems today, Went out for a drive in the rain which was all fine until it started misfiring So we geussed it must be water in the dizzy, we got back and noticed there was a bit of water on the carpet ...

 

 

A bit wet

and the dizzy cover

 

So we dryed the dizzy and floors out a bit and went back out for a drive, engine running fine but still filling up with water,We don't know exactly where its coming in but there are a few leaks here and there, but seems like a lot of water for a couple of small leaks. So come home again dryed it out and I went out on my own in it with dad following just in case I had any problems, I stopped in a side road switch the engine off which a tiny bit of overrun (so needs a bit more tuning) , then went to restart it, turned the key to start it, nothing, the battery had gone flat so either the battery or alternator is knackered . Good job dad was following so we could bump start it. Got home again and still wouldn't start again, so we'll have to have a look at it tomorrow if not friday, I was hoping to be able to drive to work tomorrow

I think I'll pull up all of the flashing tape as the water seems to be underneath it, which is slightly annoying but it's better than the floor rusting.

 

I was looking for some better driving shoes than my steel toe caps yesterday and jokingly said to dad shall I get some wellys, I think I should have now

We'll get the hose pipe out and try and find where it coming in .

 

 

 

I think thats it, Alex

[alex-95]

Also I got a set of ring rally giants as the lights aren't that brilliant.

[lulu85ritz]

I don't remember any water coming into the car before! Hope she is all mended so you can drive her and love her.

[alex-95]

I don't remember any water coming into the car before! Hope she is all mended so you can drive her and love her.

exactly, When we've driven it in the rain before it's been fine, there is a drip coming down from one of the heater pipes where the extra engine steady was, and some coming in around the throttle pedal, it also looks like there is some coming in from around the heelboard.   Dad thinks the battery is nackered but we'll have to see.

[alex-95]

So yesterday we had a look at the problems above, first was the battery / alternator problem. We charged the battery back up and tested the voltage (12.4v I think) then started the car and test it again at 2000rpm and was around 14v's which was good then tested it with everthing on and was around 13v (I think), anyway we decided that it was the alternator as not only was the voltage not high enough the ignition light stayed on. I think it's been like it for a while as we hadn't really been using all the electrics at once, so having them all on couldn't keep the battery charged just enough. so we bought a new shiny alternator and fitted that, try it again and all the voltages were fine at around 14.2v on both tests.

 

Then we moved onto the heater as dad said it wasn't pushing out much heat and we had to remove one of the hoses anyway, we took it apart and found that the matrix was moving around alot as lulu85ritz bought the wrong matrix we added some rubber around it so the air would pass through the matrix rather than going round it. You can see above the matrix plumbed in for testing the alternator and leaks in the matrix.

The hole where the heater pipe on the passengers side passes through was letting water in so we took off the blanking plate and found the gaskets were shot and the plate rusty. I took it off painted it and made a rubber gasket out of the thin rubber that we bought for the boot hinge gaskets and door mirrors and also put a bung in the plate.

all tighted down don't think it'll let water in now.

 

Then today came to the nicely laid flashing tape on the floors....

 

 

 

...well was, I had to rip bit's of it up as the water had gone under the flashing tape, Next time I'll know not to put it in the channels.

 

And we made a weather cover, it did have one when we got it but I sold it as It was fine without it. This is the plastic that we used for the doorcards and is a bit bigger than the one you can buy, so alot better and free!

 

 

Should be driving again tomorrow.

 

 

Question: When we switch the engine on the ignition light stays on until you rev it the tiniest of amounts and goes off and stays off, anybody got an idea why?

[megamini_jb]

Looking good and loving the homemade weather shield

Edited by megamini_jb, 19 January 2014 - 02:04 AM.

[alex-95]

Looking good and loving the homemade weather shield

Thanks, Haha, it does the job and is easy to oput on/ take off with cable ties around the clamps on the rocker cover

 

We went out for a drive in it today, all went well apart from a leak. the heater is alot better which you can feel the hot air coming out from the window demister bits.

 

We still have a leak which was pretty easy to find with the carpets out, just need to find where it's coming in...

 

I also fixed a rattle, the door check strap washer was rattleing so a small bit of the thin rubber inbetween the two and no more rattle

 

I think thats about it

 

Alex