505 replies to this topic

[Ben_O]

I am so glad it's pulling back into shape ok.

 

So is the plan to do a rough repair and then continue to use it?

 

Ben

[72clubman]

Sadly you're spot on! 

I really want to do a proper job but I need a car really quickly and the mini is still MOT'd, taxed and insured. 

It also lost it's garage space so I figured if it's going to be outside it may as well be on the road.

 

Make it as tidy as I can for now then hopefully do a proper job at a later date.  I've already got the major plan all worked out. It's going to be comprehensive! 

 

Joe

[Ben_O]

 

 

Make it as tidy as I can for now then hopefully do a proper job at a later date.  I've already got the major plan all worked out. It's going to be comprehensive! 

 

Joe

 

Now that sounds exciting.

 

Having followed this for so long now, i know it's going to be good.

 

Ben

[72clubman]

So in my quest for a quick turn around I decided to do this.

 

 

There was quite a few oil leaks and a sheared engine steady, so I figured it was the best move since I already had the radiator out! 

 

I've also finally finished all 4 wheels! 

 

Damn they're pretty! 

 

 

Engine gets all new gaskets and a lick of paint tomorrow.

 

Joe

[danie garry]

i love how having the rad out is enough to pull the engine out, great bit about minis i suppose! looking good, straightened out fairly well

[72clubman]

I know! It's probably a bit overkill but I've been wanting to get to the broken engine steady for a while. It's drilled out and the hole retapped now.


The bodywork is certainly straighter, it's far from good though, and will definitely require a new front panel at somepoint.

Engine looks nice though.








Engine should be back in tomorrow!

Joe

[keefr22]

What a lovely clean motor!

[Steely]

Work looks to be coming along nicely.

[Juju]

Those wheels, though, Those wheeeeeeeelssss....

[jamesmpi]

Good effort. Ticking along nicely

[72clubman]

The motor cleaned up beautifully. Another reason for pulling the motor was a weeping core-plug, so this was duly replaced. I'm also treating and repainting everything that comes off, gotta start somewhere, and something i regret not doing last time. I also decided to repaint the motor black, I know the A+ should be red but it's more fitting of the car. I also replaced the rod stabiliser as I failed at removing it with the motor in the car. I'm Also replacing all the engine steady bushes so it shouldn't move at all.

 

I forgot to order pot joint seals though! So I'm just waiting on those now.

 

The wheels came up amazingly, spent hours with fine grade sandpaper removing all the corrosion and damaged lacquer, then polishing the faces with a fine cutting compound. Only took me 6 hours! 

 

 

Joe

[72clubman]

So today was a painting day. I also clamped the front end back in place where it had moved and teared awaiting welding tomorrow.

 

I winged about this before.

 

 

Brand-new Shock mount last summer.

Anyway it hadn't rusted through, so it was taken back primered and covered in paint.

 

 

New Gearbox steady mount, painted before mounting this time!

 

 

 

Repainted engine steadies, with sexy purple poly bushes :)

( I've only had an ultimate engine steady on for the last 6 months, dodgy I know!) 

 

 

 

Do I refit the ultimate engine steady though when I've got these on?

 

I also repainted the radiator shroud, it was looking nasty!

 

 

Wheel back on.

 

 

 

Only to remove the hub nut mind, although without an engine it's proving challenging, I need some ballast! 

 

Thats it for today, more tomorrow!

 

Joe

[72clubman]

Today was more prep work. All the split seams welded up and trying to get it a bit straighter. 

 

 

mmmmmm filler.

 

 

 

 

Engine goes in tomorrow, and damn does it look sexy. 

 

 

 

Joe

[72clubman]

Today I put my immaculate engine in my crappy car. 

 

My dad described it as a rat look, where the mechanicals are good but it looks terrible. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laavely. I've got all my ancillaries back on with all new gaskets so I'm hoping for a leak free engine.  

 

Just waiting on new outer CV boots that should come tomorrow, then I can reinstall my driveshafts and I'm good to go.

 

I did have one major set back though, while dropping the engine in I noticed the union to the left hand brake hose was wet, I inspected and it was brake fluid, so I tried to tighten the union and the pipe sheared. So I now have a structurally sound car which should be running tomorrow, but now no brakes.

 

I'm frantically trying to source one, I tried one from my other mini but it's a different size

 

Car needs to be mobile by the weekend as I'm moving and starting a new job! 

 

 

 

Joe

[72clubman]

Today I figured maybe a few hours and it'd be drivable. Well after 11 hours today it is! well minus sidelights.

 

Driveshafts were renewed with new gators. 

 

All new engine steadies. 

 

Engine, radiator, and heater fully flushed and all new coolant. 

 

filled with oil, and so far leak free.

 

New heater take off, with a new cable.

 

New cross brake pipe, and new fluid. 

 

Another million things I've probably forgotten. 

 

Oh and 2 new headlights! as the O/S (the side that didn't get hit) was cracked into 4 pieces! 

 

 

 

 

Joe