846 replies to this topic

[Jared Mk3]

Such a beautiful car! Nice buy on those plates. 

[Vinay-RS]

Love your mini. You've put some great work into it and it shows. The pics from the car show are pretty sweet too.

[timmy850]

Thanks guys 
 
I've just finished the sliding window seals with some new ones. 

The lower channels and chrome strip are unscrewed and the windows come out

It's kind of nice seeing the glass all gone, almost looks like a "regular" door with windup windows!

The left side finished. It took me a while to sort out the window catches as they kept springing apart and bits were going everywhere!

The right side window seals are all finished now, and they slide nicely back and forth

And I've got 4 x fully functioning window catches for the first time in at least 5 years!

Edited by timmy850, 30 June 2017 - 10:19 AM.

[JamesC]

Nice job done!

When I first picked up my Mini I thought I would take a look at fixing the window runners, (nice simple job I told myself) but quickly gave up because the screws had rusted too much.

I will get around to doing it someday.

[Mini Manannán]

Nice one Timmy, that's the alarm immobiliser GPS tracking well sorted!  Looks the part as well

[timmy850]

I had a couple of days off work last week, so I thought I'd get stuck in to replacing the cones and shocks. I started at the back and removed the old cone and shock

They'd compressed by about 1cm 

It was pretty easy to get them swapped over at the rear, as I'd had it all apart to put in the Hi-Los a few months ago. The back end took an hour or so do to both sides..

I then started on the front end, which I was a bit worried about. It was a bit of a struggle to get the old cone out of the front as the trumpet was fused to it..

The front cones had compressed about 2cm

I managed to squeeze in the new cone and Hi-Lo by removing the top arm. Unfortunately one of the seals was missing so I'll have to chase up another

Mostly done on the left side

I finished off with the front right, it always seems to go quicker on the second side as you've figured out all the angles to shove everything back in    . I then adjusted all the Hi-Los up to a decent ride height and tightened everything back up.

This is the front suspension before, the top arm is pushing into the bumpstop - not great.

And after, there is now plenty of travel for the top arm before hitting the bumpstop. You can also see the improved angle of the shock.

I'm pleased to report that after extensive country road "testing" last week that the car is now absolutely fantastic to drive. Before I used to be frantically scanning the road ahead to check for bumps and dips in the road, but now the car just goes straight over them. 

There is a rather large bump in an 80kph zone near our house, previously hitting this at the speed limit would cause the car to bounce severely and feel like it was going to spear off in any random direction. Now it's very smooth (in fact better than our 10 year old wagon) and I can barely notice the bump..

Of course I needed to be sure so many miles were done!

It's even pleasant to drive up onto driveways and over speed bumps, I don't need to crawl over while wincing any more. I'd have to say it's the best money I've spent on it so far (shame it took me so long to get it done!)

It is sitting a lot higher, but drives and rides so much better so I'll be keeping it high for a while at least.

I bought some yellow film a few weeks ago to wrap the fog lights.

I tried following the instructions with the film, but I couldn't work them out, so they are covered in bubbles and creases. 

They look ok from a distance though...

Edited by timmy850, 25 February 2016 - 06:08 AM.

[Vinay-RS]

Some lovely photos. The scenery there is beautiful. That yellow film does give the spots a more retro look too. After a bit of driving will the donuts settle a bit and give the car a slightly lower stance? 

[Mini Manannán]

Good work Timmy!

[ribz0]

Hi ya Tim..

Your little 850 has evolved into a little red beast!!! Looking AWESOME mate...

Cheers

[timmy850]

Some lovely photos. The scenery there is beautiful. That yellow film does give the spots a more retro look too. After a bit of driving will the donuts settle a bit and give the car a slightly lower stance?

There are some really nice roads around here, especially for mini driving. I don't mind it being a bit higher, it drives so much better!

Good work Timmy!

Cheers!

Hi ya Tim..
Your little 850 has evolved into a little red beast!!! Looking AWESOME mate...
Cheers

Thanks, I'm really happy with how it is now!

There was a big mini show on at a mini shop in Sydney. I even met Moog and his supercharged mini. I took a bunch of photos here:
https://www.flickr.c...157662816056333

I also bought some goodies from the shop, including a nice straight 850 grille

And a centre oil pickup

And a heavy lump of metal

[Vinay-RS]

Is that a 1275 S motor? Awesome find if it is! 

[timmy850]

It's out of a Morris 1100S (which is called a Morris 1300 everywhere else). Solid tappet cover, thick flange, still on the standard bore.

[Vinay-RS]

Think they were sold here as the Austin/Morris 11/55.

[70K1100]

Timmy are going to run a 1275 now after all the time gathering bits and pieces for the 1098?

[timmy850]

Think they were sold here as the Austin/Morris 11/55.

I didn't realise they had so many names for the same car in different markets, look at all these: http://www.aronline....s-bmc-11001300/

 

Timmy are going to run a 1275 now after all the time gathering bits and pieces for the 1098?

Still having a hard think. It really doesn't make any sense to change my plans now, I just saw the block for sale and it was a decent enough price to sell on if I don't use it. At this stage I'm still planning the 1098...