Has a small thing but it does make a difference
Posted 25 May 2017 - 04:06 PM
You're brave
The worst bit is always the first hole, no going back after that! I've also been putting off doing this for a while as I was going to repaint the tank first. I then figured it might get scratched a bit during trial fitting so I'll paint it at the end. I've had the tank since October so I've been a bit lazy..
Came out rather nicely ![=]](https://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/sideways.gif)
I have a RHS tank as well - just a need car for it now.
Up Into Fourth
Posted 25 May 2017 - 11:39 PM
I guess the "booted" minis have a different style of tank?
You're brave
The worst bit is always the first hole, no going back after that! I've also been putting off doing this for a while as I was going to repaint the tank first. I then figured it might get scratched a bit during trial fitting so I'll paint it at the end. I've had the tank since October so I've been a bit lazy..
Came out rather nicely
Has a small thing but it does make a difference
Posted 26 May 2017 - 03:47 PM
I guess the "booted" minis have a different style of tank?
You're brave
The worst bit is always the first hole, no going back after that! I've also been putting off doing this for a while as I was going to repaint the tank first. I then figured it might get scratched a bit during trial fitting so I'll paint it at the end. I've had the tank since October so I've been a bit lazy..
Came out rather nicely
They do indeed. The neck is more angled, so it comes out the body straighter, if that makes sense.
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 27 May 2017 - 08:46 AM
Well done, with the hole for the filler you are a brave man. I have planned to do that on my Mark 2 Mini. It looks really cool with 2 tank fillers.
Up Into Fourth
Posted 04 July 2017 - 11:29 PM
I've finally got the tanks all fitted and plumbed in now. I had some dramas with the supplied hose that goes to the fuel pump, but it's all sorted now. Once the tank and bracket was test fitted I gave them both a quick coat of paint.
No extra photos of the tanks fitted as it looks the same as the last page!
On Sunday I got to fill up both tanks for the first time, and we had a nice run 
Put's foolish ideas in peoples heads
Posted 05 July 2017 - 11:45 AM
That is such a cool picture, with all those mk1s!
Up Into Fourth
Posted 11 August 2017 - 09:39 AM
A little progress the last couple of weeks, I borrowed a dial indicator gauge to start getting the short block assembled. The end float was a bit outside of spec, so I ordered in some +003 thou thrust bearings. The first set of big end bearings I bought turned out to be junk too, so I got some new ACL bearings which look much better. The crank has picked up some strange marks on the middle main journal, so it's been sent off to see if it's savable. From memory it's at -020 already, so I'm hoping it will grind up ok...
When I got the car it had Cibie H4 conversion headlights in it. While they worked well they never looked quite right. They seemed to stick out too much past the chrome rings and just looked a bit odd
I ordered some Wipac Quadoptic units and some 3H1031 rubber gaskets as the old ones were disintegrating and covered in overspray.
The Wipac lights are much nicer profile (on the right)
They look much nicer, especially as the headlights are a very prominent feature of the front end of the car.
New one in the foreground, old one at the back. The last step is to re-wire the parking lights as the new headlights take a different size bulb
Up Into Fourth
Posted 11 August 2017 - 10:17 AM
With twin tanks in an 850 you'll never need to fill up again! I put a second tank in my 998 and found it great for touring in Europe where there seem to be less and less garages off the motorways (especially as my lefthand tank is the original later, larger capacity one).
Edited by johnR, 11 August 2017 - 10:19 AM.
Crazy About Mini's
Posted 11 August 2017 - 10:26 AM
Are (were) they Cibie Iode H180 units?
Up Into Fourth
Posted 11 August 2017 - 10:58 AM
Are (were) they Cibie Iode H180 units?
They are stamped Cibie H4 Iode HCR E2 and a couple of numbers.
Crazy About Mini's
Posted 11 August 2017 - 11:19 AM
You've probably taken a step backwards in quality and light output then - the Cibies are one of the best H4 units you can get.
Definitely form over function, don't throw the old ones away!
Edited by GraemeC, 11 August 2017 - 11:20 AM.
On The Road
Posted 11 August 2017 - 11:47 AM
When I got the car it had Cibie H4 conversion headlights in it. While they worked well they never looked quite right. They seemed to stick out too much past the chrome rings and just looked a bit odd
They look like the headlights fitted to the Mini Special of the early eighties. They need a special wider chrome headlight ring. I have the Cibie headlights fitted to my rally Mini, with the standard headlight ring (and they do stick out) but are alot better than the standard or Wipac headlights.
Up Into Fourth
Posted 11 August 2017 - 01:00 PM
You've probably taken a step backwards in quality and light output then - the Cibies are one of the best H4 units you can get.
Definitely form over function, don't throw the old ones away!
Yes, quite possible the new ones won't have the same output quality as the old ones. Once they are fitted with relays and aligned properly they should still work pretty well. I'll keep the old ones safe on the shelf just in case..
When I got the car it had Cibie H4 conversion headlights in it. While they worked well they never looked quite right. They seemed to stick out too much past the chrome rings and just looked a bit odd
They look like the headlights fitted to the Mini Special of the early eighties. They need a special wider chrome headlight ring. I have the Cibie headlights fitted to my rally Mini, with the standard headlight ring (and they do stick out) but are alot better than the standard or Wipac headlights.
I'm not sure where this set would have come from, the Mini Special never came out here, more than likely it would have been a locally available conversion kit.
Mini Mad
Posted 11 August 2017 - 08:41 PM
The profile on the new headlamps looks so much better it's the little details that make this such a good mini and your a braver man then I drilling the hole for the second tank.
Up Into Fourth
Posted 12 August 2017 - 10:59 AM
The headlights and parking lights (sidelights) have now been wired in, although I still need to complete the headlight aiming. I've also removed the corner bars to restore the base 850 look. The number plate was moved down below the bumper. The standard Aussie number plates are a bit taller and normally have a bracket to lift them up.
I've also done a little bit of work in the engine bay. I've put the washer bottle back in, checked the tappets and spark plugs and put in a new set of plug leads. Unfortunately this has highlighted the fact the washer pump now leaks into the footwell when you try and use it
I've been working on this dash for a while, it turned out OK but I've learnt a few things for when I make the next one. I've got the tacho working again as I'd wired it in wrong earlier and also relocated it to be on the steering column. The drivers seat also got a new layer of foam in the base as it was quite squashed and deteriorated after 50+ years. Almost ready for this years' big trip!
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