70 replies to this topic

[mini-mad-mark]

So as predicted a few days of duff-ish weather meant working in the garage on the engine and sorting through various parts (electrical mainly) to start really thinking about the wiring. Also had to do some non-mini stuff (who knew there was such a thing!) so didn't spend that much time on the car

 

Engine back in one piece (de-coke. lap valves - inlets were in VGC but gave them a light go anyway - valve seals, timing chain and seal, diff seals, gear selector seal, new water pump, new heater tap, new engine mountings clean and paint 

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Seats in (Alfa 147 in case anyone wants to know) - as there are no really defined mountings in the car it meant whatever seats I used would need bespoke mounting so tried to pick something comfortable (Ebay as per usual) mounted opposite side round as the reclining knob was too close to the inner sill to use comfortably - the seat back release is still easily reachable on the inside.

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It was a whole set so I have the rear seat covers so hopefully will find someone willing to recover the rear with used material. Trial fitting as there was no seat originally also the body is slightly different in that area meaning nothing to support the seat base in the middle so will need to knock something up. Rear seat also Ebay - 99p bargain - but I had to collect from Leicester so probably 10 quid's worth of diesel...?

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Pedal box (and master cylinders - no pic) steering column and dash rails

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Fuel tank and rear lights - also managed to find a NOS Smiths HRW - the backing paper was a bit crinkled so there are a couple of bits not quite perfect but on the whole it went on OK (and I managed to get it centred (-ish!!)

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[mini-mad-mark]

Progress slower than I would have liked over the last couple of weeks.

 

But finally moved the engine off the bench:

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So now plenty to do to add all the ancillaries and so on (exhaust due tomorrow from Mini Spares) and of course get it running.....

 

Also started on the rear wiring  - basically there wasn't much worth keeping from the original loom as it had been hacked about but fortunately I have always kept the looms from any minis I scrapped so had plenty of cable to make the bespoke rear. Its different to a standard estate loom as I have added reverse lights, a HRW, a load bay interior light plus a 12v power socket in the rear (to run the beer fridge and blow up air beds at shows) No real picture but you can see some of the wires in the next ones.

 

As I mentioned previously the kit is a different shape to a standard estate around the rear seat and especially the boot area and boot floor so none of the standard interior panels will fit; also the construction (fibreglass over hardboard) means there is some stuff that just looks ugly and needed covering up. So going from this (you can see the start of the wiring):

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To this - Made some side boxes - the lids will be removable to store small items (first aid kit and the like) and give access to the rear lights (no bulbs as LED - but in case they need to be removed) plus a shaped boot floor panel (not square like standard as it goes up the wheel arches) Also rear "door-cards"  and a "door-card" you can see on the lowered back seat which will fit to the one piece tailgate.

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Then at the rear  C-panel trim that clips to the strengthening hoop plus a top roof trim in two pieces (only half shown) with the load bay light - you can see the 12v power socket in the side boot panel

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Obviously not finished as it all needs to be covered in carpet (also coming tomorrow)

 

Also showing in the last picture the oil drip tray for the Neon (visible in the background) and oil stained drive - just one of those minis that leaks, even though I've tried to stop it by splitting the engine and gearbox and resealing/gasketing   Not popular with SWMBO....   

 

[mini-mad-mark]

Forgot to say - Credit for the rear lights to #keithrose who I met at Gaydon with his MM (BOC493K) -  I mentioned I hadn't found anything that covered all five functions in a single light (indicator tail, stop, reverse, rear fog) with a flat mounting suitable to fit into the available space - he is using the same and pointed me in the right direction - I bought two pairs just in case just as well as now I don't find these any more on Ebay - also fortunately they are not handed.

 

Ebay - £15 for the pair - cheap compared to the other three sets of lights I had bought to try out - those for the next auto jumble.........

[mini-mad-mark]

Found them now for £9.09 a pair 

[sledgehammer]

https://www.ebay.co....tm/174415110941

 

something similar

[mini-mad-mark]

There was another phoenix on Ebay about a month or two ago 

 

I think these might actually be better than a Minus Maxi as they have a curved roof - the MM has a flat roof which really cuts down the head room, not so bad in the front if you mount the seats lower but not so good in the back although that is the reason the roof is stepped up like that I suppose.

 

I would have taken either but the MM came up first  - I think the the phoenix looks more normal, like a styled Clubman Estate  - the MM is just that bit weirder.....

[mini-mad-mark]

Also the flat roof catches water when the car is standing - guess it blows off in traffic

[keithrose]

Hi Mark,  pics are good you’re making good progress with rebuild. Not been on forum much as moved year ago and been house renovating. Not done much to BOC.  On my rear led’s I fitted a resistor canbus to each rear indicator, mine flashed too fast without it. On eBay and cheap and easy fit. Be good to get both cars to a show somewhen.  Pics of the 3Minus Maxi’s show mine in car park in Holland in Aug ‘19,  

Keep up the good work.    Keith 

[mini-mad-mark]

Hi Keith,

Thanks for the gen on the rear lights - they kind of suit the Minus maxi even thought they are not of its time?

 

Stalled a bit myself after September once I knew there was no chance of any shows (and had to go back to work after furlough!!!!)

 

I replaced the flasher units with electronic ones suitable for LED or bulb or any combination of the two so no need to add any resistance for a std flasher unit (which is what I think you have done?) 

 

I hope to be on the road by May at the latest (giving myself a deadline  ) as I will also need to do some other stuff round the house over the next couple of months. I really only need to start the car (only?) and get an MoT and finish up a few minor details, then its just the interior (which I am struggling with a bit to be honest although I did get the rear seat recovered in the matching cloth from the Alfa rear seat)

 

I think it will be a while before there will be any chance to get to any shows together but yes would be good to catch up if possible.

 

Regards, Mark

[keithrose]

Hi Mark,   Hope there will be shows of some sort later in year, be great to see two on the road maxi’s together.  My led’s been great, often get comments about them. Far safer in bad weather on motorway. Nice to know alternative way for flashers. Keep up good work and hopefully see you and maxi later in year. I’m still in Somerset,at Yeovil.

 

Keith 

[keithrose]

Hi Mark,   What struts have you on the tailgate.  Looks like your tailgate lifts higher than mine. Keith 

[mini-mad-mark]

Hi Keith,

Sorry not sure if they are from some standard car or not - they are the ones that were on it when I got the car - I'll have to get the car out to look - I am concerned in case they break.

 

I assumed they were specified by length and Newtons (force) I think, which tells you how much they weight they will lift. (Tailgate is much lighter than most standard cars as only fibreglass of course so these are likley to be low Newtons) - the mounting is unusual as well I guess to use whatever fastenings the particular struts had at the time they were fitted - the bottom mount is a bracket welded to the rear roll hoop and they are attached to some alloy 90 deg angle fixed to the tailgate fibreglass.

 

Hoping I never need to change them....!

 

I'll get some detailed pics and post them on here (or send them on a PM to you as they wont be too interesting to anyone else on here....)

[keithrose]

Hi Mark, thx em [email protected].    My struts are short and tailgate makes a nice horizontal rain cover, not good to access boot though. Notice your struts fitted in different place. Probably have to source new struts and start again!

[mini-mad-mark]

Sent you an email 

[mini-mad-mark]

Well, after five years..........

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Probably only 6 months of actual effort as I didn't do much/anything for three and half years between painting (Dec 2016) and furlough last year (May 2020)  and even then I only managed three months last year and have only really got back on it again from the middle of May this year.

 

Will tax it from the first of next month and start to put some tentative miles on it - interior is still the same (bare/empty/poo) so need to work on that but planning to take it to Stanford Hall assuming we aren't back in lockdown by then as everyone seems to think we will be and assuming it is running OK still by then