684 replies to this topic

[JXC Mini GT]

Thanks Ben for fitting the roof aerial, not a straightforward job as it required the windscreen/headlining removing and then reinstated, it looks great and I now have a radio that works. 

 

Also great job in fitting the new Optimise carpets and new speaker cables, all ready for the additional speakers I am hoping to get for my birthday.

 

[JXC Mini GT]

I took the Mini to the Cornish Mini Club Riviera Run, and it performed excellently on the 300 mile trip down there, however the day before our leaving I checked the levels only to discover it was losing water, I couldn’t see any leaks externally, so checked inside the car which was all dry, on viewing the expansion tank I could see lots of air bubbles, so I suspected head gasket, luckily there were still a few mini owners around and the general view was head gasket. I drove the mini back to our accommodation and called the RAC as I was thinking recovery would be required as it was a bank holiday. I let the car cool down and when I checked the car again a big pool of water under the car had appeared and the leak seemed to be coming from the radiator. Thanks to the Cornish Mini Club I managed to find a trader who was just leaving the site who had an alloy radiator, after 14 hours the RAC turned up and I asked him to fit the radiator, I did explain to him the easiest way of removal and refitting the radiator but he did it his own way. 3 hours later the new radiator was fitted the cowling had been butchered and fitted with 2 bolts, with the radiator tight against the body.

The cause of the leak is shown in the photo

 

 

2 bolts had become loose and cut a hole through 4 of the radiator cores.

 

 

We carried on our tour of Bath, Stratford, Cotswold’s,, Studley Castle and then to Himley Hall before returning home which in total was 1000 miles, other than a vibration from what I thought was the radiator hitting the bodywork the car performed well.

 

 

 

I ordered the correct radiator from Minispares and it was delivered the next day. On removing the radiator I discovered only one engine mounting bolt had been fitted, hose clips were loose and the cowling had been damaged, luckily I had purchased a replacement cowling at Himley and purchased replacement bolts from Minispares.

 

 

 

The new radiator/cowling has been fitted and the mini is now ready for its next adventure which is likely to be Beaulieu, big thank you to the Cornish Mini Club for an excellent event, and attendees for their advice and help.

 

PS

If any body is interested in an Alloy radiator let me know

 

 

 

[cooperd70]

Sounds like a fantastic trip you had yourselves there! Shame about the bolts coming loose...(happened to me, well just the one bolt), but spotted it in time before it started to have a close relationship with the rad) 😄

RAC breakdown experience didn't sound the best...shame that.

Will hope to see you at Beaulieu 👍

[JXC Mini GT]

The Mini had developed a small water leak from the water pump, maybe as a result of the bolts coming out as previously mentioned, it also has had a small oil leak from either the timing cover plate or half moon seal for some time and I was getting fed up with oil stains on the drive. So a new half moon seal, timing cover back plate, water pump and associated gaskets were replaced. All went well other than me remembering after it was all complete that I hadn't knocked over the lock tab on the crankshaft pulley bolt, so radiator out again and knock the tab over.

 

All ready now for its next trip out to Beaulieu next weekend.

[cooperd70]

See you at Beaulieu next Sunday JXC!

[JXC Mini GT]

I have just added my air conditioning ready for the West Country Minis Isle of Wight event this weekend.

 

[bpirie1000]

Your heater control peg needs colour coded.

[JXC Mini GT]

Your heater control peg needs colour coded.

Its actually my choke peg, but I do agree it lets down the rest of the interior.

[floormanager]

The Mini had developed a small water leak from the water pump, maybe as a result of the bolts coming out as previously mentioned, it also has had a small oil leak from either the timing cover plate or half moon seal for some time and I was getting fed up with oil stains on the drive. So a new half moon seal, timing cover back plate, water pump and associated gaskets were replaced. All went well other than me remembering after it was all complete that I hadn't knocked over the lock tab on the crankshaft pulley bolt, so radiator out again and knock the tab over.

 

All ready now for its next trip out to Beaulieu next weekend.

You managed to replace the half moon seal with the engine in the car and not splitting the gearbox?

[JXC Mini GT]

Changing the seal was much easier than I expected, the minispares flywheel locking tool made things much easier.

[cooperd70]

Your heater control peg needs colour coded.

Its actually my choke peg, but I do agree it lets down the rest of the interior.

No not at all...it's fantastic to see a wooden peg these days! Has reminded me to get one for my choke 🙂

[JXC Mini GT]

The Mini has been running well, but as its going on the Cornish Riviera at the end of the month, I thought i would replace the front pads, however on removing the wheel I was confronted with Black grease all over the wheel arch, on closer inspection it turns out that the CV boot had split in a number of places., the other side looks fine but must be of a similar age, so I decided to replace  both CV joints/boots, discs, I struggled to undo the main hub nut, so the angle grinder came out and sorted things out. Just waiting for the Minispares delivery now to put it all back

 

 

 

[GT Jimmy]

A split rubber can ruin anyone's weekend...

At least you found it now and didn't result in a breakdown later on

[JXC Mini GT]

The Mini sailed through its MOT today, just one advisory which is a oil leak from the gearbox rod change seal. I have ordered a new one and will fit it before I attend the Cornish Riviera run in about 10 days time.

 

I did have to inform the tester not to jack the car up under the body as he thought the slinging brackets were jacking points !!!!!!

[floormanager]

They all want to jack it up on those brackets!  Don't you hate these little jobs which grow into major ones?  I had something similar recently replacing a rear knuckle rubber cover (hydrolastic).  Thought I'd re-fit the re-hosed hydro unit at the same time.4 hours later and unable to get the re-hosed connector to seal, I put the original hosed one back in.  Tried to pump up the car, only for my Liquid Levers schrader connector to blow the seal!

 

Well done for the MOT pass.