664 replies to this topic

[M44K TS]

both off ebay mate, the coil cover and clamp was just a universal sleeve and the bonnet catch was from MRA Mini's ebay shop.

[M44K TS]

Tiny update, gave the car it's first full tank of fuel today, was releived to see that the new sender unit is water/fuel tight! Decided to head out on some B roads, was awesome fun, the engine's seemed to have settled in nicely, gearbox is nice, steering is spot on, although could do with the tracking adjusted as it's a little out.

Only couple of things i have noticed that need attention are: the passenger door needs realigned as it's not really sitting right, looks like it's a bit high at the top curved part where it meets the top of the b pillar. I need to sort both front windows as i think somehow, i may have got the window regulators mixed up and fitted to the wrong doors (is this possible?) and finally, i need to sort the exhaust out, it's just too damn loud, was ok with the 998 as it still had the original manifold and front pipe, but the car now has a new maniflow manifold and front pipe straight to the DTM backbox with no other silencers, just far too loud even for a weekend car so i'm on the hunt for a nice single exit twin box system that will quieten it all down a bit with some luck.

Anyway, todays tasks. Decided to try and soundproof the bulkhead a bit as it had no soundproofing at all, plus the main wiring loom grommet has vanished so there was a gaping hole right behind the air filter. So set about with a roll of flashing tape and covered the bulkhead behind the dash. I may even find some acoustic wadding to fill behind the dash, but not sure if that's a good idea or a fire hazard?


After i did the bulkhead, i set about the inside of the boot lid.



Before i put the boot trim panel on.



Also been looking at an electric window kit from Minispeed, anyone fitted one? If so, what are they like?

[M44K TS]

Yet another small update (i'm running out of things i need to do!)

I thought it would be best if i ran a cable from the starter solenoid to a 100 amp joint box, then on to a 2nd fusebox so i can power the headlight relays (dipped and main beam) HID ballasts running direct from the joint box if i decide to fit them, and also the central locking power, which will then leave me with a spare fuse if i decide to fit anythin else electrical.

So, solenoid....


To joint box...


Joint box fitted on the inner wing along with the 2nd fusebox (I must clean up the vin tag!)




I also fitted a relay in each of the headlight circuits which are now fed from the 2nd fusebox, but i forgot to take pics of that, so now i have no worries about burning out any headlight wiring or indicator stalks.

For anyone that's interested, this is how i've wired the above....


So, after that, i gave the car a decent run out, about 45 mins or so, definatley settling in nice, engine's running very smooth, if a bit rich still, but that'll be sorted soon hopefully on a rolling road. One thing i did think about, was ditching the K&N cone filter for a standard airbox setup when i change the exhaust as the air filter is a tad too loud even on part throttle, just gets a bit annoying after a while.

[M44K TS]

Had a spare couple of hours, got a couple of little loose ends sorted.

The passenger door glass regulator didn't line up very well, only one of the bolts lined up, but the winder spindle was out of alignment and stopped the door card lining up, now me and a mate tried for about an hour one day trying to get it to line up to no avail. Then this afternoon, i wound the window half the way down and it fitted perfectly, so i quickly bolted the regulator in and it works spot on, and the door card went straight on too... Winner!

Then, i decided that the car looked like it had been stolen with there being no steering colum surround on. So fitted that...




Makes quite a bit of difference.

Then i fitted the A pillar trims i bought from Newton Commercial.




They needed quite a bit of trimming to get right but now that they're in, they finish the interior off nicely.

I also fitted the boot lining yesterday, but needs a bit adjustment still.

So, all that's left for the interior is:

Cut out the front of the heater for the center console
Put in the freeview to hook up to the DVD player
Leather door pockets
Put the door card on properly with the new clips
Sort the interior door pulls as the decent size scres catch on the glass but the smaller length ones aren't long enough to hold the handles securley
I might even add the subwoofer out of my van as it sort of fits under the back seat.

So, not much left until the interior is finished.

[M44K TS]

Bit of an update, firstly, go the car booked in on the 18th to get the exhaust changed to a twin box RC40 system and to also have a standard air filter housing fitted instead of the Cone filter. The current combo is just far too loud so wanting to make it a bit quieter.

Also, decided to pull me finger out and fit the spot and foglights.

Spotlights were very straight forward as i had already wired a relay into the main beam wiring, so it was a simple case of just making a loom for the lights and plugging them in.

Fogs on the other had were a bit more involved, to keep them legal, i had to take the feed for the switch from the sidelight circuit so they can only be operated with the side/headlights.

So ran the wiring from the front of the car, up to the dash switch, the wire that comes back out of the switch and back to the front of the car where the relay will be placed, also feeds the + for the light on the switch. With the dash switch wired up, i ran a feed from the new secondary fusebox, to the relay, then from the relay to the 2 fog lights.

So, now...






Also, looking at the engine bay last week, i noticed that the carb dashpot was looking pretty grubby and spoiling the look of the new shiny bits i'd fitted, so went onto ebay and nabbed a chrome dashpot cover for a few quid, finishes off the engine bay quite nice, (not that you'll be able to see it when the new airfilter housing goes on!)

Before


After

[M44K TS]

No pics yet, but a tiny update...... the Mini is now rocking Freeview TV

Mounted the freeview box at the back of the center console, so when i eventually chop the heater box up to get the center vents to fit, i can get the side panels on and it will hide the box and wiring. The aerial was behind the front number plate but didn't really get signal, so it's now poking out the side under the front bumper and now find channels.

Also, found out that i had a duff relay for the main beam, as it kept blowing 15 amp fuses then went off all together, but when i calculated the current draw of all the lights etc, it came to 20 amps or so, so there's now a 20 amp fuse, but the lights still didn't work, when i checked, the relay was only rated to 15 amps so i think i've blown it, so changed it for a 30 amp relay and everything works spot on again. (No pun intended!)

Can't wait for tomorrow too as the exhaust is getting changed, so i might actually be able to drive the car without my ears bleeding.

[Saxo-Fiesta-Mini]

wewowowowow my kinda upgrades

[M44K TS]

haha yeah, also added the 12" Vibe sub and amp in the boot last week too, took the rca's and remote wire up the drivers A pillar, through the cavity along the length of the roof and back down the C pillar into the boot, saves pulling up the carpet and drilling the cross-member etc.

Again, no pics as of yet as it's raining pretty heavy now

[M44K TS]

Righty-oh

Picture time

Freeview aerial, mounted behind the front number plate


Also, where the main unit is (wires will all be hidden once the side panels etc, go on the console)


And Working



Got to say, i'm unsure if the freeview will be staying, i'll see when the center console goes in properly.

Also, the car went in yesterday to have a standard airbox with a K&N element fitted and the exhaust changed for a twin box RC40 system, suits me nice as it's still got a nice exhaust note, but there's less drone.

New tailpipe (that clamp will be changed for somethingmore subtle)


New airbox (still to be cleaned up along with the rocker cover)


The car is desperate for a good wash, polish and hoover too, if the rain hold off tonight, i'll do that!

[Nick Warwick]

just gone through all this thread mate, you have made such a nice mini, well done

[M44K TS]

Cheers Nick, i can't beleive it's been back on the road 6 months already! Just declared it SORN for October today!

Also, i've just noticed, i have forgotten to upload new pics of the engine bay! I'll have to get on to that pronto!

Ohh, i also got an insurance quote on it as a 2000mile a year policy using 4 years no claims, (should have had 7 years no claims, but thanks to a business fleet policy, i lost a couple of years!) Price was £174 with £100 excess... WIN!!!!

[rosco454]

Hi mark,

I had forgotten all about this one,have you enjoyed the summer with it?

[M44K TS]

well, the handful of times i've used it, yeah, haven't really had much chance to acutally use it though, i think i might need a clutch slave cyl. as mine decided to empty itself all over the garage floor a couple of months back, but seems ok since, i'm gonna take it out for a good run over the weekend before it's put away for the winter, that should highlight any little jobs that need doing whilst it's off the road.

I think i must have only done about 200-250 miles in 6 months in it, which is kind of annoying, but my time has been spent elsewhere with either work, (self employed and on 24 hour callout!) or under the bonnet of my van or car, (bloody Italians!)

[Nick Warwick]

get them engine bay photos up! did you put that bulkhead soundproofing in?

[M44K TS]

Yeah, not the neatest thing to install, i had to do it in sections and it's a nightmare to cut to shape, but the new air filter housing covers most of it along with the wiper motor so it looks tidy enough, seems a bit quieter too. I'm going over today to give the car a run out before it gets put away for winter so i'll grab some pics.