403 replies to this topic

[dannzhu]

Just wondering, does Innocenti Minis (especially the ones fitted with that grille) have internal bonnet release?


Daniel

[adam_93rio]

did you sell one of your fish carbs on ebay the other day? it looked exactly like the one you have (i know there isnt much difference between carbs but hey)

[Asphalt]

Just wondering, does Innocenti Minis (especially the ones fitted with that grille) have internal bonnet release?


Daniel

Hi! Yes, they have an internal bonnet release! The Inno one is a bit different, though.



I got that with my Inno 'halfcut' (more like a 1/4 cut )... (bought that for the 12G295 head):

did you sell one of your fish carbs on ebay the other day? it looked exactly like the one you have (i know there isnt much difference between carbs but hey)

No. And I probably never will

Cheers,
Jan

[Asphalt]

Soo, next parts score from the weekend... To make you all a bit jealous

Someone posted in the german Mini-forum hed had a 998 engine and some wheels to give away. For free. I was the first who rang him up - so got the lot. And it was only a 230 miles trip (back and forth). Perfect!



Isn't it amazing what you can fit in a Mini? A fairly complete 998 lump which seemed to be one of the very last, from '90 or '91 and with low mileage. 4x 12" Rover steels and 4x Rover 12" Minilites. Tyres are all beyond use - but who cares. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

But the best thing: the engine was - strangely - equiped with a RSP Cooper's bottom cooler & top hose. Just what I was after for the 998 I'm building ATM, since the 12G940 I'm going to use doesn't have a waterpump bypass. Gearbox looks mint on first inspection.

The Minilites will serve for the next winter season - been looking for a cheap set for ages.

And for the first time in about 7 years, I was happy about the glas sun roof We lifted the engine in together, but for unloading I was alone. So I came up with this brainwave:







Cheers,
Jan

[adam_93rio]

thats engenius, most ive had in my mini was a full interior, but still had a passenger in the front

im sure the back seats were meant to carry front ones

(the fish carb still hasnt arrived, but when it does i might be coming to you for advice if thats ok? if you do ever sell one let me know!)

[Asphalt]

thats engenius, most ive had in my mini was a full interior, but still had a passenger in the front

im sure the back seats were meant to carry front ones

(the fish carb still hasnt arrived, but when it does i might be coming to you for advice if thats ok? if you do ever sell one let me know!)

Sure! You'r welcome! I'll try to help wherever I can! If you'r looking for tuning instructions etc. - you might want to have a look on a site I made some years ago (needs a bit care and translation work, I know ): http://fish.jan-wulf.de

[adam_93rio]

thats engenius, most ive had in my mini was a full interior, but still had a passenger in the front

im sure the back seats were meant to carry front ones

(the fish carb still hasnt arrived, but when it does i might be coming to you for advice if thats ok? if you do ever sell one let me know!)

Sure! You'r welcome! I'll try to help wherever I can! If you'r looking for tuning instructions etc. - you might want to have a look on a site I made some years ago (needs a bit care and translation work, I know ): http://fish.jan-wulf.de

thats excellent, i can understand the english bits, brilliant. its better than id be able to make a site in dutch anyway

ill have a good read through, and find an online translator too, thanks a lot

Edited by adam_93rio, 30 March 2010 - 02:36 PM.

[Deathrow]

I love the stance of your car Jan! It was your car that inspired me to go for Mini Special wheels under Mini Special arches but with Cooper S brakes to push them out just a little bit, the look is fantastic .

What was wrong with the DBilas manifold by the way? I can't see anything wrong in the photos, but maybe I'm being a bit dense?

Keep up the fantastic work .

[MiniLandy]

What was wrong with the DBilas manifold by the way? I can't see anything wrong in the photos, but maybe I'm being a bit dense?

...that you are.

If you look again, one of the float bowls of the SU gets in the way of the hole where there would be a pipe leadign into the manifold.

[Asphalt]

Cheers! Yes, I think that's just the right width of wheel/arch. Not too smal and not too wide.

...that you are.

If you look again, one of the float bowls of the SU gets in the way of the hole where there would be a pipe leadign into the manifold.

Yes. The fuel bowl lid would be directely in the intake. And it's too wide to fit between firewall & carbs, I guess. Didn't try it 'cause it wouldn't fit anyway

Cheers,
Jan

[Deathrow]

I see now! Haha. For some reason I thought the whole assembly was on the wrong side of the back plate.

My bad!

[Asphalt]

First 'break down' for a loooooooong long time well, not a real one. I still had 3rd gear to limp home and fortunately no traffic lights.

Was blasting down the country lane, shifted down from 4th into 3rd to slow down as I was approching the village. at 30 treid to go up into 4th again and got only a very kind and silent *knock* and the shifter got realy light. Soooo - avoid stopping at any cost :eek: Fortunetely had only 500m to go home.

Well - first time this happend to me...



I'm going to change the bush conecting the shifter with the gear selector rod (the one with the two roll pins in), asa it's pretty worn out and the roll pin doesn't grip anymore. Bugger - what luck I was in 3rd

Cheers,
Jan

[mini_mad69]

Cheers,
Jan

That happened to me aswell, although I was stuck in 2nd on the motorway.

Got a new one fitted and a jubilee clip over the top to be safe.

Ben

[Asphalt]

Got a new one fitted and a jubilee clip over the top to be safe.

Ben

Hi Ben!

That's a good idea! I think I copy that

Cheers,
Jan

[Asphalt]

Slight change of plan: the 998 get's a 'bodged together' A+ gearbox. I planed on using a Innocenti remote gearbox; but it's too much hassle for now.

And for the 1275 I'm building a close ratio '1275GT' gearbox, since I was never quite happy with the A+ gear ratios.

This includes: 1st/2nd/3rd gear from a A- gearbox. A A+ mainshaft (18mm support bearing) and a A+ 2 step layshaft. 1st motion (still to be found) 1275GT (18 teeth, 18mm support bearing). And a '79-'80 1275GT laygear (15/20/25/29 teeth count), which is the same as the Cooper S one (22G1040), but with the late & stronger A+ layshaft & bearings. So basicaly a helical close ratio A+ gearbox with A- gears. Lovely!

The 1st motion is very hard to find. The laygear - impossible to find. But hey - you ask the right people, you might find one of those rarer than rare beasts. NOS.



This will give the following ratios:

___A+ |____|1275GT/'S'

1: 3.64:1 __ 3.32:1
2: 2.18:1 __ 2.09:1
3: 1.42:1 __ 1.35:1
4: 1.00:1 __ 1.00:1

I think especially the longer 1st gear will be great; I feel 1st is allready too short with a 3,21:1 diff with the A+ ratios.

Apart from that... I rebuild the differential fo the 998. I dismantled all the diffs I had and put together the best parts. Shocking: I needed 6 1/2 diffs to get one usable diff! People: if you have your gearbox out - the least you should do is to rebuild you diff!! They are just not strong enough. Especially the old diffs without the tabs on the planetary gear washers seem to wear badly. In the future I will ALWAYS at least rebuild the diff and change it for an A+ one.

Problems with the headlights switch forced me to prepare the MkII switch panel for installation. But semthing doesn't look quite right. Yes - I'll need old heater & choke cables first. The late style rubber knobs just don't fit in the picture...



Appart from that - nothing happend or needed fixation. And I'm not going to drive to the IMM with a way too short geared 998 So that has to wait a little more. I might build the gearbox for the 998 in a few days, though.

Cheers,
Jan