204 replies to this topic

[Down&Out]

[blacktulip]

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look how worn the old cones are compared to the new ones. one thing i will say is the new ones totally transform the ride comfort. its well worth the money to change them.

Edited by blacktulip, 24 October 2009 - 10:49 AM.

[blacktulip]

today i went down to Avonbar in takeley and had a long chat with Ian Hardgreves about a possible new engine. To put it bluntly i'm going down the bigger engine route, a 1310cc to be exact

looking back at my start page on this thread i know i said i would stick to a 998cc, but the way im seeing things now is a 998 isnt really what i want.

for now i need to find a donor exchange 1275 engine and also to get some money together.

[blacktulip]

i have next week off to hopefully do some work on the little bugger. i have just bought a cone compressor with both metric and imperial rods, that will be the first job to do. i also have to swap my speedo over to one that isnt siezed up lol. siezed speedos make a noise like a choked chicken

[blacktulip]

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i mounted my spotlight switch yesterday here. its nice and refined. when the lights are on it glows green . all the wiring has been ran to the engine bay. all i have to do now is fit the lamp bar and wire them up

[tedmcedd]

nice lamp bar! ill be expecting pictures when its all done!

[blacktulip]

im having a concrete base made at the moment especially for my mini to keep it off the damp grass. all i will need next is a good cover. at least i will be able to work on it whenever i want now.

i also changed my steering wheel over to the mk1/2 big wheel to keep it "in keeping"

Edited by blacktulip, 11 December 2009 - 07:54 PM.

[blacktulip]

i have some cooper s rims in old english, i might fit them and see how they look. otherwise they will be for sale

[Down&Out]

Ive had an italian job lamp bar for several years now, just never properly fitted it.

Love the colour too.

[blacktulip]

today i fitted my new seat belts and anchors, i did have some dark blue ones and it never had the proper anchors. its funny how putting the little things right really makes the car seem more apppealing. i have also got to fit a new duluxe side strip, i lost half of it down a country road somewhere

working on my new concrete base makes all the difference, it was only when it got dark i stopped doing bits otherwise i could have spent hours. if only i have a garage lol!

[blacktulip]

i spent sunday putting on my old 998cc head back on, which i had the compression raised to around the 10:1 mark. i decided to ditch the 295 head as i have dished pistons it would mean going into the oil gallery if i was to skim it, the head is far to nice to ruin. i did have a buyer for it but it fell through so i will sell it on at the right price otherwise it will stay in my loft untill it is really sought after.

once the old head was back on i got it running, i was getting really excited as i havent driven it since before xmas only for my bypass hose to spring a leak so i have ordered up a new water pump and hose. it could do with a nice shiney new pump to be honest

whilst the engine was in bits i fitted a new speedo, it wasnt all that hard. infact it was really straight forward.

when the engine is sorted i will be putting my spotlights on and that will be that untill its respray time!!

[blacktulip]

i got the new pump and hose on, started it up and the battery died. so i went out today and bought the 075 battery and also put my backup alternator on and hey presto im back up and running.

[blacktulip]

i fitted my lamps this weekend and with some fettling with the brackets it is all working. we went out tonight for a drive down some country lanes, they are really awesome!!! when i switched them off for oncoming traffic it was like the halogen headlamps are candles lol. the light that these babies ommit is a very white light that lights up absolutely everything. to say im pleased is an understatement.

i also have another engine to go in, its a 1275 with 76bhp 80lbs/ft of torque, pretty much an MG metro engine with a bit more headwork i think. im just waiting on it being taken out of the other mini its in.

[blacktulip]

this is how the mini looks at the moment

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this is my new engine to go in, the head is definately ported. i took it out of the mini it was in at the sellers house. surprisingly it came out without any problems. i have also got the driveshafts and gear linkage too. the front core plug is leaking and it needs a new fuel pump gasket.
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[blacktulip]

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mini today. not much going on at the moment.