55 replies to this topic

[browno]

Thanks all - it has certainly been a long project... unfortunately due to big periods of inactivity, rather than complexity really - but this time it has got to be finished before I can get distracted with the next thing, so here's hoping! (as you will see from post 22 - I used almost the same wording as last night saying it would be done by the 20th anniversary - so here's hoping that 3 years on I can make it happen!)

 

Oh - I even saved myself procrastinating on the orange bulbs, and got them ordered while I was still in the garage last night! I think tonight might be a case of get it in the air and have a good check over the running gear for any obvious MOT issues...

[g111mds]

That lift looks really good! Are they expensive to purchase?

[browno]

That lift looks really good! Are they expensive to purchase?

 

It isn't particularly cheap (£1278 at the mo), but I saw it as a long-term investment - and one that I'm happy I made every time I use it to lift a car, rather than scrabbling about under axle stands! Mine was from the guys below - who were very good, although there are a range of other sellers around with similar lifts too...

 

http://www.ebay.co.u...HgAAOSw3YNXXwtX

[g111mds]

That lift looks really good! Are they expensive to purchase?

 
It isn't particularly cheap (£1278 at the mo), but I saw it as a long-term investment - and one that I'm happy I made every time I use it to lift a car, rather than scrabbling about under axle stands! Mine was from the guys below - who were very good, although there are a range of other sellers around with similar lifts too...
 
http://www.ebay.co.u...HgAAOSw3YNXXwtX

Thank you!

[GraemeC]

I have a similar one and also wouldn't be without it.  

Mine is a 'narrow' version which I think suits the mini a little better and I don't use the arms - I have 1" think high density foam (cut from old gym mats) that I put on the platforms and lift the car on those, with the load spread over a large amount of the floor:

 

http://www.ebay.co.u...WQAAOSwo4pYMFy9

 

I must admit I find the 'mobile' claim a little laughable unless you have a perfectly smooth floor.

[browno]

A little more progress to report - I got the bulbs for the front indicators so could refit them along with a new front plate. 

 

 

I was also getting fed up of seeing all my shiny chrome bits looking all tarnished, so did a slightly non-essential job and gave it all a rub over with some autosol (which was quite satisfying!):

 

 

 

To this:

 

 

 

I have also put a quick coat of plastidip onto my original (brown!) instrument surround, although it doesn't look great so far, so will see how it goes, and if not will pick something up to replace it:

 

 

I also had it up in the air for a good check over the brakes/suspension/underside and have spotted that the handbrake is a bit lazy on one side, so will free up/adjust the cables and actuator lever on the drum.

 

Other than that, at the minute my list of jobs is to replace the windscreen washer hose as it is all split, replace the pedal rubbers, clamp down the battery and refit the fresh air ducting for the heater, and I think I will be ready to go...

[Piglet]

Great read. I hope it flys threw the mot when it happens, or if it fails that it is only a small oversight. Good luck

[Rocket.]

If the clock surround doesn't come out how you want I've got a black one in the garage you can have for the price of postage

[browno]

Thanks guys - especially Rocket, that is a really kind offer! I haven't had a go at any more than a mist coat yet, but I will certainly drop you a line if I can't make it look good!

A little more progress tonight after a few days where I couldn't quite face heading out to the cold (even with both my small heaters on the garage isn't exactly toasty!). I did manage to get myself moving today though and have sorted the dodgy handbrake which needed the pivots on each drum cleaning up and freeing - after which it was working much more smoothly.

After that, I also managed to replumb my washer jets as the hose was all split.

Not quite earth-shattering progress, but a little closer still!

Edited by browno, 25 January 2017 - 10:04 PM.

[browno]

Another good day today - a nice wander round the stalls at Bingley Hall, where I managed to buy a load of bits that I need to get sorted - small bits like pedal rubbers and battery clamps, a pair of halogen lamps to replace the dubious angel eyes I had fitted a while ago and a couple of extravagances! First of these was a pair of opening rear windows and secondly a new dash.

I mentioned before about trying to paint the clock cowl, but having walked round today thought it might look better to fit a full width dash to finish the interior off and provide a nice contrast to the red dash rails. So I bought myself a piano black dash, which I have sorted and fitted tonight. This required removal of one leg of the front cage, and needed some swearing to get everything in and lined up, but I think the end result looks pretty smart!





So now it is time to keep up the momentum and get the cage refitted and the other bits all done and it will be ready to go!

[MacGyver]

Woooooo! Shiny!!! 😎

[Adammcedonagh17]

Unreal story . Best of luck finishing it !

[browno]

Thanks again for your encouragement folks, and I have stepped forward a little more today by swapping the headlights from angel eyes to conventional halogen units, which look much less fussy on the front end.

Before:



During:



After:



And I also then loosely refitted the rest of the front cage to put the interior back together...



So a little further forward again - hopefully MOT approaching soon - I already have my mate on standby to get me booked in to see what I might have missed!

[JPN173]

i have been enjoying this rebuild, i tried uploading on here but quickly gave up and found instagram is far easier #shamelessplug

im sure im speaking for a portion of people by saying... "thank you for replacing those angel eyes"

i dont know why but in my opinion the angel eyes can ruin the appearance of a mini, they look good on a bmw however not on a mini

sorry if this comes across as snobby 

[browno]

Cheers JPN173 - agreed on the angel eyes, when I fitted them way back when, they had a bit of novelty value as being "different", but they are a bit out of line with the overall look of the car, so needed swapping!

 

In other news - I have another milestone... I called to see my mate this morning, and THE MOT IS BOOKED! Yup - it will be going in for test a week on Saturday, so fingers crossed all will look good! In the meantime I'm going to give it a good look over, and check for anything I may have missed but hopefully we are good to go!