749 replies to this topic

[MattMiniS96]

Just read every page mate. Bang on, when it comes to body work and welding I'm a novice and it scares me but you've shown me there's nothing to be scared of! 

 

Matt.

[lawrence]

Cheers Matt. It's been a trek and congratulations for reading it all! Must have taken you a while! I would say that it's not he best how to guide! But the cars in one piece still!

Little update.

Still waiting on my pistons to be sorted

House offer has been accepted! Estimated move in time. This year? Haha, I'll take some garage pics soon!

Bear with people.

[lawrence]

Little update,

Solicitors are moving ahead on the house :)

Still waiting on pistons to come back from the garage, bank holiday weekend has put me back.

I thought I would do some painting of the engine bay and removed the remaining part of the mini engine steady bracket

Looking pretty grubby, paint is flaking in places also
20180401_144300 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

Bracket removed and surface rust ground off
20180401_145949 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

Painted
20180401_150957 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

Flaked paint taken off from where the brake fluid leaked a while ago
20180401_152731 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

Nice coat of paint
20180401_154442 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

May fit some foam to protect the frame when I refit the engine too.

Update again soon :)

Lawrence

[lawrence]

Well then, little update.

 

Went and popped into specialist components, they do some real tasty alloys there. Hmmm.

20180326_161723 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

20180402_145000 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

 

This doesn’t look right

20180402_182058 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

 

Im missing a clip and the one remaining doesn’t look complete. I wonder if that’s the cause of that strange noise during idle when the clutch release bearing is in freewheel.

 

Contacted Nissan the other week and they ordered one up from London for me and I picked em up today.

 

On that topic. Gearbox removed

20180402_185923 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

 

cleaned up and a few air holes drilled

20180402_205053 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

 

made a reinforcer for the gearbox steady

20180403_175222 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

not finshed it yet tho.

 

Also done some grinding on the exhaust. Needs some more welding. 20180403_180706 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

20180403_191311 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

 

Currently im using bolts but im worried im going to cross thread the head. So ive bought some new stainless studs to go into the head and also will modify the exhaust to allow me to leave the majority of the manifold in situ should I remove the engine. (in pic below)

20180406_113004 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

also bought an adaptor plate for the oil filter allowing me to fit the sensors for the digidash to the engine.

 

Sharkfin antenna arrived also. Bit big. May not fit

20180406_113029 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

 

Have bought some new bits tho called rubnuts. Drilled out for the headlamps

20180406_115603 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

20180406_115711 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

20180406_115817 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

 

I need to paint where I have drilled tho. But they work great. Ive bought another 50 to fit the wheel arches with. Basically they are like rivnuts but rubber and brass. So no corrosion and easy to remove.

 

Then my parents car overheated

20180408_195425 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

I diagnosed it as water pump failure due to the erratic occourance. Its being fixed under warrantly.

 

Back to mini, still stripped waiting for parts

20180409_105107 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

 

got these to fit too

20180409_110334 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

ill let you guess what it is but ill hint it involved vinyl.

 

Pistons back from the mechanics. They never bothered doing them. Could have bloody told me they didn’t have the skills to do them as opposed to wasting 2 weeks of my time and countless phone calls.

 

Chain drilled the conrod

20180409_190839 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

20180409_194315 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

 

all the pistons free of their rods

20180409_204022 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

 

ive dropped the other rods that I want to keep into another engine shop who are pressing them for me.

 

Interesting note. One of the above rods are bent! Far right one.

 

That’s all for now. My vinyl surprise will be unveiled soon. And hopefully the piston will be sorted soon!

 

Lawrence

 

 

 

 

[lawrence]

So I gave her a good clean and polish today, the paint at the back is definitely the better paint!
20180410_131924 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

And then made a start on her new look :)
IMG-20180410-WA0002 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

And from the front
20180410_192459 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

I need to do a little paintwork round the front and need to buy some more vinyl to to the offside of her. Running out!
Pistons will be dropped off soon

Hope people like the new look :)
Lawrence

[paulrockliffe]

I wouldn't fit that shark fine personally, had one on my Minus and it looked terrible, ruined the paint and has left a hole in my roof that'll be a pain to fill and paint.

Vinyl looks good, I have a similar plan for mine, but just doors, boot and bonnet and incorporating number boards.

[thelegg]

Love the new look!

[Mini-dude]

I love the headlight and very unique paint scheme.

[lawrence]

Cheers for the comments guys always nice to get motivation! I'm unsure about the sharkfin currently. It's not essential to getting her in the road so I'll have a think

Well I've don't nothing to her in the last 2 weeks basically. I've been working a lot to try and build my money up and have also paid for just under a grand for all the house fees and a holiday this month. The house purchase is coming on nicely and I can't wait to start making my own custom garage layout!!

So plan is post payday. Order the rest of the vinyl. Order some wing paint protectors so I stop scuffing the paint on the wings now they look nice.

Pistons are finally pressed on!
20180423_115707 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr
Cost me £65 in the end. They are fitted lovely now tho and I didn't have to stress about them.

Orange sister mini encouraging work
20180412_094016 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

And I'm just doing some mods to the lower arm mount.
20180423_190152 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr
You can see where the pot joint has smoothed the metal somewhat. I thought I may a single we'll make some more clearance now it's all apart

But as always there's an issue. The piston rings I bought were for the wrong age micra. K12 not k11. The seller had advertised them wrongly as fitting a cg10de engine. I've got my money back today (£45) but I am having trouble buying any online. Nissan do stock them but over £100im reluctant to pay that much. Watch this space the next week or so. Things will be happening!

Lawrence

[lawrence]

Little bit from today.

New piston rings ordered! Found some for £73delivered! So I'll get cracking with them next Tuesday and Wednesday when the gf is at work!

Onwards to some head work
Cleaned up the exhaust gasket sealing surfaces and fitted new studs.
20180424_154927 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr
Like I said previously I was worried stripping threads in the head using stainless bolts like I was before.

Drilled and tapped the head for the temp sender for megasquirt
20180424_154930 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr
Bit nerve wracking that! Didn't want to bugger the head up. My lucks not great haha

Then I capped the other sender holes. Was going to buy some new brass bungs but in the end I cut up the old sensors and silver soldered them up.
20180424_170428 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr
Too much of a dimple there.

Refilled
20180424_170634 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

Better here
20180424_170958 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

Sure buying the brass bits would have been faster but it was much more fun making my own and recycling :)

And I'm working my way along the head lapping in the valves. The tool I have from Halfords is very poor quality, I think I will replace it after pay day.
20180424_181552 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

That's all for now. More next week
Lawrence

[lawrence]

Good evening people,

 

This is the first of this weeks updates. There will be plenty coming this week as I crack on!

 

Correct rings finally fitted to the pistons!

20180430_102438 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

 

work desk cleared and block dug out

20180430_103247 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

 

Crank and cage fitted. Oil filter adaptor plate fitted also.

20180430_124218 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

 

I also tested the end float and its within spec. For this build im not changing any bearings etc as all of them are fine. These engines don’t tend to wear like the a series ones do and it’s a 5 bearing crank too so less flex etc.

 

And pistons all fitted. Considering ive never done this before it all went nice and smoothly.

20180430_152203 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

 

Crank turns nicely and I can turn it by hand so im happy ive put it together ok. Used most of a kitchen roll and a whole can of degreaser. Although the exterior of the block looks grubby all the mating faces and bearing holders etc ive cleaned the best I can.

 

Ive put it to one side for now.

 

Onwards to the sump. Need that to protect my oily bits!

 

Hammered out bit cut out to be replaced

20180430_154717 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

 

panel made and partly welded in, my cad template is there too

20180430_155850 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

 

weldy weldy – the blue tray is to catch oil and snuff out any chances of remaining oil going up in flames. Fire extinguisher was nearby!

20180430_161047 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

 

Painted – cut out bit next to it

20180430_162303 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

 

I have also rewelded the exhaust where I ground it back

20180430_164005 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

sorry for the poor photo.

 

In addition to that ive bought some carbide bits to clean up the exhaust and open it out a little so ill tidy the ports up when they arrive.

 

Ive also redesigned part of the exhaust where it enters the Y piece. Its all tacked currently (note the pigeon pooh welding)

 

Instead of the 2 clamps that seems to fail after only a few miles ive devised a new system of keeping the exhaust more air tight. One part slots inside the other

20180430_184454 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

20180430_184617 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

 

In addition to being more gas proof its also a low profile as this part of the exhaust is snug to my subframe.

 

More tomorrow.

lawrence

 

 

 

 

[lawrence]

Lunch break update

Exhaust finished and painted using scraps of paint left in the garage!
20180501_103503 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

Making the most of the nice weather while it's not raining! Suspension all stripped down.
20180501_113327 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

Welded my lower pin reinforcement on the back
20180501_114743 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

Cutout for more clearance and welded up to keep the strength up. I'm finally happy with this area!
20180501_124433 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

Ground back
20180501_125427 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

Painted
20180501_130425 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

New lower arms to fit!
20180501_130444 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

More tonight

[lawrence]

Evening update
20180501_174537 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

Lower arms fitted and suspension rebuilt back up. Everything is done up but not yet retorqued. I'll do that once the engine is refitted incase I need to take bits apart again.

Gearbox is now also refitted. I wanted to check my new gearbox mount and clearance where I did my welding this morning. Clearance is really good. I still have to have my driveshaft gaitor transfer thing fitted to fully avoid any chance of the gaitor being shredded but I expected that unless I was going to redesign more of my frame in that area.

More on Thursday. I've ordered a new valve lapping kit that hopefully will be better than the current one I have!

That's all for now.
Lawrence

[thelegg]

All top work as per normal :) can't go wrong with those bottom arms either makes adjusting the camber so much easier!

[lawrence]

Cheers bud, I've set them the same as my current arms so hopefully will be accurate and the adjustability will be great.

Few bits from today
Went to lap in valve with my current tool
20180503_103907 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr
Waste of time, tools rubbish. So rather than waste my time I cleaned up all the bolts and chain etc and sorted all my shims out and cleaned my gasket faces. Means when I finally get my new valve lapping tool I'll be able to put the engine together fairly swiftly.
20180503_120832 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

So finished off my camo
20180503_155436 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr

She looks pretty cool now :)
20180503_171714 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr
20180503_171816 by Lawrence Balls, on Flickr
Also refitted the light and did other bits to tidy the front up.

That's all for now. Night shift Saturday night so I've got all day then to sort the engine should my parts finally arrive! Also bought a micrometer to allow me to shim the valve clearances appropriately

Lawrence