1006 replies to this topic

[grahama]

Hi all,

 

Since last time I have moved the wires for the fuse box inside after stripping the mid section of the loom.  It looks messy but I know what everything is, honest !

 

 

Had a nice delivery the other day,  switches, lamps, wire all for the dash build.  So off I went organising the dash to accept the new switches and lamps.  Much time, swearing and rebating later I had this.

 

 

 

 

 

Very pleased with myself I popped out to the mini to see it in place. Didn't fit !!  My dash rail gap is 10mm narrower one side and also the switches and lamps were too close to the edge anyway for it to slot in,  ahhhhhhhhhh !!  This resulted in

 

 

 

 

But at least I know it fits ok now lol. I filled in the holes and rebated areas on the reverse with car body filler ready for the next go !!  And this was it

 

 

Should have done this in the first place but I still need to put a couple of switches in the wooden area although the pic below hasn't got the switches moved yet.

 

 

I made up a new loom with the delivery and a few relays for the new toggles, a days work but quite pleased with it.

 

 

 

 

Went to see it all in place in the mini and decided to start it as I hadn't had it running for months.  I had no fuse box connected so smart alec here just connected the permanent live to switched live so I could power the engine bay.  Started pretty much eighth time and joy turned to panic when a few whiffs of smoke came out of the inside. 

 

 

 

 

I forgot that the headlight circuit had a permanent live feed and a sidelight connector shorted to earth on the engine side of things where the lights connect into the loom.  Boom, crispy wires,  but limited to the sidelights fortunately.  I have some marked wires where the wires stuck together but no more burnt ones.  These I will heat shrink to protect to be double sure,  the red ones I am thinking of replacing lol.

 

On a positive note, the engine was running nicely with the exhaust connected up and pasted in and the KnN style air filter in place resulting in a nice sound which cheered me up a touch. Red/green wires on order and an hours work ahead but could have been much worse !!

 

Plodding on anyway,

 

Graham

[Steve8274]

Looking good. Shouldn't be long now

[grahama]

Hi all,

 

 

Sorry for some of the pics being sideways or upside down, cant get a decent photo sharing program since Flickr stopped letting me copy and paste,  so annoying !!

 

 

I have been busy repairing the damage on the loom and making new looms for the centre starting button and fog light loom.  All inside the car now apart from the engine and light essentials, should hopefully make it less likely to corrode.

 

 

 

 

New route of fuse box cables.  I have added a couple of switched and permanent feeds for the toggle switch loom.  It looks messy but this is how the toggle loom connects in, loom tape required lol)

 

 

I have tested and retested the loom following the burnt wire and it has taken an age to sort because of ordering parts and waiting then realising you forgot something and reordering lol,  bit of a test

 

 

 

going for a little sticker bombing and carbon fibre vinyl wrap.

 

To be honest there isn't much left of the dash I started with, filled, sanded and re holed for stuff left this

 

 

but will look something like this when done

 

 

 

 

I had to make the brackets to hold the dash on but my first attempt with 1mm steel just bent and didn't hold properly.  I made some long washers sort of to stiffen them up and all came good

 

 

All wrapped up and clipped in place the looms look a little tidier.  The toggle loom was taped to keep the pins in the old connectors as when the mini gets going they could rattle loose.  I coiled up the wires into a soft loop so as not to stress the old wires in their new position.

 

 

 

I made a new loom for the new starter circuit and front spots when I get them.  The spot side of the loom is just tucked out of the way for now but will operate on the stalk flasher and main beam setting so all front lights will flash or be on, legality not my strong suit lol

 

 

 

The starter part of the loom completely replaces the old white/red wire from position 3 on the ignition column but I have retained the wires intact if I want to go back, you can just see the old white/red wire taped out of the way on the left.

 

That's about it for now, looms in and tested, dash done and going in tomorrow, starts first time, coolant tomorrow and then its a waiting game for fasteners !!!

 

 

Regards,

 

Graham

Edited by grahama, 23 May 2016 - 05:44 PM.

[slidehammer]

Nice to see you making progress Graham, keep up the good work and another Mini will be back on the road where it belongs.

[Cookiez]

Well done on the loom Graham, Bet your glad thats ones ticked off the list.

[grahama]

Thanks guys for the comments.

Very glad it's out of the way lol, just some insulating to go on connectors but all working, starting first time and running at a normal temperature.

Put the coolant in and dash complete so nearly there. I just can't get rid of an air lock in the heater return hose. Have asked in tech section for help.

It is a bit sooty at the back end, probably a touch rich but I can sort that after the long list of things are sorted. The list really needs writing first though so I can tick jobs off lol

 

The handbrake middle section under the car was hitting the exhaust middle box when I pulled the handbrake, and that can't be good so I knocked up a little bracket to drop it down 10mm to clear it.

 

 

 

 

 

Will keep going,

Graham

Edited by grahama, 24 May 2016 - 05:00 PM.

[Cookiez]

I had airlock problems with Ruby

I drilled a hole in the thermostat and it cured it

[Ben_O]

Great work on the wiring and dashboard Graham.

 

Both look great.

 

The end is in sight!

[grahama]

Hi all,

 

plodding along in the sun recently, burnt back of neck for my troubles.

 

I have finished changing the crimped connectors to solder and insuklated them all, especially the ones like the front lights

 

 

 

Some black loom tape and all will look fine.  Hopefully keep the elements out.  I have carried on inside and at the rear like this so hopefully no shorting out.

 

 

I fixed my steering wheel in place with the detachable boss but think it will need a drop bracket to make it comfortable to use, or a shorter steering column as it sits 3" further back than a standard steering wheel.  I do however have to extend the seats back yet so that should make a difference.

 

 

Fuel lines connected but as I know I have fines in the tank I cant get out I have fitted an in line plastic fuel filter.  Thought about putting it under after the fuel tank here

 

 

but thought when I replace it with the glass one I have it might just smash with stones etc so put it in the engine bay tie wrapped out of the way from the manifold

 

 

I will when the fines have passed through the filter replace this with the glass one but I am also going to put a metal one straight after the fuel tank to pre filter the filter, overkill probably but hey ho!!

 

I next had to fix the lights and indicators and the rivinut tool finally arrived.  Not a bad tool but I went a touch gung ho and nearly ruined the 4mm mandrill putting the first few in.  I was putting too much force into it and pulling the rivinut in too much, the last ones I did were perfect.  A great way to fix stuff so they are removable and not riveted in permanent.

 

 

And all fixed in place ready to align the light beam

 

 

Ticking things off the list now, wheel rims are in lacquer ready for tyres, battery next week, nearly there !!

 

 

Graham

[ckneller321]

I'm off work at the moment recovering from surgery after breaking my collar bone so I've read this on and off over the last week. Top work mate and keep plugging away; you're almost there! You'll be so proud of this project once it's on the road.

[g111mds]

Any more progress on this? Fantastic effort, especially given the driveway build. Always liked the early mayfairs.

[Shukran]

Any news grahama? (I always read this as "grandma") sorry

Edited by Shukran, 07 February 2017 - 08:06 AM.

[lawrence]

Graham I'm disappointed with that cable tie in the engine bay there!
It's crying out for a riv nut with a lovely rubber lined p clip for a top quality install (like the rest of your work has been of course)

Of course I'd it's a mocking up cable tie then I will give allowance :)
I'm looking forward to a new update

Lawrence

[superzorg1000]

Just read the whole thing over the past three evenings. Fantastic work, can't wait to see the finished product!

 

Matt

[grahama]

Hi all, after a long break again,

 

Had a very tricky set of front hubs annoying me last year, got so fed up with it all I put it to bed and ignored it.  Anyway this year I found a mini restoration garage near me and they sorted the play I couldn't figure out.  It turns out that it was ball joint adjustment and a very slightly worn CV joint.  Changed the bearings to be safe too.  Back on and fine.

 

Hand brake adjusted and onto the MOT list now.  Fuel tank is full of vinegar as it has got a little rusty over the years but its doing the trick.  

 

Feeling motivated again so onwards.  Will post some pics soon.

 

Regards,

 

Graham