625 replies to this topic

[minimissions]

Wow this thing is really coming along now, what a great looking car! This this will be a beaut once she is all built up and your on the road enjoying it :)

[Chappers]

Glad to see you back.
Love the colour on this, almost edible.

Congrats on the new house too, nice to have a new garage space you can customize just how you want.

Ive been following your build for a while and its given me the motivation and Ive stolen a few of your ideas on how to fix things. The rear bulkhead being one of them.

[robj2502]

With regard to the first start procedure I too have been trying to find out whats best. I found Keith Calvers technical article helpfull even if the procedure seems a little long winded! have a look in the link below:

 

https://www.calverst...in-new-engines/

 

Cracking colour choice by the way really suits the car and the mini's little curves in general.

[rich2]

Thanks all!

 

robj2502: yeah I read that and I'm inclined to follow Keith Calver's advice because I've based a lot of my engine build on stuff I read in his articles. Seems to know what he is talking about!

 

The main problem is I've got the annoying chicken and egg situation of getting the car MOT'd before it can be run in on the road. Unless I book an appointment at a test center then do the whole procedure on the way there? How do people do this legally when running in a new engine on a car thats out of MOT?

[robj2502]

Thanks all!

 

robj2502: yeah I read that and I'm inclined to follow Keith Calver's advice because I've based a lot of my engine build on stuff I read in his articles. Seems to know what he is talking about!

 

The main problem is I've got the annoying chicken and egg situation of getting the car MOT'd before it can be run in on the road. Unless I book an appointment at a test center then do the whole procedure on the way there? How do people do this legally when running in a new engine on a car thats out of MOT?

The MOT issue hadnt even occured to me!! 

 

I look forward to see what others have done; although getting the MOT booked and then doing this procedure before on the same day seems pretty sensible to me.

[skoughi]

Do you know anyone who has a decent bit of private tarmac, someone who owns a business etc. Could possibly get her on a trailer to such a place and do a bit of running in there, good enough to get her to the mot station. I got my clubman tested at a garage that was about three mile away so was able to give her a wee run on the way. Saying that she was rather lean so had to run her on a little bit of choke! As my clubman has a 73 reg then no emissions test was done. 

[StuM]

The main problem is I've got the annoying chicken and egg situation of getting the car MOT'd before it can be run in on the road. Unless I book an appointment at a test center then do the whole procedure on the way there? How do people do this legally when running in a new engine on a car thats out of MOT?

 

This is something that had also not occurred to me until recently.  Given mine is a 1977 car, I could rely on this:

 

https://classics.hon...c-cars-over-40/

 

But, having rebuilt the car, and my first such exercise, I'll be getting a Mini specialist to give mine the once over before submitting for (optional) MOT - and will be trailering it over.

 

Yours is looking great - you must be itching to get it on the road now.

[rich2]

Hi All!

 

Have been working away on the car for the past few weeks - brakes sorted, clutch sorted, electrics sorted (so I thought), static timing sorted, coolant in, fuel in etc. Had everything ready to try to start the car today, and had also made the booking for an MOT, but sadly had to cancel as there were a few last minute problems. 

 

First of all the ignition light comes on as soon as the battery is connected - even when the keys are not in. I'm puzzled by this. Bad alternator? Bad wiring? Bad ignition switch? I've asked for help in the questions section because I'm not sure what to do about it:  http://www.theminifo...r-switched-off/

 

Apart from that, there were a few minor fuel leaks to take care of, but with those fixed we ultimately could not get it to fire. Fuel is getting to the spark plugs, but we suspected weak spark because we had been cranking it over quite a lot by this point and the battery was getting low. Battery is now on charge and we will try again another day.

 

*SIGH*

 

For now, here is another photo of the car sitting in the garage going nowhere fast.

 

[johnR]

What a shame - so close but stymied by an electrical gremlin - presume the lamp/alternator is earthing somewhere it shouldn't.

You've beaten me to finishing your engine and getting it in - I only just got my head back a week ago. 

[DeanP]

Photo shop out the black pipe to the left, boxes back right and the shelving back left, you have an amazing photo. the kind you'd see in GQ magazine or similar.

[rich2]

Hi all!

 

Well I seem to have cured the nasty ignition light being on all the time...

 

 

... by buying a new alternator. Also decided to go for a new coil at the same time to rule out any weirdness in that department. Old on the right, new on the left.

 

 

So here is everything installed. Battery was charged, so I turned the key and it started first time! Ran it for a couple of seconds then turned it off. It sounded basically good but definitely needs some setting up!

 

 

HOWEVER, when I had a quick look at the engine afterwards, I found fuel had been gushing out of the float chamber.  

 

At first I assumed it was the pipe union, but after taking it all apart I was surprised to find there is an overflow hole and it was coming out of there. The pin actuated by the float and the part it is supposed to seal to are new but they could have been sticking. More likely is the facet fuel pump is generating more pressure (4-5psi) than the carb wants (apparently 3psi). So I've ordered a Filter King regulator and filter which should reduce the pressure and stop fuel escaping.

 

I hope!



 

[Jase]

That ignition switch has to be a bad earth somewhere. Car looks fantastic.

[rich2]

So I didn`t quite make it to L2B this year (ended up selling my ticket) but we did finally get the car running properly(ish) today!

 

 

The mixture was a bit rich at this point, and we managed to improved it quite a bit once I realised I`d got the jet adjustment assembled a bit wrong. I also now have a Filter King pressure regulator/filter to solve an excess fuel pressure issue I was having earlier in the week which meant fuel was flooding out of float chamber overflow. This could also have been down to the float needle not seating correctly (adjusted this again today by adding a washer), but anyway; now I have a an extra filter in the line which is nice.

 

Next stop: MOT test!

Edited by rich2, 19 May 2018 - 08:35 PM.

[sonikk4]

Nice one Rich, its alive!!! however that tail pipe looks like its in contact with the rear valance. That will make a racket so i would tweak that down a bit.

[rich2]

Thanks Neil! My dad was indeed saying it was rattling a lot at the back end but I thought it was the bumper. Will put it on the list of things to sort!