52 replies to this topic

[minisilverbullet]

I tightened my fan belt one day, and accidentally touched the alternator terminals with a spanner to create a little fire works display. Ever since the battery wasnt charging correctly and the ignition warning lamp didnt work. 

 

After lots of great advice from members on here, I managed to find the issue was the ignition light wire had come of right beside the alternator. Though that wasn't before i striped the wiring, dash etc. The car is wired for daylight running lights meaning there was a wire running from the terminal on teh alternator which leads to the ignition warning lamp. with the daylight running lights it was also being used a s a trigger for a relay. thats why i missed the loose terminal. anyway all fixed!

 

 

[minisilverbullet]

Highlight of the summer! 

 

Locally there is a weakly car show, maybe around 200 cars come if the weather is good. 

 

The organisers keep a space for extra "special" cars each week. Last night we heard the golden words "wait! park that beautiful mini in the roped of area! 

 

 

 

hahaha a humble mini and a lamborghini diablo

[minisilverbullet]

Thi surely is he most pimped out mini on TMF ? SURELY !!!

Not sure if that is a good or a bad thing! 

 

We take styling cues from Sting the "bell boys" Vespa

 

[rally515]

HAHAHA, all's you and the mini need now is some white wall tyres and a trent coat

 

Love the DIY work you,ve done on your pride and joy

 

Cliff

[malcs_miniturbo]

Very nice mini there mate good work

[minisilverbullet]

So spring has sprung! Have had the mini out of its state of hibernation. Though this wasnt without its issues. 

 

Seems there has been a mouse in the car, despite having southern Sweden's supply of mice traps surrounding the car (not a single mouse in the traps). Though,  no real damage. seems it has been entering through the cold air vents. I noticed this when out form a quick run around the village, when i turned the fan on. Car was consumed in foam, dust and bits of seed. Asthma attack anyone! 

 

it also had a little nibble on the emergency fuel pump switch rubber. So i guess i dodged a bullet. Poison next year i guess .

 

Had a huge package from minispares arrive yesterday. Nice set of MK2 rear lights. which will be fitted over the weekend, so please wait form before and after pics. Also got a scottish style sump guard, which should be fitted this weekend also. 

 

there is a slight issue with a dancing idle, but i have a handful of sensors and vacuum pipes to change over, so fingers crossed. 

[xrocketengineer]

Great car and excellent thread. Hopefully you will get your idle issues resolved soon.

 

Cheers,

 

Ivan

[Black.Ghost]

This is a lovely mini and I love how it has transformed from how you bought it to the way it looks now. 

[minisilverbullet]

Spring is in the air! which signals to get the car from the garage 

 

I have always wanted to loose the mK3/mk4/mk5 rear lights. I wanted mk1s, but hats a bit too much work and cost. So I ordered a set of Mk2 from mini spares. the quality is amazing, like a boiled sweet, deep read colour. they are so much smaller than the Mk3. I always thought they were shorter but they are much shallower also. happy days. Wiring was an issue. Since how ever fitted the towbar and just grafted and scotch blocked onto the wiring harnesss. theres me thinking it was factory or at least fitted at the german dealer! The car arrived in Sweden on year after manufactured and the original  documents state it had a a tow bar. 

 

So let the transformation begin....

 

Before:

 

 

Halfway:

 

 

 

All done:

 

 

 

 

I also fitted my new sump gaurd. I am still thinking how to mount my number plate. In Sweden they are issued by the government, so you cant really deviate from the official one. I was thinking of tucking it right under the bumper and tilting like thy do in Japan. I mean I need to show the sump guard off. Hopefully it is visible in the next pictures. 

 

I also stuck a number circle on the bonnet / wing I ordered from roofless, quality was great, though applying vinyl isnt my strength. i have tried so many times and always end up ripping it of. this time it went well but I am not 100% happy with it. Good job I ordered a spare which I will have professionally applied. 

 

Some pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[minisilverbullet]

Great start to the season, chipped and cracked windscreen. 

 

 

special ordered a new tinted monte carlo style screen form rick evens motorsport. They don't normally do a tinted version, but they were good enough to sort me out! 

 

On the plus side! sailed through yet another MOT

 

 

And summer and the show season has arrived in the south of Sweden- 

 

[minisilverbullet]

 

 

[minisilverbullet]

I was getting tired of my roof rack, it was bare polished aluminium and no matter how much I polished it and waxed it it would always oxidise.

I thought about clear coating if after I polished it but decided to paint it instead! Old English White was my choice. Now that particular colour isn't as readily available in Sweden as you might think. So I found some paint In the Swedish equivalent of halfords, colour code Swedish Volvo beige!

Any way I spent ages removing the slats and cleaning, degreasing the roof rack. Sprayed on some fancy aluminium primer, and waited.........

Checked it the next day and I could literally scrape the primer of with my finger nail! Some good advice from tmf later and I paint stripped the whole thing, was awkward due to all the nooks and cranies. I have never used paint stripper before and I was super impressed. I cleaned the whole thing, and then keyed the aluminium with some 240.

Etch primer as recommended went on really nicely, as did the colour! Wooden slats back on and Roberts your fathers brother!




 

[psmini]

Great car and I love Sweden. I drove to the arctic circle in a 1978 £150 mini 998 in Feb 1999!

[The Clubby Hubby]

awesome!

[minisilverbullet]

now on the car

 

 

 

 

 

 

in the meantime........ the cars ECU is whisking its way to the UK to be repaired.