589 replies to this topic

[jamesquintin]

More fun and games...

I tidied up my workbench to start working on the block. I was going to gap all the rings and get the pistons ready. I then discovered the oil ring is too big! I've been supplied a 4mm set, not the 3mm that my pistons require. So they'll have to go back to Minispares. Urrrgh

 

 

 

 

 

I decided to get the crank out and make sure its OK. I used plastiguage to measure the running clearance. Its right near the edge of tolerance, but still within. Phew

Can't really do anything on the block until the new rings turn up

Q

[Tones61]

Did you get the cam with the cam sensor bit on for the mpi

[tankertanker]

Nice work, following with interest ,,,

Can I ask your opinion of the clarke tap and die set ?

[jamesquintin]

Did you get the cam with the cam sensor bit on for the mpi

 

I sure did :)

 

Nice work, following with interest ,,,

Can I ask your opinion of the clarke tap and die set ?

 

Its pretty decent, not had a problem with any of the tapping. The handle for the tap (the screw one? not sure which is the tap and which is the die!) does tend to come undone as you are using it

[jamesquintin]

I've had a word with Minispares and they are sending the correct rings now (along with some other bits I've ordered.

I double checked the end float of the crank which is 2-3 thou, which according to the the Haynes manual is correct..?

Q

 

[jamesquintin]

So, little by little cracking on. I cleaned up all the threads of the block whilst waiting new parts:

 

 

Then I had a look at the bonnet gaps:

 

 

 

 

Are they perfect...? No. Will they do? yup

 

 

Looking at the car when I had it from (almost) new, it still had the gap in the lower right corner of the bonnet...

 

Q

[jamesquintin]

Little bit more done. I managed to cut through one of the fuel lines when I was replacing the floor, so that one had to be binned (I got a new old stock one from Somerford Minis last year)

Took all the little tags off and will give them a wash

 

 

 

 

Might spray them white just to clean them up.

Q

[leepol83]

Little bit more done. I managed to cut through one of the fuel lines when I was replacing the floor, so that one had to be binned (I got a new old stock one from Somerford Minis last year)

Took all the little tags off and will give them a wash









Might spray them white just to clean them up.

Q

Hi mate I did this on my mpi and I put the tabs in a washing up bowl in hot water with a dishwasher tablet and let them soak give them a scrub with a brush and they will look new

[Alice Dooper]

 

Little bit more done. I managed to cut through one of the fuel lines when I was replacing the floor, so that one had to be binned (I got a new old stock one from Somerford Minis last year)

Took all the little tags off and will give them a wash









Might spray them white just to clean them up.

Q

Hi mate I did this on my mpi and I put the tabs in a washing up bowl in hot water with a dishwasher tablet and let them soak give them a scrub with a brush and they will look new

 

I repurposed our dishwasher as a parts cleaner.  Does a great job but wasn’t a great for domestic harmony!!  I have a wee ultrasonic bath too and it works well too.  Did my fuel injectors and there was a good bit of old Carbon goo came out.

[leepol83]

Little bit more done. I managed to cut through one of the fuel lines when I was replacing the floor, so that one had to be binned (I got a new old stock one from Somerford Minis last year)

Took all the little tags off and will give them a wash









Might spray them white just to clean them up.

Q

Hi mate I did this on my mpi and I put the tabs in a washing up bowl in hot water with a dishwasher tablet and let them soak give them a scrub with a brush and they will look new

I repurposed our dishwasher as a parts cleaner. Does a great job but wasn’t a great for domestic harmony!! I have a wee ultrasonic bath too and it works well too. Did my fuel injectors and there was a good bit of old Carbon goo came out.

Same mate that’s why I’ve been downgraded to the bowl, can’t see the issue myself what’s a few oily, greasy parts in the dishwasher gonna do ?‍♂️??????

[Steve220]

I put mine in a bowl with boiling hot water and bleach. They came up like new after a few days.

Edited by Steve220, 03 April 2020 - 09:11 PM.

[Ben_O]

I had been thinking about using retrobriting for all the discoloured white parts.

Seen a few vids on YouTube about it and there are a few interesting methods of doing it.

One guy did a casing for a sega dreamcast game console which had gone from off white to yellow and in places orange and he put it in a plastic box of hydrogen peroxide 15% I think, wrapped the box in strips of uv lights and then foil.

After a night in there, they were restored to new.

Another guy used peroxide for hair colouring in a tube, slathered it all over, wrapped in cling film and left in the sun for a day. Also worked...

 

Cheers

Ben

[RustyAutoCityE]

I had been thinking about using retrobriting for all the discoloured white parts.

Seen a few vids on YouTube about it and there are a few interesting methods of doing it.

One guy did a casing for a sega dreamcast game console which had gone from off white to yellow and in places orange and he put it in a plastic box of hydrogen peroxide 15% I think, wrapped the box in strips of uv lights and then foil.

After a night in there, they were restored to new.

Another guy used peroxide for hair colouring in a tube, slathered it all over, wrapped in cling film and left in the sun for a day. Also worked...

 

Cheers

Ben

I have used the Hydrogen Peroxide method for non-car projects in the past, and while it works and the results are impressive, I have found the yellowing comes back with a vengence after a year or so.

 

That said, the results may last longer if the parts are not in direct sunlight.

[Tumbleweed-Connection]

That said, the results may last longer if the parts are not in direct sunlight.

Isn’t it the opposite? Like if you’ve ever used white oil based paint recently and watched it turn yellow where it’s outside of direct sunlight compared to somewhere like a windowsill - it’s the UV light that keeps it bleached.

[RustyAutoCityE]

 

That said, the results may last longer if the parts are not in direct sunlight.

Isn’t it the opposite? Like if you’ve ever used white oil based paint recently and watched it turn yellow where it’s outside of direct sunlight compared to somewhere like a windowsill - it’s the UV light that keeps it bleached.

 

Not sure about paint pigment, but I know with the palstics I was using it on the yellowing was a result of the UV reacting with the flame retardant mixed in during manufacture.

 

I don't think it is such an issue with modern plastics, but anything from the 80's or 90's can suffer quite badly depending on how much the factory used on any given day.