33 replies to this topic

[Nickyp12]

Hi guys, 

A few months back I bought a JDM 1275 classic mini. Over the winter I took it to a garage and replaced a few items:

- steering rack

- tie bar rods (now heavy duty) and added negaitve camber

- knuckles

- new rear cones

- solid engine mounts 

- uprated all engine steadies (to poly bushings) and added gear box stabilisers

- put bilstein dampeners on all round

- new spark plugs/oil filter/fuel filter/ air filter

- bigger battery

- Halogen LHD headlights (I'm in Canada)

- new master cylinder/brake booster

- A bunch of interior work 

- Bought a Sykes Pickavant ACR4 code reader and all the cables and Pod that we tested on the car

 and purchased a Haynes manual

 

Still have a few more things on the car that I would like to update - such as the exhaust and some of the interior. 

 

However, the reason we replaced all these things, along with making it safe, primarily that we want to take the little car on a road trip up in to Northern BC and then down the Pacific coast highway. I was wondering if you guys had any advice about what tools/ spares I might need along the way, as I know first hand, the JDM mini's can have ever so slightly different parts. Maybe anything else to check on the car before we go?

 

All advice and help would be hugely appreciated as although I have learnt a lot, i'm still quite a noob.

Thanks 

[MacGyver]

Maybe check all connections, specially mains, including the metal clips along the floor that tend to bite thru the cable specially at the subframe ends.
And it might be obvious but some jump leads... You never know...
Will leave the rest to those who know JDM's a little better than me.

Good luck on your trip!

Ben

[xrocketengineer]

Get some spare V-belts, they are hard to find.

[Nickyp12]

awesome! Added V-belts to the list and jump leads. Will jack her up and check all the clips as well, always good to be sure. Thanks, if you think of anything else please let me know.

Edited by Nickyp12, 04 May 2017 - 06:30 PM.

[Shep76S]

Spare rotor arm and cap. Spare exhaust rubber hanger/mount. One spare spark plug and lead. A list of mini specialists and part suppliers within an hour of your intended route.

[newenglandmini]

Purchase a premium membership to the CAA.  Low cost and very comforting to have someone to call for a tow and service.

[Nickyp12]

Thanks guys, added to the list. We don't have a distributor as it's an injection mini, but I have added the other items. Purchasing a BCAA membership this week as they cover america too, which is really helpful!

 

A mechanic recommended that I should change to 50/20 oil for the trip and get the wheel bearings re-packed what's your thoughts?

Thanks

[MacGyver]

Supposing it's not an automatic, 20w50 oil is the only oil you should use in a mini.
Unlike most other cars it uses the same oil in the engine and gear.
Saying that, before I knew, I used 10w40 oil in my first mini for 14 years and drove every day like a maniac and went well... the engine is scrap now... 😢

Take a few litre of oil with you as you might eat some oil on long distance trips.

[Drewett95]

Grease up the front suspension/steering joints (3 per side) and the rear sub-frame.

Plus consider buying a lithium jumpstart pack, great cover for a flat battery when you are isolated.

Also doubles to charge phones, electronics, laptops.

I have a JDM mini, 1995 SPI with a dodgy light switch. I have been caught out once before by leaving my side lights on????

Plus I fitted an auxiliary outlet (cigarette lighter), that way I can charge the jumpstart pack between discharges.

Have fun and enjoy

(Kevin) Drewett95

[brivinci]

Pack a tow strap.

Consider buying a set of front tow hooks that install where the front subframe mounts are below the bumper. Minis have no good place to tow from.

Bring a highly visible emergency triangle/LED blinking light/flashlight

Consider installing a 3rd brake light, even a temp one. Mini lights are low and modern cars are TALL these days.

 

Just read you added an Aux outlet, I did the same but it also had two USB ports next to the aux. Best of both worlds.

Edited by brivinci, 11 May 2017 - 09:38 PM.

[Nickyp12]

Grease up the front suspension/steering joints (3 per side) and the rear sub-frame.

Plus consider buying a lithium jumpstart pack, great cover for a flat battery when you are isolated.

Also doubles to charge phones, electronics, laptops.

I have a JDM mini, 1995 SPI with a dodgy light switch. I have been caught out once before by leaving my side lights on????

Plus I fitted an auxiliary outlet (cigarette lighter), that way I can charge the jumpstart pack between discharges.

Have fun and enjoy

(Kevin) Drewett95

 

Great ideas Kevin! I'll look in to the battery booster tonight. I also fitted an auxiliary outlet, so that we could power a sat nav primarily but now it'll serve a dual purpose. 

 

Pack a tow strap.

Consider buying a set of front tow hooks that install where the front subframe mounts are below the bumper. Minis have no good place to tow from.

Bring a highly visible emergency triangle/LED blinking light/flashlight

Consider installing a 3rd brake light, even a temp one. Mini lights are low and modern cars are TALL these days.

 

Just read you added an Aux outlet, I did the same but it also had two USB ports next to the aux. Best of both worlds.

 

Thanks brivinci, great idea about the tow hook! We have about 8 weeks to go before we leave so I better get on ordering and installing. Yeah we installed an auxiliary power outlet and also have a USB built in to the radio face plate. 

 

Ha! Yeah cars are especially tall in Canada. Feels like there are way more trucks than I remember in the UK. A third brake light is definitely something I hadn't thought about and I literally popped in to Canadian Tire the other day and picked up an emergency triangle. They are always good to have! Thanks for your suggestions, really appreciating them!

[mina08]

Zip ties, various nuts and bolts, vacuum pipes, fuses...

 

I hope you carry on the thread while on your trip, its a beautiful country, i have driven round BC and Vancouver island a few years ago. I would love to do it in a Mini.

[Nickyp12]

Zip ties, various nuts and bolts, vacuum pipes, fuses...

 

I hope you carry on the thread while on your trip, its a beautiful country, i have driven round BC and Vancouver island a few years ago. I would love to do it in a Mini.

 

Thanks mina08! Great suggestions. It's a beautiful part of the world, can't wait. Currently, in the process of getting a blog up with pics and some videos (won't shamelessly plug it yet as it's pretty empty and want to get it up and running properly) but will definitely post on here and there if anyone's interested :)

[brivinci]

Yes! keep us up to date. Add pix along the way. That would be awesome!

 

On the 3rd brake light: I was driving behind a modern car that was using a random LED bike-type light as a 3rd brake light. It certainly worked and looked removable to boot. God knows what happened to the factory installed light on this Nissan but it got me thinking.

 

Every time that I drive my 94, I think about my upcoming trip across the US. I spend most of my time while driving thinking abut what is going to break next. Hahahaha. In reality, my car is nearly all new. Just about everything has been replaced on it...and I still have my doubts. I have had more new parts fail then original ones it seems. ESPECIALLY if its made of rubber. 

 

Something else, made pack a set of extra wiper blades. They are not all that easy to find. 

 

What headlights are you running? Sealed beam or halogen? If the latter, consider replacing with Osram Night Breakers or similar for improved output.

 

The JDM cars you blade fuses? If they still use glass fuses, they SUCK!! I have been stranded 3x due to the plastic holders getting warm and warping so they lose contact. A small ball of tin-foil can help in a pinch.

 

Lumbar Support!: I love the later Rover seats but there is zero lumbar support. Sit in the car and push your hand, from the back, on your lower back and there is nothing. Look into finding one of this little triangle wedges for support. 
 

On the seats, raise the headrest up a bit so that it makes contact with your head and not your next. God forbid you are hit from behind, it can save your life. 

[Nickyp12]

Yes! keep us up to date. Add pix along the way. That would be awesome!

 

On the 3rd brake light: I was driving behind a modern car that was using a random LED bike-type light as a 3rd brake light. It certainly worked and looked removable to boot. God knows what happened to the factory installed light on this Nissan but it got me thinking.

 

Every time that I drive my 94, I think about my upcoming trip across the US. I spend most of my time while driving thinking abut what is going to break next. Hahahaha. In reality, my car is nearly all new. Just about everything has been replaced on it...and I still have my doubts. I have had more new parts fail then original ones it seems. ESPECIALLY if its made of rubber. 

 

Something else, made pack a set of extra wiper blades. They are not all that easy to find. 

 

What headlights are you running? Sealed beam or halogen? If the latter, consider replacing with Osram Night Breakers or similar for improved output.

 

The JDM cars you blade fuses? If they still use glass fuses, they SUCK!! I have been stranded 3x due to the plastic holders getting warm and warping so they lose contact. A small ball of tin-foil can help in a pinch.

 

Lumbar Support!: I love the later Rover seats but there is zero lumbar support. Sit in the car and push your hand, from the back, on your lower back and there is nothing. Look into finding one of this little triangle wedges for support. 
 

On the seats, raise the headrest up a bit so that it makes contact with your head and not your next. God forbid you are hit from behind, it can save your life. 

 

Awesome! Yeah I will do!

 

Haha, yeah that's the problem, we've replaced quite a few bits, just hoping they all hold out, or most of them at least! Just about a week ago we discovered the windscreen was leaking a bit so going to change the rubber seal as its worn. Every outing something new is discovered :) We're running Halogen headlamps, but we have an additional line of 4 on full beam wired in, so I don't think we'll have a problem seeing anything, this is the car:

 

 

I actually replaced one of the wiper arms and blades not too long ago, to try and fix the smearing on the passenger side, brought heavy duty arms (being in Vancouver) from minisport, and I still have the problem which is really annoying. Just doesn't seem to make contact with the center of the blade.

 

Yeah the car fuses are all blade fuses, which is handy! Hopefully no issues with holders :) Great shout about the Lumbar support actually, we have only tested the car on a couple of longer runs, probably about a max of 3-4 hours in a single drive and can completely relate to the lack of support there! 

 

She's going in for a service next week, going to get her properly checked over window seals replaced, bearings re-packed, suspension greased and all the filters changed so fingers crossed the little car is mechanically sound and ready. Then its just some cosmetic changes and a roof rack!