78 replies to this topic

[1984mini25]

thanks Panky --  i might have interested but the seller seems to not give a ******* ..

 

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/classic-mini-Inc-Ltd-Editions-door-handle-furniture-Grey-Genuine-bL-parts/142552612505

 

I'll wait for someone who I want to give my hard-earned to..

 

I've got a load of grey and brown door furniture that I've 'collected' over the years when I've replaced it for chrome stuff.

[ga2davt]

wow -- i'd definitely be interested... mine is replaced with chrome and needs to go back.

I've got hounds tooth (not saw tooth) back seats and two spoke (wrong) steering wheel and a four spoke (correct) steering wheel on the way. Hopefully the steel wheels as well... This is coming together nicely..

[ga2davt]

Are you really, REALLY sure you want to convert this Mini back to '88 City E spec????

Things like the original sawtooth seats (similar to your '83 City E houndstooth seats but bigger pattern) are getting very hard to find (http://www.theminifo...-seat-or-cover/) & the way the car looks now does look (sort of) good.... I can imaging Gru (sorry that should read You) driving around with Matt your Minion beside you

 

Not sure what interior colours were fitted in a red City E but it could be Poo Brown!

http://car-from-uk.c...le.php?id=22301

http://www.barons-au...id=19&cid=1244#

 

Poo brown?? You mean like this.. I thought they were black on the eBay site. They are NOS --never used, 30 years old.. I'm sorry, but I like them... There are vinyl dyes that could make it black or red or any other colours, even white, if I get fed up with 'Poo Brown.' It is hounds tooth. I looked up the trim code on the VIN and it said something like graphite?? I've forgotten I'm afraid - i'll have to look again.

 

I'm keeping an eye out for the proper originals, but will take similar period parts in the meantime.   

 seat 2.JPG   153.01K   0 downloads

 

Or is yellow-blue better?

 seat 1.JPG   110.59K   0 downloads

 

I got this NOS binnacle today. It's grey but again vinyl dye can take it 'back to black' (Amy Winehouse ..) if I want this later.  

 dash 2.JPG   107.6K   0 downloads

 

Or yellow-blue...

 dash 1.JPG   100.26K   0 downloads

 

The engine bay and front subframe were covered with Bilt Hamber Epoxy Mastic 2-pack primer 

 front sub part 2.JPG   117.36K   2 downloads

 

Under the primer there is Bilt Hamber Hydrate 80 that makes it go black when dried. 

 front sub part 1.JPG   128.91K   1 downloads

 

Put a cover on it as there was so much condensation this morning and it is a better if the paint dries without condensation.. 

 covered.JPG   111.43K   1 downloads

[ga2davt]

On top of the Bilt Hamber Hydrate 80 and Epoxy Mastic primer, there is now "Tractor & Machinery Enamel Paint: David Brown Highway Yellow" from Arc-Rite-Welding. It's the colour of the double yellow lines on the road..

 

I'm growing to dislike the yellow colour a little more each day. I got it because "the other driver didn't see me" all those years ago when he wrote off my Mini in a crash. I'd find it very difficult to believe someone doesn't see this yellow car... so bright yellow it is... (for now..) 

 

Anyway as a compromise I'll put second coat on, coloured Flame Red, the original colour of the car. I need to wait a week between coats though.

 

Here's the engine bay, painted tonight 

 yellow engine bay.JPG   123.34K   2 downloads

 

And the front sub frame, painted tonight

 yellow front sub frame.JPG   120.63K   1 downloads

[1984mini25]

 

wow -- i'd definitely be interested... mine is replaced with chrome and needs to go back.

 

I've got hounds tooth (not saw tooth) back seats and two spoke (wrong) steering wheel and a four spoke (correct) steering wheel on the way. Hopefully the steel wheels as well... This is coming together nicely..

 

 

I'll have a dig though the boxes of stuff and see how much or a full set and more I have spare. I've also the front grey/brown seatbelts with storks for a Mayfair i no longer have use for.

[ga2davt]

Just read feybrand build... really impressive !

 

I'm not painting anything tonight .. chilling out .. but unwrapped some cool parcels.. 

 

Steering wheel three years too old

 two spoke.JPG   94.9K   0 downloads

 

The right steering wheel - thanks Rocket! (Terry)

 four spoke.JPG   102.3K   1 downloads

 

Can anyone guess why I got these?

 mini spares.JPG   70.86K   1 downloads

 

Have a nice weekend!

[1984mini25]

Can anyone guess why I got these?

mini spares.JPG

 

Have a nice weekend!

 

Yes I can, but I personally wouldn't. As what you'll find is a few years down the line, when you go to remove the blots from the engine mounts the captive nuts (riv nuts) will just spin and make removing them a bigger pita than necessary.

 

What I've always done is use a flat bladed screwdriver to line up the holes in the mounts with the subframe, then with the help of some masking tape to hold the bolt in the ring end of the spanner, drop the bolts in from the top.

 

 

 

[73MkIII]

 

Can anyone guess why I got these?

mini spares.JPG

 

Have a nice weekend!

 

Yes I can, but I personally wouldn't. As what you'll find is a few years down the line, when you go to remove the blots from the engine mounts the captive nuts (riv nuts) will just spin and make removing them a bigger pita than necessary.

 

What I've always done is use a flat bladed screwdriver to line up the holes in the mounts with the subframe, then with the help of some masking tape to hold the bolt in the ring end of the spanner, drop the bolts in from the top.

 

 

 

 

Is it worth putting anti seize on them or would they then come undone?

[1984mini25]

It might help. But riv nuts are just a pop rivet with a thread inside, witch are fitted/crimped in the same way. Great for fixing bits of trim, wheel arches, door mirrors etc...

[ga2davt]

Thanks 1984mini25,

I think I'm learning that it's a good idea to share ideas, seek opinions and go slower before jumping in..

I got the car on impulse and didn't think that I really wanted an original car.

I don't think I'd have known that the heel board was shot without getting an experienced helper to look at the car and it wasn't clear that rear sub-frame was weak either.

Now I've got three steering wheels and spare engine mounts with captive nuts. 

 

So today I loosely fixed the heel board to the rear sub frame

 subframe.JPG   112.6K   2 downloads

 

And loaded the car onto a truck - unfortunately my friend Matt slept through, otherwise I'd have had another picture of him on here   

 car on van.JPG   144.69K   0 downloads

 IMG_0784.JPG   92.96K   0 downloads

 

And left it with Jamie at 'Little Legends' Mini Specialists on Canvey Island, Essex. We agreed a price (top secret) and 4 weeks to replace full heel board, outer/inner sills with jacking points. I left him the rear subframe and fixings so he can trial fit it. He said I can come over and work on the car in his garage on his rollover jig (with my tools) from 0900 to 1300 on Saturday mornings and he takes pictures as he goes ...   

 car with Little Legends.JPG   140.96K   0 downloads

 

Now I'm looking forward to making a big bonfire, eating lots of bbq food and letting off a load of fireworks with friends, family and neighbours --  about 40-50 of us are getting together -- yippee !! 

[ga2davt]

First -- reason to be pissed off... I replaced the front pads on my daily driver, it was squealing so I took it to local garage, as I needed the car on the road. They charged me for stripping and refitting. Last night I'm 30 miles from home, lost brakes so used low gears and handbrake to get home. Jacked up the car to see insides of newly powder coated wheel trashed and a missing bolt that should have been holding caliper on... The garage didn't bother tightening the bolt.... but used their air impact wrench to over tighten the wheel studs.. Needed a big breaker bar to release them..bah humbug!!    

 

With no shell here, the other bits can be refurbished.

 

The rubber boots on the steering rack were replaced with Delphi parts. The rack was sanded and painted with Bilt Hamber Hydrate 80. I'll put  a coat of black top coat on tomorrow & I need to get grease.

 

The rear swivel arms were cleaned up and a refurb kit used to replace seals. A bit OTT but I didn't want to reassemble them without new seals. They are scraped, de-greased & sanded. I don't know if they need paint. The brake flexi-pipes are seized so I'll grind them off tomorrow. 

 

Yesterday the engine block was de-greased with stuff like Gunk and tonight I got the engine hoist to move it to where I can paint it.

 

Maybe some photos tomorrow...

[ga2davt]

It would be fab if I had some great pictures of progress after about 2 hours every night working on the car. But alas ...

 

Here's a picture of the rear swivel arms. I wanted new seals and grease nipples, so got a whole refurb kit. I didn't ream out the bearing. It was lubricated with semi-viscous grease, and it was added to the swivel arm itself as well as adding via the grease point.  

 rear swivel.JPG   141.2K   0 downloads

 

Some bits on the front sub-frame were stripped down as the rubber bush was perished. Stainless nuts & bolts replaced the steel, with lots of copper-slip. 

 front sub.JPG   176.83K   0 downloads

 

The steering rack had perished rubber boots. There were replaced and the rack made ready for paint. Awaiting 1/3rd pint of EP90 gear oil that I'll collect at the weekend. Stainless nuts as well. The whole car will have steel replaced with stainless (& copper-slip) where it isn't high tensile. Nylocs as well. 

 replace rack rubber.JPG   160.66K   0 downloads   

 

[ga2davt]

Yippee... got some original wheels.. they should scrub up nicely ..

 

 

Attached Files

•  wheels before.JPG   135.33K   2 downloads

[1984mini25]

I really don't want to should like I'm constantly nit picking. But, there's a few types of mini 12" steels ones with and with out spacers and ones with and without the slotted holes for the clips to hold the city hub caps on. As it's not as simple as the ones with spacers have the holes either, as some of mine don't. But from what I've found over the years, is the wheels without the 1/4" spacer tend to have the holes.

 

There was also someone on Facebook with a box full of Mayfair and city hub caps. (the first 4 in front of the larger ones) https://www.facebook...3&theater&ifg=1

[ga2davt]

I don't think you are nit-picking. I appreciate your advice and once thing I learn as I get older and hopefully wiser is to listen to people.

My steel wheel have the spacers and I think they have the slotted holes. I'll put up some pictures when the wheels are refurbished.

I've contacted the FB guy. Thanks for the hint and well spotted!

 

cheers

Philip