217 replies to this topic

[Brams96]

Cheers Josh, when i get some spare time off from work I'll have to pop over sometime to show you properly.

[Brams96]

Well L2B done and now I'm gonna take a break from mods so refresh myself. There are plans a foot though so I will be updating things as they happen.

[Brams96]

Taking it easy now but still ticking over with a few things done. I've replaced the steering column cowling with a black one, replaced the tappet cover gaskets and picked up some SPI seats that need new seat diaphrams that will be going in soon. I looked at fitting the LH engine steady bracket but it fits to the top 2 bolts of the water pump so dont really want to be taking the rad & fan etc out at the moment as I'm enjoying driving her around. I still have to fit the extended magnetic sump plug and door step guards but they are easy ones.

[Brams96]

On the L2B i felt quite a bit of heat coming through the gearstick gaiter which must have been coming through from the exhaust, so I thought I would address this problem with a heatsheild. Using a cardboard template first then some 1mm sheet aluminium I fashioned this:



It fits directly on to the bottom of the gearstick housing using the 6 existing screws and requires no modification of anything. The idea is as well as blocking the heat reaiating from the exhaust next to it, it will also direct heat from the down pipes when moving forward away.

Here it is fitted:






I will see what the heat transfer is like soon as I ran out of time to go for a test drive.

If anyone wants the dimensions for this I can post them up so you can make your own.


I also changed over the seats to the SPi ones I won from ebay, after fitting the new diaphragm and managed to get the quick shift to go into reverse properly by taking 1 turn offf the spring allowing it to lift enough to clear the gaurd in the gearstick housing.

Edited by Brams96, 04 June 2010 - 06:15 AM.

[Brams96]

Well it's bee a couple of months since I installed the heat sheild and I can say it works briliantly! I'm not getting any heat transfer into the cabin from around the gearstick so it's all good.

Other things that have been going on include the Darling Buds Run, that was a good show and right on our door step. Brilliant displays and a huge selection of classics

- We have replaced the carpet with an MPi carpet which looks better, only thing is the gap where the internal fusebox should be.
- We had to remove the 10mm spacers from the rear wheels as the nuts weren't gripping well enough. Longer studs are on the cards when I figure out what size I need!
- I have made a couple of purchases a) Clarke MIG 110E welder with a big pub gas bottle and this:



Our new project! There are plans afoot for something different so watch this space

[tony13]

looking good Scott hope ur new project goes to plan

[Brams96]

Cheers Tony, I will be picking it up on Wednesday after a 7 hour round trip!! I'm really looking forward to cracking on with it after reading all the other trailer build project threads. Great inspiration

[Brams96]

Fern made it to SMD and back with only 1 hiccup! My rear left wheel nuts came loose, so that is 2 times this has happened to me now. I even rechecked the torque settings on them at 70Nm before I went. Had a good 3 days there, shame about the rubbish DJ on Saturday night.

A few shiny bits were bought like headlight lids and stone guard grills, Aston fuel cap, foot pedal covers, door lock surrounds and some new wheel bearings for the trailer. I will be picking it up this weekend and getting to work on it soon. After seeing a few trailers and getting some new ideas I'm ready to crack on.

I went in the sound off to see what my system was putting out and got 125.6dB which isn't too bad for a single 10" sub off a 4ch amp. The guys there (top guys!) played with my set up and tuned it all properly and now it sounds mint. Thanks guys! It was good seeing the blue van try and crack his old record but only managed 159.6dB even with 6 people hanging off the doors and window! He did manage to pop his window out at the top though, sweet! (check out the reading top RHS of pic)



The sister-in-law came with us to SMD and she now wants to get rid of her 51 plate Focus and get a mini. Good choice

Edited by Brams96, 20 August 2010 - 07:13 PM.

[Brams96]

Just adding an up to date pic of Ferns front after buying some shiny light bits at the SMD and the cleaned up grill I had laying about.

[Brams96]

Well it's been a while since I updated Fern. I had noticed a suspect noise coming from the passenger front wheel area, which my local mechanic said could be the wheel bearing or a couple of other things. My wife took it to her work (Volvo) to get one of the techs to change the bearing so while he was at it I decided to fit a Minisport Surestop kit (drilled disc's and EBC Green stuff pads) and top & bottom hub swivels and replace the steering rack gators (needed doing anyway). Anyway he found the track rod ends completely shot, the CV's needed repacking, both sides bearings worn, brake pad springs rusted and the hubs could do with replacing too!
Typical mini, one small job leads to five others. So all the bits, apart from the hubs, that needed replacing have been done and she is driving straighter now and is a lot smoother, she just needs the tracking and alignment done properly.
I suspect the previous owners hadn't kept up with the maintenance and all the parts replaced were original factory items (60,000 miles later!) So next thing will be the hubs, and maybe the shocks If the budget allows (got an NZ trip to save for ) The rear end will need looking at too soon so hopefully that wont be as bad (fingers crossed)
Oh and we've replaced the windscreen jets too

Edited by Brams96, 28 September 2010 - 04:53 PM.

[minimaff]

Looking good, liking the door cards, keep up the hard work

[Brams96]

Cant believe it's been 3 months since I updated last.

I have refurbished a 2nd heater I had, including a brand new all copper heater matrix and all new stainless steel screws (Stigs Stainless Fasteners), so they wont rust like the original type.



new matrix in there somewhere


Apart from that I haven't really done a lot to her with all the other things going on in life. Over Xmas I will be swapping the heaters over and installing some of the bits, like bushes etc, I have been collecting, along with putting the sis-in-laws engine/box back in her car.

Edit: Forgot to add I bought a 2nd hand Fusion Fe-300d D-Class amp so at some stage I will be rewiring the system to finally get the parcel shelf speakers going and give the sub some more power. Nice!

Edited by Brams96, 12 December 2010 - 08:48 PM.

[Brams96]

Just remembered I had these pics of the steering wheel bracket I had to modify to fit the mini. I bought the wheel from ebay advertised as 'possible triumph or mini'. Well the original column mount didn't fit so I had to make up a new plate for it and cut the old bracket off and weld it all together. I also drilled the screw holes so they bite directly into the plate. The top rings are the new plate and old aluminium cover plate, the bottom bits are the old plate and column mount.
I wonder if anyone reading this recognises the wheel and knows what it's from??








It's now all fitted and looks way better than the original. I just need to make/find a cover for behind the wheel to cover the column, and a centre cover.

Edited by Brams96, 12 December 2010 - 10:08 PM.

[Brams96]

So Ferns been resting up since the snow started & I thought I'd check her out today. First thing I noticed was a damp smell then the condensation drops on the (no headlining) roof, then I looked under the carpet to find it soaked under there too!!! DAMN! Going to have to borrow a friends dehumidifier to dry her out and get a car cover or something. Or just get my ass in gear to put the engine/gearbox back together for the sis-in-law to clear the garage & get Fern in there. Once she's in there I have sooo many parts to change over or add that I've been collecting since I got her, including Hi-Lo's, bushes, dials, gizmo's, hoses, headlining, a new D-class amp & not to mention I'm going to make a dash & tweeter pods!!

On a positive note I decided to take a few updated pics so here they are:

Steering wheel installed:


Door cards installed:


10" Passenger Bin Sub:


& JL Audio Amp on the Drivers side (still need to make a cover for it):


"Temporary" part dash installed before the L2B last year, which will be getting replaced:

[Brams96]

After my months holiday back to the home land I'm feeling refreshed and looking forward to the rest of the year, especially all the events coming up! Roll on L2B 2011!

The drivers side carpet is now dry but the passenger side is still a bit damp so I migt have to remove it to get it fully dry. I managed to get a few hours of work done on her yesterday which was good.
- I changed over the heater as the old one was leaking from the matrix. I had to remove the metal tube joining the two rubber pipes in the engine bay as the old one was corroded & clogged with rust, lucky I had an old spare one laying about.
- I also finally ran the braided line and adapter for the oil pressure guage, which is showing about 75lb which is good. I only had 1 problem which was the T-piece for the block adapter was in backwards so wasn't sealing properly.
- I swapped the thermostat housing over to the new one I got with the temp sensor built in so that is now attached & working too.

Next things to go on will be the heavy duty adjustable tie bars, poly bump stops & rebound bushes and the new foot pedal covers.