9954 replies to this topic

[Bobbins]

Rings gap-checked and fitted, pistons fitted, big ends torqued and I’ve started assembling the top end, not a bad afternoon’s work

Edited by Bobbins, 14 July 2025 - 11:25 AM.

[imack]

Rings gap-checked and fitted, pistons fitted, big ends torqued and I’ve started assembling the top end, not a bad afternoon’s work

Very nice! Looks like you've optimised you're rocker geometry too.

[Bobbins]

 

Rings gap-checked and fitted, pistons fitted, big ends torqued and I’ve started assembling the top end, not a bad afternoon’s work
 

Very nice! Looks like you've optimised you're rocker geometry too.

 

 

Annoyingly the tolerance / movement in the stud holes will allow the spacer plates to kiss the valve springs slightly if they're not pushed rearwards when doing the final clamping down. Not something I'm happy with so I've ground a small amount off the front of each plate, a shame when they're so beautifully made! 

Edited by Bobbins, 21 July 2025 - 01:31 PM.

[clubman_dan]

Pulled out the fuel pump after finding bits of rubber in the float needle despite changing all the rubber hoses and fitting a fuel filter after the tank outlet. Find the little one way valves in a state, one completely missing and one falling apart.
Facet pump arriving tomorrow 😆

[petey81]

Replaced dizzy last week due to play in the shaft and vacuum not working. Purchased one with recommendations from AC. Also replaced throttle cable to the end part cracked and replaced the handbrake cable. Oh and I've had to rebuild the tacho due to the live feed terminal snapping inside lol

Edited by petey81, 26 July 2025 - 07:36 AM.

[Shooter63]

I had a dig around the scrap bin and found a couple of 1/2" hex bar off cuts, not in the greatest condition but they did the job, no doubt you can work out what they are for and which position they go.

Shooter

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[Rubbershorts]

Finished the rattle canning of the bonnet. Colour on the front and blended to the curve, then lacquered the whole thing. It was a right mess after that. Fisheyes and bits stuck all over. Hours spent going down the wet and dry grades,then the buffing compounds, has giving me something I can definitely live with. Maybe £50 worth of paint for a bonnet. Result👍

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[Bobbins]

Oulton Park Gold Cup weekend and bumping into Bill Sollis has enthused me to revisit his excellent rebuild video and attempt my gearbox rebuild myself … what could possibly go wrong!

Edited by Bobbins, 28 July 2025 - 10:33 AM.

[ac427]

I had a dig around the scrap bin and found a couple of 1/2" hex bar off cuts, not in the greatest condition but they did the job, no doubt you can work out what they are for and which position they go.

Shooter

What are they for?

[Shooter63]

I had a dig around the scrap bin and found a couple of 1/2" hex bar off cuts, not in the greatest condition but they did the job, no doubt you can work out what they are for and which position they go.

Shooter

What are they for?

They are extended inner manifold nuts for when you fit a MS inlet manifold, if you cut the lower tangs off the manifold you can have the nuts already in position partly done up. Slide the manifold onto the studs and simply do the nuts up using a normal 1/2" spanner rather than dicking about with UJ's and sockets.

Shooter

[sonscar]

Last week took it for first MOT in ten years.Today after new servo,master cylinders,rear wheel cylinders and shoes got a pass.Inactivity does not help reliability it seems.Steve..

[Landie]

The last 2 months my Mini has been off the road.

Week 0  Decided I was fed up with right rear tyre rubbing on wheel arch when going over a dip in the road. Decided to put cones back in and remove coil over shocks. ordered red dot cones, 4 news hilos, the rear suspension bars and new spax krypton shocks all round from Mini Spares.

 

Week 1 Nowt waiting for parts to arrive.

Week 2 went to fit rear cones and shocks found out I forgot to order new knuckles as the originals had been removed. fitted rear shocks.

Week 3 decided to lift the front and get warped disc turned. Noticed big puddle of brake fluid, left caliper leaking like a sieve. Ordered Calipers, pads and Discs from Mini Sport.

 

Week 4 the week from Hell. Fitted rear cones bars and knuckles all done in less than an hour. Started on the left front, removed old knuckle ,hilo and cone. Installed new cone then spent 2 hours trying to get the knuckle back in. read and re read my Haynes manual watched 3 youtube videos, it all seemed so easy. The I saw the little rubber cushion under the conrol arm not mentioned in Haynes or the videos, well once this was removed knuckle just popped in like flynn. Total time over 4 hours and temp was 37C. Installed right side next day in 2 hours. installed front shocks.

 

Week 5 Went to install front brakes, caliper didn't fit disc is too far out from swivel hub. Called Mini Sport and talked to Mick, turns out I had Metro drive flanges not Mini ones. ordered new Drive flanges.

Week 6 nowt waiting for parts.

 

Week 7 Fitted new drive flanges, calipers now fit Thanks Mick for all your help. Installed the rest of the braking system, bled it with the help of Er indoors. Adjusted the hilos and took it for a test drive, runs and handles great and stops on a sixpence.

 

Just need to readjust the left front hilo and all will be well. Now I can enjoy driving it again with no rubbing.

[o0OWILKSO0o]

Replaced fuel hose from regulator to carb. Charged battery. Jump started after being sat for 18 months. 
 

Still need to change clutch slave cylinder and considering deleting the brake servo. 

[sonscar]

Took it for a 100 mile round trip to Cadwell Park,first drive for ten years.I would describe the driving experience as "raw",fifteen year old tyres may not have helped.Steve..

[imack]

Went to a car meet at Fourways Engineering and met Les, an 82 year old gentleman who recognised my mini and from the last time he saw it in the late 1980's, and recalled a conversation we'd had at the time.
Had a lovely chat with him, he still owns two classic minis, hope to bump into him again in the future.