655 replies to this topic

[Stevee]

Wow dude looks loverly


and you torque you mainfold up ;] im a mechanic and ive never done that just do em tight jobs a gooden

[bcjames]

Thanks man.

Even my little 1/4" torque wrench cant get to the middle studs, so I torqued up the two outside ones and then I just did the middle ones up with a spanner

[Stevee]

Thanks man.

Even my little 1/4" torque wrench cant get to the middle studs, so I torqued up the two outside ones and then I just did the middle ones up with a spanner

Like it

you roll round northamptonshire in it ?

[bcjames]

Thanks man.

Even my little 1/4" torque wrench cant get to the middle studs, so I torqued up the two outside ones and then I just did the middle ones up with a spanner

Like it

you roll round northamptonshire in it ?

When it's not in bits in the garage, yep

[Stevee]

Thanks man.

Even my little 1/4" torque wrench cant get to the middle studs, so I torqued up the two outside ones and then I just did the middle ones up with a spanner

Like it

you roll round northamptonshire in it ?

When it's not in bits in the garage, yep

Sweet when mines done ill come over northampton and take a look

[bcjames]

Thanks man.

Even my little 1/4" torque wrench cant get to the middle studs, so I torqued up the two outside ones and then I just did the middle ones up with a spanner

Like it

you roll round northamptonshire in it ?

When it's not in bits in the garage, yep

Sweet when mines done ill come over northampton and take a look

Cool, im only in wellingborough so a bit nearer.

This would all be going a lot better if I could find the keys

[Stevee]

Thanks man.

Even my little 1/4" torque wrench cant get to the middle studs, so I torqued up the two outside ones and then I just did the middle ones up with a spanner

Like it

you roll round northamptonshire in it ?

When it's not in bits in the garage, yep

Sweet when mines done ill come over northampton and take a look

Cool, im only in wellingborough so a bit nearer.

This would all be going a lot better if I could find the keys

i go college there haha

and dont lose them then problem solved

[bcjames]

Found the car keys!

Reconnected the battery, put the keys in the ignition, and... nothing

Typically, I've lent my multimeter to someone at the moment!

[bcjames]

I've recharged the battery and checked the boot earth and still nothing at all

In other news, shiney bits arrived to get everything back together


Yay new bits by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

[AndyMiniMad.]

Oooo I love shiney bits... I hope the pidgeons stay away..

[bcjames]

Haha me too! Looks much better with the new grille fitted. Exhaust is all done too now so I'm back driving around for a bit. No more leak from the timing cover, but theres some on the back of the engine behind cylinder 1, beneath the manifold. I think the head gasket may have gone.

Anyway, took some pics


New grille fited by bcjamesmini, on Flickr


3/4 by bcjamesmini, on Flickr


3/4 2 by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

Exhaust all sorted:


Exhaust by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

Love this stuff!!!


Dodo juice by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

[bcjames]

There are some bad bits too I'm hoping if I get on to this lot soon I can save the panels as it seems to just be on the surface. A compressor is arriving soon so I could do some painting!


Rust by bcjamesmini, on Flickr


Rust by bcjamesmini, on Flickr


Rust by bcjamesmini, on Flickr


Bubbles by bcjamesmini, on Flickr


Crack by bcjamesmini, on Flickr


Rust by bcjamesmini, on Flickr


Rust by bcjamesmini, on Flickr


Bumpy by bcjamesmini, on Flickr


Rust by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

[jbonevia]

nice thread, good read.

You have had a lot of the trials and tribulations i've had with my 99 cooper, so i share your pain and joys of ownership.

You'll find that the rust is more than surface rust once you start sanding.

Have you thought about getting a MIG welder as well? I'd love one but don't have an undercover space to work in at my place.

[M44K TS]

Good progress dude, so how's the exhaust noise? Is it much louder than the standard one?

Also, you'll probably read loads of times on here, once you see the rust bubbling round the headlight seams, it's already taken hold between the joins in the panel, only real way of getting rid of the rust is to go for new wings and/or front panel. Same goes for the scuttle panel too.

It would probably be best to tackle it now whilst it's relatively small areas before it gets any worse and turns into a full rebuild.

[bcjames]

Thanks guys! I've poked it now with an official MOT pokey stick and nothing has gone all the way through at least The windscreen was out a couple of months back and the scuttle was okay then, hopefully its not turned too bad though. No doubt I'll stick a wire brush thing on the drill/grinder, hit it, and watch my front panels turn to dust Both of my a-panels have developed cracks in the filler skim I think they were given when the doorsteps were done. It's only really thing but the crap has got in behind and bubbled it.

I've already got a MIG welder so if it really came to it I could do that, but it might go off to The Mini Hospital if it really is that bad!

What one winter can do to a car!

My new exhaust is nice, its a bit louder when it's on choke but once it settles down to an idle its quiet. Driving around town it doesn't seem any louder, just a slightly different noise