655 replies to this topic

[bcjames]

I don't know if poking is a good or a bad thing. Found this:


Oh noes by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

It's really quite solid, but obviously needs attention. I think I'm looking at poorly executed repairs in the past, which is a shame as the panels are otherwise perfect!

So, out with the grinder?

Edited by bcjames, 12 March 2011 - 03:35 PM.

[bcjames]

Well, I got a quote for fixing the rusty bits that I'm happy with. Just need to save up a bit first, but then she shall be back to her former glory. Really annoying, I got pelted by the grit lorry the other night. It's been really warm the past week! So I now have a load of scratches up my wing


Also, MOT on thursday!


And I've got some other shiney bits for it to go on

[Juju]

She's looking great apart from her scabby pimples!

New grille makes a hell of a difference!

How much was the quote for the de-rusticulisation? Can you PM a figure, please? Mine needs doing too....

[bcjames]

Why thank you! She'd be looking rather sorry for herself if it wasn't for the new grille, what with those rusty bits being ever prominent!

I shall PM you now Juju.


Doing the MOT checks yesterday, I found some play at the NSF wheel. Given all likely components have been replaced in the past month, that seemed odd. It's not the ball joints, and everything else looks okay, so it's all back off again this morning for some more investigation

[bcjames]

Woo, passed the MOT

[megamini_jb]

Woo, passed the MOT

thats great!
Florence looks lovely

[bcjames]

Now the rusty bits are temporarily a bit better, I thought I'd sort some shiney stuff!

I bought some overriders from Wood & Pickett at MITP, which turned out a right pain to fit. I (foolishly) thought they'd just bolt straight on! Anyway, Shedonwheels sent me some photos of her car, and it inspired me to have another go!

I ended up having to trim the front panel ever so slightly to allow mounting that cleared the spots, and the fog light was, as expected, impossible to remove!

Front on, kind of straight forward:


Front by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

Rears went straight on:


Rear midway by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

But the foglight bracket was a bit crusty:


Problem by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

Since there was no way that was going to come off, and because I didn't want to pay for a ready made bracket in stainless, I thought the best thing to do would be to extend off of the current bracket:


Bracket blank by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

Marked up:


Marked by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

And cut/drilled, with stainless M6 fasteners, holes drilled out to suit:


Stainless bracket and fasteners by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

Fog mounted, with a bit of sealant to stop the muck getting in from behind:


Mounting fog by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

After resoldering the crappy connections, it works!


Fog working by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

And all finished:


All done! by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

Well happy, I love them

I've also been to see Dave at Track, Road & Race. Top guy as many of you will know, and he diagnosed my dodgy lambda sensor. Replacing that is the next job!

Also noticed that in under a year my knuckle joint rubbers have all fallen apart. Gutted, as thats quite a big job to replace just cheap, simple bits!

Edited by bcjames, 27 August 2011 - 07:55 PM.

[bcjames]

Whats with all that code being visible

[Mini_Magic]

Those overrides look great, think I might have to get some for mine.

[AndyMiniMad.]

Visible code!!! Are we in the Matrx?? Nice mod on the fog light.

[bcjames]

It's a glitch!

Thanks for the comments guys

[bcjames]

Oh yay, back here again!



Jacked up by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

I'm still leaking oil, just had to put 400ml in again!

It no longer leaks from the back of the head gasket since I changed that last month. I had done the timing cover and gear selector a few months back too, but it's coming from somewhere!

It's ending up here, under cylinder 1. There are little bits where it comes together on the bottom of the sump, and the o-ring thing between the selector housing and the 'box.



Sump by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

Parked up after a drive, it leaves a mark that comes down the front of the engine as you face the bay, I'm guessing from up here:



P1010101 by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

It seems to pool on that bolt between the box and block, and then drip down.

Any ideas people? Or is it straight to timing cover off again?

[crazycoleman118]

try cleaning the engine, and run it up and look around it to see where its coming from. sourcing leaks is allways a bit of apita if there not pouring out.

[bcjames]

That is this afternoons task! Although last time I could only see it when it got to the bottom of the timing cover anyway. Front mounted rad makes checking the timing cover difficult. Hopefully it's more conclusive today.

[bcjames]

So, yesterday evening I undertook the horrible task of laying under the car with the degreaser, brush, and hose! The Gunk degreaser did a great job considering the awkwardness and single application. Next time the exhaust and radiator is off I'll have another go and get the bits I missed.

Anyway, now the leaked oil was covering me rather than the engine, I had this:



Clean sump by bcjamesmini, on Flickr



Then this morning I went for a drive up the M1, about 30 miles, to make sure I could get it to re-leak. Worked a treat, although didn't give the result I wanted!



All good here by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

So, clearly the oil dripping off of the engine around the timing cover is in fact originating from further up.



Not so good here... by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

Balls! The head was off a fortnight ago for a new gasket to sort this problem. Naughty mini. It was even lovingly degreased and painted before refitting! I thought it had been fine since, but the oil must have just been getting lost amongst the muck.

Does this mean something is wrong with the head? Thankfully I have MRA up the road who can sort pesky cylinder heads, but I'd like an idea of whats happened before it comes off the road again!

Learned folk of TMF, educate me!