655 replies to this topic

[bcjames]

<p>Made some good progress today while the weather hangs in there sunny! I was hoping to get the floor paint work done first, but since the other parts have to be painted outdoors, its safer to do them quickly before it rains!</p>
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<div>Painted bits by bcjamesmini, on Flickr</div>
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<div>Started work on the floor. Happily, it only needs painting in patches, so it's not taking too much effort to prep it all. The plan is treat, etch, stonechip, top, then clear. Afterwards it can all have some waxoyl before it goes back together!</div>
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<div>Right treated by bcjamesmini, on Flickr</div>
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<div>Left treated by bcjamesmini, on Flickr</div>
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<div>I've been hunting for absolutely ages to get hold of one of these. It's a genuine Rover high level brake light, an optional accessory that is seemingly quite rare! Labels are dated '98 so it's NOS, rather than a newer remake. As usual it's going to take ten steps instead of one to fit. To run the wiring I need to remove the parcel shelf carpet. To remove than I need to take the rear seats out. To do that, I think I need to move the fuel tank back out the way!</div>
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<div>NOS XFN100160 by bcjamesmini, on Flickr</div>
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<div>NOS XFN100160 by bcjamesmini, on Flickr</div>
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<div>Mocked up centre brake light by bcjamesmini, on Flickr</div>
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<div>Sadly I lost my dealership sticker trying to take it out I tried so carefully with the hair drier so that I'd be able to relocate it, but it fell apart!</div>
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[AndyMiniMad.]

Matrix 2...Return of the code...LOL..looking good. the rear subframe came up well, as did the backplates...very nice.

[bcjames]

Matrix 2...Return of the code...LOL..looking good. the rear subframe came up well, as did the backplates...very nice.

I can't work out how to stop it showing code. I've been back through my other posts and edited it out, and then it stays out. Seems to be when I use both Flickr and a smiley face in the same post, but I'm sure I'm taking the correct code from Flickr.

Anyway thanks for the comment. I'm quite happy with how they came out. One had a leak a while back so had gone quite crusty, but either way it all looks a lot smarter than the rusty brown it was before!

[bcjames]

Instead of literally watching paint dry, I fitted a few other bits. A box of boring parts turned up too, fuel filter, subframe fitting kit, nuts and bolts etc. Nothing too exciting but all crucial to getting it back together



Box of bits! by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

Fitted and wired up the high level stop lamp, looks really smart and I'm glad to have a third brake light in the car at last!



High level stop light by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

Oh, and the best bit!



tmf sticker! by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

(just ignore how dirty my windows have become!)

[MaxAndPaddy]

Brake light looks good!

[bcjames]

Brake light looks good!

With your help

[bcjames]

Some more progress today! It's actually going well!

The touch ups on the heelboard came out okay. It's much easier painting under here where there isn't so much blending and polishing!



Heelboard by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

The subframe is back in. Needs a clean really, has my mucky fingerprints all over the paint!



Subframe in! by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

And one issue, the rearmost heat shield stud snapped when undoing it. I'm not sure yet how to re attach it.



Snapped heat shield stud by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

[bcjames]

Well I have stripped, painted, and reassembled everything I can. My engine bay should look quite smart after all this! Rear brake pipes, handbrake, fuel lines and battery cable are all back together at the rear. Just waiting on the return of my cylinder head and a pair of recon radius arms and I'll be back on the road Hopefully in time for Stanford!

[bcjames]

I love when things go wrong. Clearly. This is why I own a mini! I missed stanford because I need some new nuts welding in to my rear subframe, and my cylinder head wasn't back yet. As it turns out the latter didn't matter, as a crack has been found in it, so it's scrap. Feeling really dejected after this one problem after the next month.

I bought a few things from stanford for her, some arches, some overrider trim since the W&P stuff all fell apart, some poly exhaust mounts, and my first shiny Smiffy bit I can't decide if I want to colour code the arches or keep them the standard black. Also I'm not sure if poly exhaust mounts are a good idea or not, and so far I have always used genuine rubber mounts or bushes, but if they don't sag like rubber ones than extra 1/4 inch clearance is a benefit. Every bit counts!

Check out the awesome carpet in my grandparents conservatory!



Bits from Stanford Hall by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

When I get a new head I am also going to replace the studs and nuts. It's only small progress but I thought I'd take the old ones out. Visually they all look okay, but I don't want anything to go wrong with my replacement head! My pistons seem to have started decoking themselves. I have made no attempt to clean the pistons while this stuff was stuck on, but now its all flaking off, I guess I need to!

Is it safe to suck all the loose up with a hoover? What should I then do with the rest of it? I don't really want it to continue falling off once the engine is back together.



Flakey by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

The engine is all wrapped up again to stop any crap getting in. I can't wait to be able to drive her again!

I've also removed all the manky sound deadening from my bulkhead. It had all started falling apart and looked a nice rust trap, so it's probably better without it. Hopefully it doesn't make the engine sound too loud from inside the car. The paint underneath is a nice green still thankfully!

[Mini_Magic]

Paint the arches, otherwise they'll just look like the standard Rover arches.

Might remove the bulkhead sound deadening from mine too.

[bcjames]

Hey James,
I've just seen more bulkhead sound deadening is available from Minispares, so now I'm not sure if I'll replace it, live without or add some more to the inside of the bulkhead behind the dash. I'm not sure how much real-world difference it makes to the sound in the cabin.

I quite like the standard Rover arches it has now They are just a bit broken.

Edit: or even if I want to try archless. Decisions!

Edited by bcjames, 12 September 2011 - 11:31 AM.

[Mini_Magic]

Have a look at my project thread if you want to see how archless looks. Personally I really like it, but want to get some chrome trim to finish it off.

I'll let you know how much noise difference it makes once I remove mine. Is it just simply a case of pulling it off?

[bcjames]

I shall have a look!

Mine had some dabs of glue behind the relay holder and the clutch master, and was hooked in by the loom clips under the scuttle too. Other than that it just pulled out in about 6 pieces. It goes under things so I don't think it will come out in one piece without removing stuff.

[bcjames]

Don't new cylinder heads look nice? If only replacement was for a happier reason than finding a crack!



New head by bcjamesmini, on Flickr



New head by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

I've cleaned up the piston crowns, and with some paint this head should be good to go on! My rear subby has also been picked up by Chris who is going to weld in some new nuts. Then it's off to the powdercoaters to be blasted and finished. A bit longer with the mini off the road but it will all be worth it

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Coming on really nice James, love this little car, its perfect