655 replies to this topic

[DaveJH]

Nice thread mate, sounds like you're doing a good job

[bcjames]

Thanks Dave

Annoyingly just got a run on my rocker cover when spraying it. The paint didn't seem to come out as smoothly as yesterday, I don't know if it's maybe still a bit cool in the garage. Off to do some more flatting!

[bcjames]

Great weather today for mini fixing. I'm so glad I can work from home

My front end is all green again, just needs some clear on the top then I can set about blending it in with the original paint. I've done this a few times on various bits of the car and it gets easier each time.



Headlight painted by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

I finished painting the rocker cover. It just needs a final polish now, but it looks quite cool in situ in the engine bay. With everything else tidied, it should look smart. I have a smiffy radiator cover to go on, and I think I'll pick up a brake master cover as that always looks mucky.



Rocker cover painted by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

I'm also trying to clean up the expansion tank. It's currently sat in a bucket of soda crystals and hot water. It's been in there 8 hours, and so far has made sod all difference! I think a new replacement is due soon!

I can't wait to get it rolling again and give it a clean. It's got so dusty in the garage!

Edited by bcjames, 27 September 2011 - 02:47 PM.

[bcjames]

UPS came typically late bringing wonderful, wonderful parts from Minispares The replacement head is here, looks perfect, and is currently in the conservatory drying between coats of gloss black vht paint

The plan for tomorrow is get the engine back together and to the point that it's ready to run. At that point hopefully the sunshine will have warmed the garage up enough that I can get some clearcoat on the front panel repair, and then hopefully thats all the front end work done. After that it's just a bit more waiting for the subframe to come back from Chris and I'll be able to drive her again. Yayyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!

[liam_italian]

I was able to clean my expansion tank with hot water and I used a bottle brush to get all the rusty muck off inside.

[bcjames]

Tried that, tried all sorts in fact. There are still bits I can't get clean and the whole thing is generally an ugly orange. It's in the dishwasher at the moment.

[Badboytunes]

I found that putting the expansion tank in a pilowcase and washing in the washing machine did the trick. Put it on a boil wash and put bleach and washing powder inside the tank. Dont have your machine on a high spin though.

Cheers

[bcjames]

I think I've given up on getting it clean now. The next show I'm at I'll pick one up from smiffy.

I got loads done this morning, the engine is all back together One problem with my replacement stud kit, the washers seem a bit big. At the front they would overhang the tightening platform on the heads upper face, at the back they could foul the rockers as they weren't a tight enough fit to centralise perfectly. So, I'm using my old ones.


Too big by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

It's really hard to photograph the engine bay as the only bright light in the garage comes from the wrong side. Also, no matter what I do, the MPi bay looks messy! But it looks good in person. Once I can push it outside I'll be able to finish cleaning the bulkhead area.


Back together by bcjamesmini, on Flickr


Back together by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

I just need my rear subframe back and it can move once more! Feeling quite excited now after so much disappointment with it over the last 6 weeks.

Edit: I'm still getting all that code sometimes when I paste the BB code from flickr

Edited by bcjames, 28 September 2011 - 11:41 AM.

[DaveJH]

Looks very nice and clean. Hopefully one day I'll get around to taking care of my engine.

[bcjames]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

I think something is wrong with this clear coat. The primer went on perfectly, the green went on perfectly, flatted it all, sprayed the first bit of clear and it just doesn't sit right. Either that or it's something I'm doing wrong, but I've never had this happen before.

So, got to wait until tomorrow now to sand it off and try again!

It was all going so well...

[DaveJH]

Is that the lacquer on the repainted front? Shame mate, don't compromise though - it'll look so good when it's done. Got any pictures of the problem?

[bcjames]

Yeah, it's just the lacquer. I think it might be me messing it up, rather than something inherently wrong with the paint. It just seems to act so differently to the last lot I used. It's not made too much of a mess, it won't take much to sort thankfully

Since my subframe isn't back yet there's no rush, so I'll leave it to properly go off overnight and get on it again tomorrow. I didn't take any photos, I'll remember to take the camera with me when I pop out to the garage later.

[bcjames]

Had another good day on it today, glad to see it finally looking like a car once more.

I got the passenger side top arm out to replace both dust excluders and the knuckle boot. I hope these ones last more than 10 months! With that done, I could refit the rest of the cooling system and get the bonnet back on. The expansion tank didn't come up too bad in the end, but I'd still like a fresh, clear one. There is just a little more painting to do on the left side of the slam panel, but I had masked over it to do the front panel so I'll finish that this evening.



Engine bay by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

I also had more luck getting the lacquer on to the front panel. It's finally all green and shiny again! I have an annoying matt band between the new and old paint, but I'm hoping that will polish out once then paint has fully dried. It's not as good as a new front end and a proper respray, but it 's better than a hole!



Green by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

The masking tape on the bumper marks the positioning for the overriders. I just need to waxoyl their insides and they can go back on. One that little spot of paint is dried the grille can go back on. Then it's a bit more waiting on parts before focussing on the back end

[DaveJH]

Looking good! Better than a hole, yes. Also better than the hole a professionally redone new end would leave in your wallet!

[bcjames]

Haha so true, probably owes me about £2 in electric and I already had the paint

I really want to get the bonnet closing a bit tighter, but I don't have a big enough spanner to undo what appears to be the locknut. 32mm is too small!