327 replies to this topic

[DaveJH]

My package didn't arrive today annoyingly! I have to wait until Monday, or pick it up tomorrow morning from the Cardiff depot. With less than a week until I have to leave for the wedding I will have to make the trip out tomorrow so that I can crack on! So annoying as the weather today was nice for once.

Never mind, today I removed the front bumper and fogs. The lip holding them on was so loose that one of the fog lights actually shook itself off and smashed on the road while driving today!

Before:



After:



I actually really like it like this. Might not bother to put them back after the front end is done...

Anyway, more updates tomorrow hopefully!

[DaveJH]

Rather frustrating day again today, the first wheel nut I unscrewed snapped the bolt in two so now I'm stranded until I can get my hands on another to replace it. Now I can't get the driver's side tie rod off to replace the bushes because the bolt can't be removed past the hub as there isn't enough clearance. However, I did manage to erect some rain protection at least! Here are some pictures:

The delivery I picked up:



New rain cover = 5 man tent:



Bit tight on space!



And finally, I thought the sky looked rather good so I took a quick shot of that too:

[DaveJH]

Ended up having to take Barney to a garage my mate suggested and I'm very glad I did. I got a call today saying the rear subframe was absolutely dead, surprising seeing as it passed the MOT with only an advisory, but when I came to see it I realised the top part (against the car) could be ripped apart with your bare hands! So a quick trip to Somerford Minis and I came back with a brand new (pattern) subby, fitting kit and a new radiator. By the end of tomorrow I should have new rear suspension on a new subframe with all new bushes and bolts, new bushes up front where required, new exhaust up to the cat (so no more blowing exhaust!) and new studs in the front driver's wheel. I'm quite excited to get hold of it with all that done! I'll update again when I have my car tomorrow, assuming nothing else goes wrong before then. The only problem is that this whole escapade has cost me just short of a grand, a lot of which is on my credit card as I don't have the money...

[DaveJH]

Made it to Norwich (250+ miles) and back to Oxford (150 miles) for the wedding, on the whole Barney was well behaved. The exhaust sounds delicious, rear end is soild. Unfortunately the dust guard for the passenger disk bake came loose and was rattling all the time - so annoying! And one of the radiator pipes randomly gave up and leaked the radiator contents onto the road just an hour before the wedding. I was outside an Audi dealership at the time and a couple of mechanics helped me to sort it out, and when they found out I was off to a wedding they told me my car was too dirty and before I new it, 3 Audi mechanics were cleaning my car for me! Got back to the wedding JUST in time and everything else went without a hitch. Anyway, here's a couple of pictures.

Edited by DaveJH, 22 July 2012 - 11:01 AM.

[DaveJH]

Update time. From Oxford I drove to Surrey, got there fine and the car sat unused for a week. I then went to drive home and the car didn't get off the drive before stalling and refusing to restart. I spent a day messing around under the bonnet with much help from MiniAida (cheers mate!) and realised there was no spark at the plugs. Thankfully I noticed this snapped cable, stripped and reconnected and she started straight up.



Great! Drove home fine, went out to town today and everything seemed to be working nicely... until I got home. Then the gearbox decided it had done enough. It spat me out of gear and is now sulking under the bonnet, waiting to be removed. I have so much negative money right now - I really don't know what to do! I was seriously considering selling up and, to quote my girlfriend, getting 'a proper car' (E36 coupe, 140bhp ), but now my car is unsellable. But after removing the engine and fitting a new box I'll not want to sell it as I'll have replaced almost the whole damn car!

So E36 dreams are on hold, I'm about to put all my belongings on ebay to pay for the next batch of parts I need. Dad suggested I put myself on ebay but that sounded too much like prostitution so I think I'll stop short of that. Anyone interested can see my 'please help me, I have on idea what I'm doing' post here.

[DaveJH]

Time for another update, though at the moment it seems somewhat lonely in here

Never mind! Been cracking on when I can with the engine removal. Now got most of the ancillaries off and both hubs off, next step is to remove the drive shafts. Still struggling to find a replacement gearbox, really hope I can come up with one soon! Here's a couple of pictures:

Good old fashioned rope tow to the a friend's garage. He's agreed to do the engine removal with me for a decent enough price. At least I'm learning a lot from this!



And here's Barney's current home - luxury compared to the drive at home!

[bcjames]

Wow, big steps! Is it just the gearbox you are sorting out?

I need to find a friend like that to help me with my engine out job!

[DaveJH]

While the engine is out I'll change the gearbox and clutch (if it needs changing), I'll check all electrics, hoses and pipes and replace anything I find that I don't like. I'll also clean everything up which will tell me if I have any oil leaks. I guess there's always the chance that the front subby will need looking at (I really hope not though!) and perhaps front suspension if I end up going down that route. A lot depends on whether or not I decide to keep the mini.

With regards your engine removal, what are you removing it for again? I've not seen your diary for a while but I seem to remember something to do with a gearbox?

[bcjames]

It went earlier in the year to have the gearbox diagnosed and replaced, and it made sod all difference to the problems. It's coming back out again to be rechecked, and I'll be [putting a new engine on top of it at the time too. I really wish I'd had the engine checked over when it was out, as it would have been one massive headache and annoyance avoided!

And yes you should keep the Mini

[DaveJH]

What are the symptoms?

[Jasonc]

Wow!

Just read the whole of this thread and you've certainly had some challenges!

Good work by you Shifty and all that have helped with the project!

I just hope Barney is happy now and your enjoying him!

Can't wait until I get my mini!

[DaveJH]

Wow!

Just read the whole of this thread and you've certainly had some challenges!

Good work by you Shifty and all that have helped with the project!

I just hope Barney is happy now and your enjoying him!

Can't wait until I get my mini!

Barney is happy because he's in a garage, but he's still having his engine removed so there isn't too much enjoyment going on until that's finished. When are you getting your mini? Is it your first?

[Shifty]

Ooopsie!!

If I were you I'd give guessworks a bell and get one of his refurb boxes, better than messing around with unknown 2nd hand stuff.

[Shifty]

http://www.guess-wor...rbox/refurb.htm

[DaveJH]

£119 plus an exchange, that sounds quite reasonable. I wonder if that includes shipping fees or not? Annoyingly my gearbox went on the day he started his holiday, he PM'd me some advice but his facebook image suggests he is away for another 6 days. I should talk to him about it though, cheers. I thought it was more expensive than that!