277 replies to this topic

[STREET TWEAKS]

Hi mate got sum pics up mate but not very big i left the sub fame hings in places and the boot hing panel to just needs a little more work before i start welding it in.

[minimuk]

Few days gone again, fitted new door striker plates finally and am able to close the doors proparly, having said that, new seals meant more like slamming the door shut to get the rubber seal used/shaped to the door edges, in a few days move the strikerplates a bit more inwards and the doors will be level/aligned with the rear quarter panels.

Borowed a big engine crane from my friend Mr Slater, "the mini professor" so hopefully in the next few days the engine will be nestled in its subframe cradle. Progress indeed.
Will put some pictures in tomorrow.

[minimuk]

So, today I wanted to make a start on moving the engine into it's cradle, I realised that all the front light wiring was all over the place and definately not neat,.....FAILED..... I had used 2 openings in the lower area's of the inner-wings to feed the wires through. .....WRONG THAT WAS....Anyone of you done the wiring off the front lights and indicators before, you know it's a pain to assemble it all.
So after taking off the chrome besels and the lenses, disconnecting all the wires and pulling them back, then taping all the wires again with wire mastic tape, dressing the wires under the slam-panel, feeding them through the on purpose made gaps between the front panel and inner-wings, re-connecting all the wires and putting the lenses and besels back on,....3 hours later,....back to square one.
Let this be a lesson when I do the next mini.

two piccies with the loose wires

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After I got back from work tonight I thought make a few piccies from the tidy job from this afternoon sorry but it was a bit dark at 23.00,only a few wires sticking out they are for the alternator and extra spotlights, temperature sensors etc.


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Now here is the crane in full glory, all I wanted to do was getting the engine in today. maybe start that tomorrow



until then

[minimuk]

As time goes on, it looks like nothing gets done, however being the first mini, all takes a bit time, then again my work does not help me on my quest. I am getting ready for the big engine move,.... all needs to be in place before that happens, today I managed to put the clutch master cilinder in place and finished the heater-water in and outlet bracket.

Cleaned the cilinder and put him next to his mate,...


I had moved the washer water-tank from the origional place behind that hose-bracket to the driverside innerwing, to make enough space for the new water hoses.
It is amazing, I was looking for a solution on here for a nice finishing of the bracket and then there it was,....STEVEDE cheers pal, thank you for the hint, 25mm Cable Gland that was all I needed (Screwfix £1.64 for 2). Same as Steve I had to file the excisting holes to size. Bit of a spray paint and the end result is looking good.
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Waiting for new hoses and heater will be next,.......and then the engine.....still hanging in there!!!
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Edited by minimuk, 09 May 2011 - 01:50 PM.

[minimuk]

I have managed to get the heater hoses, had to get some hose-connectors/reducers from 1/2"-5/8" as the hoses from the heater are thicker then squeezing through the cable glands and voila, another job done.

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Might get the engine in tomorrow or Monday, pending on the wheather.

[minimuk]

finally managed to put the engine back in, but not without a struggle, I had replaced the old engine mounts on the bell housing and under the radiator with new ones,....guess what it took me 2 hours to lighn up the holes for the bolts and yes there was some sw....ng too. I didn't know a fraction of a mm on each side would be such a pain and then of course putting those bolts in them holes.,..... more sw....ng, back ache and head ache. Look I started at 10.30 am and got it in at 4.30Pm. nout connected as yet!!!!That will be tomorrow, fuel line, rad hoses, carb, solinoid, exchaust gear-rod, to name a few, ohh yes and one drive shaft to as I did not manage to leave both in when dropping the engine in so had to take 1 out. Anyhow, enjoy the piccies.

lifting engine with the massive crane high enough

push car in position, and lower engine for the first time, a bit nervewrecking

realised the first time about them engine mountings!!!

taking the engine out once more and checked the mounting surfaces on the pads and subframe for paint drops etc, sanded the paint drops and dirt of and lowered the engine once more.
I did not make any piccies from me sw...g when putting the bolts in, (pain in the neck them, defo design failure)

End of this shift, engine is in, and mounted, and moved the water bottle back in position
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[minimuk]

spending time under car tday, connecting gear rod first then exhaust, lower front mounting bracket, famous wiring, water in rad, bled clutch all working, earth wire from top engine bracket to engine, drive shafts done. I did put the gear stick in and wanted to see if it engages, and all gear did.

Gear rod to engine and exhaust
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exhaust joining clamp
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This is a picture taken from engine in September 2009
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and a bit of a difference today, looks good
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as work will be busy next 10 days, not much time for mini, but first week in june I will sort out the, boot lid, bonnet, fuel lines and fuel filter, carb and throw in the battery, and will see what MUK will say.
Not far of, Car will go back to painter to finish paint work off.

Edited by minimuk, 18 May 2011 - 10:30 PM.

[minimuk]

After so many comments, I thought I might aswell start on the fuel lines/filter/breatherfilters. have a few hours off this afternoon, so spend time well on the mini. The hoses arrived from M-Spares yesterday, don't want dust at them.

Moving the window washer motor I was able to mount the fuel filter in it's place (not to many holes) Using large P-clamps.
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few days and fuel in tank, battery on and give the engine some life, can't wait for it's heart beat.

[minimuk]

well, today managed to put in speedo clock, add petrol in tank with lead additive, and then the battery not sure whether this one is dying, does not hold charge, had to start engine with jump-leads,.... what a nice heartbeat, let him idle for 2 hours and had a few runs on the drive. Temperature ok and no leaks

A few jobs need fine tuning,
exhaust connector pipe is hissing
clutch needs bleeding again and adjusting,
and then there is the battery,......not sure what to do, either replace it as it is now 3 years old and been standing in garage doing nout for over a year, even after running for 2 hours, not enough charge to start the engine on its own. Charging it tonight, see in the morning.
I hope it is not the alternator!


More tmr

Edited by minimuk, 05 June 2011 - 08:36 PM.

[minimuk]

good day today, lots of little things, fettling with rear seat, crome windscreen whiper besels,lights,but still few jobs need fine tuning,



exhaust connector pipe re-alighned with connectors, no leaks anymore
bleeding the clutch and adjusted, no prob changing gears when running
and then there is the battery,.....got shot of the old one, charging overnight was a wast of power.
The alternator is a standart 45 amp one, ordered a 70amp one from minispares

As the day went on found out that all lights are working,...however, headlight switch is nackered I think, putting it downwards nothing happens, nothing at all, instrument lights, rear lights,nout. But I haven't as yet attached the cables for the bootlid, maybe all will work then, will see, head lights are fine in the second position. maybe I need to turn the switch arround, any one of you guys know the answer??


ohh yes and put a nice fog light on the Valance, great idea from Deathrow, managed to put it on ok and it is working with the correct switch I did check it with the Highway code/rules, it is ok in the center or off-side all is fine.



Alternator next and bootlid when I get the new seal.
Let me know if anyone knows re the light switch, thank you

[grahama]

Hi,

snap on the fog light, got one from fleabay the other week, blatant copying can be a good thing !!!

Looks great,

Graham

[minimuk]

Hi,

snap on the fog light, got one from fleabay the other week, blatant copying can be a good thing !!!

Looks great,

Graham

Only a few of us know where to get it though, sorted mine a few month back, only put it on yesterday, worth waiting for I reckon.

[bobs]

Let me know if anyone knows re the light switch, thank you

Interesting project, well done!

My switch had similar symptoms, prise it out and test the switch first, they don't last forever, new switch cured my problem, if the switch is on the way out, waggling it or resting it between positions should make it work, but obviously replace it at some point.
With the switch out, you can carfully bridge the connections to check if it's a different issue.

[minimuk]

Let me know if anyone knows re the light switch, thank you

Interesting project, well done!

My switch had similar symptoms, prise it out and test the switch first, they don't last forever, new switch cured my problem, if the switch is on the way out, waggling it or resting it between positions should make it work, but obviously replace it at some point.
With the switch out, you can carfully bridge the connections to check if it's a different issue.

Thank you for your advise, I have ordered one already, appart from possibly being a duff one, it looks very much worn, I will try the bridging bit later today! Will let you know

Cheers

[minimuk]

Let me know if anyone knows re the light switch, thank you

Interesting project, well done!

My switch had similar symptoms, prise it out and test the switch first, they don't last forever, new switch cured my problem, if the switch is on the way out, waggling it or resting it between positions should make it work, but obviously replace it at some point.
With the switch out, you can carfully bridge the connections to check if it's a different issue.

Thank you for your advise, I have ordered one already, appart from possibly being a duff one, it looks very much worn, I will try the bridging bit later today! Will let you know

Cheers

Bob hi, I managed to bridge the points, blue and brown no problem but brown and red,.... nout.... done a few different test and chased the red wire to the fuse box, cleaned the plug from little corrosion and bless we have power,...yes even with the old switch, nice excersize after tea. Anyhow new switch will arrive tomorrow, keep the old one for spare. Thank you for the hint. Another little/big problem solved.
Cheers