363 replies to this topic

[minimissions]

Realy love this mini archless does look the business...

[RawlinsGTR]

Thanks for all the kind comments   I'll glad take the mini off your hands Harrison, as long as I get to keep it after!

 

Anyway, bit of progress this week. I took apart my inlet manifold and all the bits attached to it to wire brush back and paint, since I'd rushed over these during the rebuild before:

 

 

The only picture I have of the inlet unmasked:

 

 

 

 

 

I started off painting these bits but didn't like the matt black colour I'd gone for, so I need to order some high temp gloss black spray before I can finish them :)

 

Also did a few other bits that I'd rushed over before:

 

Clutch master cylinder:

 

 

 

Wiper box cover (I'd done the rest just not the cover):

 

 

Cleaned up the radiator a bit, gotta finish that though:

 

 

 

Oh, and this also happened yesterday:

 

 

 

THANKS CRAIG for helping

 

That's all for now!

 

Still a bit to get done before the engine goes back in, but revision has had to start for now so it'll be slow progress over the next week or so

 

 

Sorry for the awful quality photos and random sizes, a lot of these were uploaded from my phone and others were uploaded from the camera so.

 

Cheers for looking as always!

[Ben_O]

great work guys!

 

That photo of you two made me laugh! IT'S GREAT!!

 

Ben

[Rocket.]

Parts are looking clean

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

You can never rebuild a car and expect to get it perfect out of the box. The hiccups we have experienced along the way (whilst sometimes annoying) are all part of restoring a classic Mini, or any car for that matter, and they all become a part of what makes driving it for that first time with it's full ticket on it, or that first trip across the UK or wherever all that more special   Sometimes it's been difficult to keep going and keep that enthusiasm alive, when it's so easy for us to just sit around all day and decide not to work on the Mini today, to just do something relaxing instead. Whilst we do our fair share of that (some would argue more ) It's getting up early to collect the engine hoist on our day off, the long hours in the garage and removing engines come rain or snow (literally!) which has really started to pay off now we're nearing the end 

 

I just admire Simon for his persistent search for perfection in all areas, and his vision of what this car will eventually be. From day one of the rebuild it was clear that this car would be not only different from when it was last on the road but different from a lot of other later Minis out there. He's really put his stamp on it and I think that's important.

 

I remember the trips to the supermarket at 10 in the evening, the summer drives home from shows with the windows open and our shirts off, racing Range Rovers and taking the speedo off the gauge as they overtake and give us the thumbs up and a big grin astounded that the silly little red car infront was capable of that... and I can't wait for all that fun again  this time on smaller wheels and with far less rust!

 

I think it's the love between me and Simon that has gone into this car and made it really special. I'm unsure whether I'd be with him without this car and that's such a strange thought. I remember it sitting on the side of the road all bent up, and Simon's face at the time when we locked it away in the garage and didn't touch it for weeks, and when it's fate was still undecided it was just a very strange few weeks, it was different. Whilst at times it seemed impossible, and totally illogical, it was always clear from day one that this car had to be rebuilt. It's become more than just a car. Meeting through TMF and Minis was a great basis for us, instantly it was something that we both loved and had a passion for, and it was a nice novelty at first, but I feel as we've grown together, even more inseparable, and even more desperate for eachothers company the Mini just slipped into place. It's become a lot of our existance together at times, especially through last year, every moment together was spent on the driveway stripping parts, rebuilding things, or on long trips to pick up rare and bespoke parts, or just cool things and handy bits  And the moments that weren't spent together doing that, I for one know I was longing to be doing that with Simon, it was special. We'd be on nights out at a friends for new year, or just relaxing with some beers and Vodka at uni, and whilst things were going on, there was always just the Mini in the back of our minds. We'd sit there and have drunken conversations about what we wanted it to eventually be like, and how awesome it'll be to have it finished again, I remember looking through photos, and looking through this thread too, and it did seem like it was an age away, but we're nearly there now. 

 

It hasn't been without it's help from so many awesome people though. Josh for one, who has always been there for us throughout the build, Simon will do some proper credits at the end I'm sure, but I just thought I'd personally mention Josh and Erik who have put a lot of positive energy, enthusiasm and help into the build. And a lot of love for us when we have felt deflated and beaten by the whole thing.

 

When a car and community can bring you that kind of life experience it has to be special, and I think speical is the only way to describe what TMF and the Mini as a car has given me growing up.

 

When the car is finally done it'll be amazing, to follow Simon around in Rita knowing he has a big grin on his face will be totally priceless. It has been testing at times but one thing is clear for me, I love this car, but more than that, I love Simon <3 

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 05 April 2014 - 07:11 PM.

[psmini]

Great car, great banter and a great story. My other half Ben has no interest in cars, let alone minis so you guys are lucky that you share the love for mini's! Late minis on tens rock, I went the same route. Rob

[megamini_jb]

Lovely mini and story

[Zeemax Adventure]

Aww sooooooo sweet :) the love that minis can bring ....

[MiniJosh92]

What a soppy load of *******

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Love you Joshy  

[leaky]

You really out gayed your self there Craig. Good effort.

[scotty_1987]

 

Much Love

So Mini's

Very Broment

Such feels

WOW

 

Good stuff guys  , keep it up even the gayness, we're all a little gay sometimes. right!? can't wait to see it finished lel. F**kin' mighty!!!! 

 

Nath,

xoxoxoxo

[RawlinsGTR]

Nath's a massive fag.

 

Anyway, been doing revision as well as working on the mini the past week. Got a fair bit done! I was gonna wait till each of the bits I was working on was finished before I updated, but I felt like doing it today, because, you know, S CLUB 7 AND ALL THAT

 

Started off on the clutch and flywheel covers:

 

 

Then took the diff out as those gaskets were the ones that needed doing:

 

 

Unfortunately one bolt sheared in place so I had to go to Josh's to bodge something in, we managed to get a 10mm bolt in after some faffing. However, I don't have a torque wrench that goes to a low enough torque for the rear cover, and I want to make sure the diff is seated properly at the right torque so I need to buy one of them before it goes back on.

 

Replaced the pot joint seals:

 

 

Did a new coat of paint on the engine after wire brushing back some rust that had already started (as with on most of the bits of the engine):

 

 

I also wire brushed back the bare parts of the engine and sprayed them in some high temp clear coat:

 

 

Also I wire brushed back the visible bolt heads and used a new technique to spray them so that hopefully they won't rust as quickly this time round:

 

 

Then I moved on to the stuff off the engine:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Completely took apart the inlet to paint each individual part on it:

 

 

 

Then did the same to the throttle body:

 

 

 

 

 

Also cleaned up and painted the gear shifter:

 

 

 

 

 

Did the sleeves on a random bit:

 

 

 

Clutch master back in:

 

 

And that's it for photos!

I've also washed the engine bay again, cleaned all that up, replaced the bonnet catch spring so it works now, and replaced the throttle cable. I've got 1 week till my first exam so I'm S CLUB 7'ing now i.e. had to slow down on progress of the car. I don't think the engine will go back in before I go back, but I'll only be away for just over 2 weeks and then I'll be back home.

 

I will come home on the Monday before L2B and that's the aim now, so basically I'm trying to get everything done now to just need to put the engine straight back in when I get home, with Craig. Then it'll need MOT'ing and tracking. It's gonna be a rush but we're still gonna try!

 

Thanks for looking.

 

Simon

[Ben_O]

Looking good Simon!

 

I never knew spathrooms were on the up 

 

Seriously though, all these little touches are awesome.

 

Keep it up!

 

Ben

[jamesmpi]

Looking forward to seeing it completed at L2B. Good luck with the exams lol