103 replies to this topic

[998dave]

How'd you get on after we spoke Mr Milner?

[CharlieBrown]

Right, last weekends work...

Saturday

A correct Manual Subframe had arrived on Thursday thanks to a kind member of West Country Minis, so the first job was to strip and clean that.

I even used a cone compressor for the first time.

Then came removing the autoframe from the car. I spotted little rubber stops on the top arms that I had not noticed before.

The ones on the new subframe had seen better days so they were swapped.

So it was mini up again and the auto frame off.

Manual frame repainted (and radiator cover).

Then while the engine was out I fitted the new 2 core rad (kindly supplied by Mini Spares for my trip – cheers Simon).

I then ran out of time so this was as far as I got;

Mini tucked up for the night. Roofrack slightly spoils the usefulness of the cover but it does the job.


Sunday

One of the jobs I really needed to do but was putting off (as I didn’t really know how to do it) was replacing the inner CV boots. I had read the Haynes but wasn’t really sure how to remove the end bearing. I therefore resorted to another method, removing the ball bearings, sliding the outer race up the shaft and prising the CV boot over the inner bearing race with 4 screwdrivers, ta daaa:

Pushing the CV boot through the outer race:

And popping the bearings back in:

I the assembled the engine in the subframe, lined it up in front of the car and attempted to lower the shell onto it:

This almost worked until I realised that I hadn’t lined up the subframe and the shell very well so resulted in me propping the shell up with 2 tyres, getting the engine crane off the shell and lifting the engine and subframe up into the shell (so that it lifted the shell), put the wheels on and dropped it all down. To my surprise everything lined up rather nicely:

That was then it for the day.

[CharlieBrown]

Wednesday nights work

A friend came round last night to give me a hand with getting the front screen in. So I glued in the last bit of headlining. We then fitted the window rubber and with a bit of lube and a window tool we managed to get the window in.

We also fitted the last side rear window amd the car is now looking that bit more complete:



And




Only all the wiring to connect, engine bits to go on and exhaust/manifold.....easy

[998dave]

Looks very, very good!

One question though, did you get the wheel arches resprayed the original colour so they match up when you put them on?

Dave

[CharlieBrown]

Indeed I did (am) they are being done at the moment along with the wing mirrors and the boot thingy.

[998dave]

Indeed I did (am) they are being done at the moment along with the wing mirrors and the boot thingy.

Good stuff!

[CharlieBrown]

Some recent late night action (so to speak) saw the engine bits being added back on and wires being connected:

Then a few days later it was looking a bit more finished:

Sunday eveing/night saw alot of frantic action:

Then yesterday I actually managed to drive it to get the MOT sorted (It will need a bit of fixing before it can pass though but only a bit :crazy:like fitting the sump guard!)

Arches and mirrors are still in the spray shop but I will be getting those back today or tomorrow.

It was very cool driving it to the MOT considering that it has not been on the road in over a year. So fingers crossed it will be sorted and pass soon!

[998dave]

Please get a shiny new grille, that one's seen better days, otherwise the whole car looks fantastic.
Is it going to get stickered up again though?

Dave

[CharlieBrown]

Ha ha, I like the grill, it adds character

Yes it will be getting all stickered up.

I went to the garage today to see how they were getting on with getting the car ready for the MOT. They had done the MOT and I had a lovely 2 pags of fails. Mostly electrical stuff. I thought they would just have a quick go at fixing it but they were recommending an Auto electrician!

So I got it home and spend this evening trying my best to sort the electrics. I checked the earths and cleaned them up where needed (I think this was the main issue)

So far I have got the following working:

Hazards
Indicators
Brake lights
Heater
Wipers
Washers
Full beams
Passenger main beam??

Still to sort:
Drivers main beam
Both side lights (keeps blowing the fuse!! grr)
Rear lights on all settings??

Bit confused as to why the headlights work on full beam and not on others? Help?

[Saxo-Fiesta-Mini]

will be the connector that is behind the grill theres a dual bullet connector that often corrodes mine did produced due to over cleaning my engine bay

[998dave]

Ha ha, I like the grill, it adds character
So far I have got the following working:

Hazards
Indicators
Brake lights
Heater
Wipers
Washers
Full beams
Passenger main beam??

Still to sort:
Drivers main beam
Both side lights (keeps blowing the fuse!! grr)
Rear lights on all settings??

Bit confused as to why the headlights work on full beam and not on others? Help?

Re: Rear lights are the dashboard back lights working? The two share one of the fuses, take a look at the dash lights, if they're not working go to that fuse and check for a voltage, if they are working, check for power and earth at the rear lights.

Side lights, likely a short to earth, but then you've those funny angel eyes on, so could be anything!

Drivers main beam;

will be the connector that is behind the grill theres a dual bullet connector that often corrodes mine did produced due to over cleaning my engine bay

It's a new loom, I believe, so unlikely I'm afraid, but it's worth Charlie checking he's got power into, and out of the bullet connectors. especially given that the passenger main beam is working.

[CharlieBrown]

Right well a bit more work tonight and I realised what was going wrong.

One of the bulbs for the angel eyes had fallen into the headlight bowl and the two wires suppost to hold the bulb were touching (not the best design).

So I did a bit of a fix and now the side lights all work (front and rear).
Drivers main beam still does not work, I tested the bulb with a 6v battery and thought it worked but I will try a new bulb when I get a chance.
Rears and passenger main beams work though and the full beams.

So almost there.

Unfortunately I called the garage and they dont think they can get me in for the MOT retest so I won't be able to make it to the Ace Cafe in the mini but then a 2 hour first run to London may be asking for trouble. But at least I will have the weekend for getting more done.

[998dave]

Good skills Charlie, you could always try a multimeter to check the bulbs, just check for continuity!

D

[CharlieBrown]

Right, well this weekend I managed to sort the main beam issue, it was just a loose connection to the bulb so I tightened that up and it's working.

Next job was adding a rear fog light which I fixed and secured to the car with an exhaust bracked and 2 8mm bolts, a little overkill but hopfully it wont come off!

Next job was putting the electronic distributor on and tuning. Mike from West County Minis came over to give me a hand but it ended up that once the electronic distrubutor was fitted we couldnt get a spark??? So later today I will clean up the coil connections and try again. Fun