Rusty The Minus (aka Mr Hoskins)
#16
Posted 07 September 2007 - 09:00 AM
#17
Posted 07 September 2007 - 09:08 AM
Raz xxx
#18
Posted 07 September 2007 - 10:03 AM
#19
Posted 08 September 2007 - 09:22 AM
Ok, to bring you guys up to date...
Now I had the Minus on my drive, I'd cleared the water out of the floorpans (which hadn't caused it to rust in any way... ), and had got started on ripping the rear subframe off. When I had gone to view the Minus I had originally planned to keep the rear subby, and just paint it up, but after I realised the radius arms and brakes needed a complete overhaul I decided to swap it with the already built one I happened to have in my garage.
All went well apart from one bolt (there are no captive nuts on the Minus, so the front mountings have bolts that go through the body, and the nut goes on the outside). Anyway, the top bolt on the passenger side had got itself stuck inside the mount, even after lots of heat (had to be careful not to melt the car!!) and mucho banging I went and got my hacksaw. One careful incision later and the old subby was off and new one on!
#20
Posted 08 September 2007 - 09:32 AM
That weekend was Southern Mini Days, I must say I was disappointed at the lack of bargains that were to be had, needless to say I tried to haggle people down on everything I bought! Purchases included a quick rack (later turned out to be a re-conditioned standard rack!), a set of 10x6 Wellers, rear window seals, Mk1 grille and surround, a set of Yoko A032r tyres and a few other bits and bobs. This spending spree having been funded by a lovely £750 bank charge refund I had recieved that Saturday. God knows how I managed to spend most of it that weekend!
Got home and realised I hadn't got a lot of the stuff I actually needed! So a brief discussion with Simon @ Minispares and another order was placed:
This order saw me gain a Maniflow Stg 2 exhaust manifold, RC40 side exit system, heater and cooling hoses, new CVs, various bushes, a brand new Mk1 wavy grille and surround, 2 new doughnuts, new wipers, a new grease gun, new brake discs, a spacer kit and a few other bits.
#21
Posted 08 September 2007 - 09:54 AM
Flywheel and clutch dry assembled and correctly spacered:
Old vs. New
#22
Posted 08 September 2007 - 10:07 AM
So now I come to change the front cones, get my compressor tool out, and clear the area on the bulkhead crossmember so I can get the tool in. Alas, it seems on my minus, with its twin bolt subframe, I can't use the tool as it has no third hole through which to put the threaded bar. Off comes the subframe then, and I laugh as I realise how much easier it would now be to change the steering rack!
Anyway, long story short, I get a MK1 rack (2.25 turns) from Minidaves, along with a few other bits and bobs, the subframe is given a good clean whilst its off the car, and new knuckles and top arm bushes and put in place!
The cleaned up subframe minus lower arms and tie-rods goes back in, ready for the engine.
Later that week it mostly rains, so I spent a number of evenings nice and dry in the garage reconditioning a set of disc assemblies I have with new balljoints, discs and CVs. I had major trouble getting the hub nut off one side (myself and my dad pushing down on a breaker bar and scaffold pole didn't budge it!), luckily I had a spare assy for that side!
#23
Posted 08 September 2007 - 10:09 AM
#24
Posted 08 September 2007 - 10:30 AM
Actually, I think once the engine was in I then went back to the suspension. See, my last trip over to Bill Richards had seen me rob a mini of a number of goodies, but a couple of things they needed to keep on it (to keep it moveable) were rose jointed tie-rods, and I'd recently purchased the new forged one peice rose jointed lower arms from MS. So now I had both of these things I went about putting the front suspension together. The lower arms and tie-rods went on (the tie-rod bushes confused me) and then the complete hub assemblies.
It was a nervous moment as I bolted on the KAD calipers, put the wheel spacer on, and then the wheel. See I'd spent a fair whack of money hedging my bets on the fact that I could get the 10x6 Wellers over the 8.4" calipers! Well, with a 1" spacer they fit, its tight, but there is a good 7-10mm clearance, so its enough for me to not worry about it. With the offset of the wheel, and the spacer its moved the disc completely outside the wheel, which isn't ideal, but I'll live with it for now.
Now the front suspension was all bolted up I went to try and get the wheels pointed straight. Now I refer you back to the bit about bolting on a Mk1 rack, which I had been told was exactly the same as a later rack, apart from the turns. Well with the track rods wound out as far as I would like the wheels were VERY much toe-out still. Problem, so I bought the longer Triumph Spitfire track rods, however I still don't blelieve these would be long enough. Now, I've recently learnt that with rose jointed tie-rods you don't use bushes! So, I've now taken the bushes out, and one of my next jobs is to fit the lower track rods and see where I can get the tracking then!
Right, well that brings us up to about a week and a half before BH2N 2007, will I get it ready in time?!? Nobody knows....
Tune in next time for more Mr Hoskins the Hastily put together Minus
#25
Posted 08 September 2007 - 10:31 AM
Nah, not sure on colour yet, at the moment I cba to paint it, its not like the paint will protect it much anyway, or that it'll rust without paint!smart! lookin good any idea of the colour yet?
#26
Posted 08 September 2007 - 10:47 AM
Nah, not sure on colour yet, at the moment I cba to paint it, its not like the paint will protect it much anyway, or that it'll rust without paint!smart! lookin good any idea of the colour yet?
im gonna come along with some brown paint and a sponge and put rust on it though mate So i wouldnt bother paying for an expensive jobby.
Do it like those splitty campers that are painted to looks rusty! that would be mad.
#27
Posted 08 September 2007 - 12:01 PM
Keep up the good work!
#28
Posted 08 September 2007 - 12:10 PM
Do it like those splitty campers that are painted to looks rusty! that would be mad.
yeah! that would look spot on!!!
#29
Posted 08 September 2007 - 12:30 PM
#30
Posted 08 September 2007 - 04:31 PM
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