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Post by biggelmo on Oct 1, 2011 17:37:35 GMT
At Castle Combe last weekend we got an unused 6 row oil cooler for £15 and some slightly rusty but unused hoses for £3....bargain.
Today I fitted it and after a slight hitch (thanks Ian) here's the result.
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Post by biggelmo on Oct 1, 2011 17:41:35 GMT
It had to be fitted in front of the grille because the pre engaged starter motor sits where the cooler would fit behind the grille. Attachments:
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Post by biggelmo on Oct 8, 2011 18:17:02 GMT
We took a trip over to Gerald Dales today to have the ignition timing and carb set up properly.
This was definitely the best £40 I've ever spent.
The transformation to the car is incredible, Gerald checked the ignition timing and found it to be retarded (that's why it was running hot) and the vacuum advance wasn't working either so he adjusted the distributor and started on the mixture.
The exhaust gas analyser showed the mixture was rich at tickover before going lean under acceleration so he modified the needle to suit the K&N type filter.
So now we have a more responsive Mini that runs a lot cooler.
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Post by biggelmo on Oct 9, 2011 9:58:05 GMT
The car had developed a "ticking" some where on the centre branch over the last week,so expecting the worst (cracked manifold) I removed carb & inlet and then found a black carbon mark above the middle exhaust port.
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Post by biggelmo on Oct 9, 2011 10:05:30 GMT
Then when I checked the inlet/exhaust gasket had delaminated causing the leak.
New QUALITY gasket required !!!!
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Post by biggelmo on Nov 19, 2011 17:20:14 GMT
Hi again,the Mini developed a nasty missfire when cruising at 40-60 mph last weekend so I spent this morning sorting it out. My first thought was that rust and crud from the less than perfect petrol tank had blocked up the float bowl but when I removed the carb and checked it all was OK. So I replaced the carb and then tried to start the engine.......no joy !!!!. A quick check showed a distinct lack of sparks.......curious......how could cleaning a carb lead to a loss of sparks  ??. So I got the multi-meter out and found the coil had 12volts to it so checked the low tension side and found a loose crimp connection to the coil,loose enough to probably cause the missfire but easily cured with a new crimp connection. The Mini now runs fine but I'll add some spare crimps and a pair of crimp pliers to the tool box just in case. |
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Post by biggelmo on Jan 17, 2012 19:30:46 GMT
We've decided to downsize from 12" to 10" wheels and so started getting the bit's together.
I got a set of 7.5" discs and drive flanges from Dean and then tonight on eBay I found a complete set of 7.5 S discs,hubs,calipers and drive shafts listed being open to offers and in Eastbourne........to good to be true??.
So I made an offer which was accepted and went to collect them from around the corner (literally) but when I looked at them they were 7" discs..........Bugger!!!!!!.
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Post by monkeyjim on Jan 18, 2012 21:56:10 GMT
Shame . You do not want 7's . Mini guru's suggest a well set up drum system is better than the 7 inch disc set up. Think at the moment the cheapest 7.5 calipers on the market are Minispares own version at about £80 . Down sized my Mayfair brakes from 8.4 to Cooper 7.5 using these calipers and had no issues. All you need is the 7.5 discs , drive flanges , disc to drive flange fixing screws and calipers . You already have suitable hubs. Sure you know this anyway . Now I just sit back and wait for someone to post a rediculous comment about modifying Ford Fiesta calipers .  |
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Post by biggelmo on Jan 19, 2012 7:17:39 GMT
I had already considered doing the Fiesta caliper conversion but decided against it and so will be getting some 7.5 calipers soon.
Last night I was outbid on 5 MMAA 5x10 alloys on fleebay but managed to win 5 Dunlop D1's in 2 seperate auction later on.
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Post by biggelmo on Jan 26, 2012 8:40:50 GMT
I've now got the old tyres off the wheels so I can start refurbing them and I've ordered a set of wheel nuts from Jonspeed.
I'm now in the process of finalising a deal on a set of 4 new unused Yokohama A032R tyres I've found for sale for £140 on a Subaru forum in Ireland,just hope the postage doesn't get to expensive.
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Post by biggelmo on Jan 26, 2012 12:18:42 GMT
The postage on the tyres worked out at £26 which makes £166 total.......Bargain.
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Post by biggelmo on Jan 30, 2012 19:39:20 GMT
Heres the first refurbed Dunlop alloy Attachments:
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Post by biggelmo on Jan 30, 2012 19:44:32 GMT
Three more to go Attachments:
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Post by monkeyjim on Jan 30, 2012 21:43:15 GMT
There looking good , fiddly buggers to paint I guess.
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Post by Miniböttcher on Jan 30, 2012 22:04:51 GMT
i done a set of those 5 odd years ago.
got out the good old nitromores to clean the old paint off, but they were powder coated, so i had them blasted but had to duct tape up all the spokes and rim in 3 layers, to stop them geting damaged as here polished
its a long old road but not bad sitting waching tv and paining them.
i sanded all the top of the spokes and rim wih 120 grit, then used a fine scot pad for paint prep to buff them up, they come up clean.
i ended up selling them to the bloke at wood and pickett for a customer in canada and got my money back
they will look good on your car with those new tyres.
well done
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??.
