Marmite is home

 The time spent at the garage was just a bit longer than I expected. A few weeks turned into just a few days under 8 weeks! Apparently they were very busy. 

The garage did as I wanted and were very thorougher, some have said a bit to much, but with so much work done by myself a harsh eye cast over it all did catch a couple things. In the scale of the work done I considered them minor. Fog light switch not working correctly (bad wiring meant it illuminated incorrectly, which I rectified in their carpark). A worn part on the steering rack was found and replaced. Also a couple of bits were corrected.

A list of advisories was discussed,  but nothing that is going to take long on my friends ramps. Also I intend to double check the exhaust as it was a really tight fit and far from easy installing it on the axel stands.

Since its been back home I found time to check and adjust the tappets and re do the timing to hopefully eliminate the flat spots. Christmas brought me a new gear stick and hand brake gaiter, which is fitted now and looking good. 

I did get a chance to take her out for a quick spin. The next stage I do need to get to the bottom of is the running a bit hot. But this should be deduction and testing.

I fitted what seems to be a very successful garage parking aid. With the garage length only being 50cm longer than the car it needs to be quite close to the main doors so I can walk behind it to the small door and get out, or in. A nice little peice of 2x2 screwed to the floor. Just leaving me to concentrate on missing the arches on the main garage doors 😀  it's over a foot long so slight miss alignment left or right is not an issue.

 

The final hurdel

 Only having late in the evenings for the mini I pushed on with the door cards, slow and steady saw me remove the old coverings, test fit the cards and then cover them. Ready for the install and handles fitted

It's time to report in. Marmite has gone off for mot..... out up a little fight mind.

With so much going on I finally got a chance to test drive it in the rear alley on Thursday Evening just before it got dark. All went well till a bit of speed was gained. At this point the steering went, well, lively. This did not fill me with confidence in driving it to the mot in the morning.

I rang the garage early and they helpfully suggested I tried the brake down cover for a tow there. So sadly it went on the back of a transporter again, hopefully the last time for a while at least.

It failed, but I knew it would on at least a couple of things which I had already asked the garage to do.  But it's common practice to still do the mot and see if anything else crops up. There was a couple of other things that came to light but apart from a worn steering rack component. Nothing major came up. But proved worth while putting it through a sturdy mot mams shake down, which is what I wanted having done so much on it. And a lot of it over months and some done very late at night.

So there we go, it is sitting there waiting for them to get round to sorting a few bits and bobs. A shame they are very busy, but it has been years getting to this point so a little longer isn't going to hurt.

The garage is looking very weird, has given me the chance to sweep up and then make a mess sorting the big doors. Which is good, but really strange the mini being away from home :)

On it, like a car bonnet

 Well almost, after fitting a new front door and fresh paint on the amended garage door I felt like I had a bit of time for the mini.

Bonnet time. I grab son 2 /assistant and set about bolting it on. A little bit fiddly. Checked alignment, oh look at those lovely huge gaps around the bonnet, yum. I fair bit of tweeking so the bonnet wouldn't rub at the back as it was closed. Found a happy medium for it and moved onto the stay. Quickly stopped playing with that due to there being no plate on the inner wing for the stay to be parked in when  the bonnet is up. Sigh, all I know is I didn't take it off. But also I didn't notice it was missing!

Well the next thing would be the catches. I felt a saga creeping in. Few, i wasn't disappointed! The main catch was fun to bolt on , then it was great to see it was sitting to the right and missing the slam panel catch. More adjustment and a quick change of washers to stop them just falling into the large holes of the bonnet. Close, back to adjusting the length of the bonnet catch ... which needed to be longer than it would extend to. A plan B was formed but would have to wait, so moved onto fitting the saftey catch. Wow what a tw@$, it really did fight it self. Everything was always out of alignment making fitting the pin just a little bit hard. With lots of twisting, a thin screwdriver as a guide, pushing sticks, an extra pair of hands/eyes, extra light and a sprinkling of patience the pin finally dropped in.

So close

 A few more jobs have been ticked off the list and some side tracking but towards the cause.

Completed today was  widening the garage door. Having just 2" either side of the car has been a bit of a pain when pushing it out for extra space to work on it.

With the mini doors on now I realised the battery could be left connected. I connected the battery when I was in the garage and quickly noticed that all was not quite right. The doors where closed but the interior light was on. It almost seemed fitting that the first electrical problem and could be the last. It turned out that the re wiring hadn't quite corrected everything, the feed to the extra under seat lights was earthing. 

I finally collected the clubman sticker for the center dial. With some delicate work the sticker was placed and the dial back together again. It was time to finally fit the dials. The bolts are quite tucked away, I was really glad I had held off fitting the bonnet. It would have been so much harder holding the dial in place through the drivers window whilst fitting the bolts. After quite some time it was all bolted up. A quick check .... when I out the hazards on all 3 dial back lights flashed with the hazards!! This was clearly not right, I had tested the dials and all electrics before mounting. It was time to unbolt the dials and check it out. It turned out to be a quick fix, the loom plug had worked loose. Fortunately it was much quicker re fitting the dials.

The door check straps was a nice quick install, although I am lacking split pins. But for now they will be fine. The plastic cover over the inside of the doors has also been done, I had picked up some I hadn't seen before. The whole sheet was sticky and window/lock holes pre cut which did make it quite straight forward.

Tonight I took the plunge and marked out to drill the fixing holes for the mirrors. Sadly one of the fixing plates to the door was simply rubbish. It wouldn't tighten to the door fully and it also mashed up when fitting the mirror, the second bracket in the kit worked better and will do for now. All be it at a different angle to the drivers one.

The last job of the day was to bolt on the steering wheel... at last. At work I have started making the new door cards so I can  re cover them. Not an critical thing, so for a change won't hold things up. We are all ready for the bonnet to be fitted, yep that means I can make the call, the call to book an mot, woop

Light at the end of the tunnel

 Yep, that light at the end of the tunnel is not the tiny dot way off in the horizon any more, infact teasingly bright. 

The last few days I have..  um, I've done stuff. It's been a bit of a blur and jumping around on other projects and chores.

After a day of doing lots of other life bits I was determined to do even just a tiny thing. I went off to the garage to check rear suspension level. Measured the floor to rear end of sills and .... bang on. Note to self must check the hi low locking nut is done up!

With that done so quickly I looked at the bonnet hinges, I was sure there would be a missing nut. The missing nut or bolt has been such a common theme I thought I should get on and check before I actually needed to be installing them. To my amazement everything was there. The hinge arms paint work had suffered a little but nothing to bad, and I just couldn't be arsed to repaint. I did see I was missing just one plastic washer that would be fitted either side of the hinge arm and between the 2 plates coming out of the bulk head. After a little stare, I really did think they looked just like a plastic take away tub plastic. I found the obligatory saved take away tub that had a broken lid, ripped a chunk off, found the hole punch to make a hole and then drew round the washer.

Spot on thickness, quite pleased with that and thought "it may be late by why not try fitting the arms". The answer should have been, because it's a right pain and takes ages. Aftera while of holding the hinge arm, plastic washers,covered in grease to stick them to the arm. I grab some extra aids, masking tape to hold the bolt in the ring spanner and a small screwdriver to align the washers and hinge arm to the hole in the bulk head plates. There is not much space or visibility doing this job, so it was great to move onto the drivers side and find the windscreen wiper motor made it even harder that side. But at 1 something am I was triumphant.

While I was waiting for the brother inlaw to collect his son, I found a simple job that didn't matter if I couldn't finish. I templated the boot carpet and had just enough time to finish the first cutting in of the carpet. The carpet isn't pretty but for a free upcycled boot carpet it will do as a good guide for the new carpet when I'm feeling flush.

The new indicator (and horn) stalk turned up. I was keen to get on and install that and see if the horn would be brought to life. I removed the wiper stalk from the shared mounting plate, discarded the old indicator stalk ..... and noticed it really wasn't as shinny as the new one. Shock! Of course I did, out came the polishing compound and the stalk was carefully polished to revive it a bit with out polishing off the painted wiper symbols. It has to be said, when doing detailing work a nail brush is a god send for getting at those nooks and crannies.

Saturday.... door fitting day, eek. The new door fitting bolt kit was found and layer out. Door openings masked up to try and save the paint work from woops moments. It went quite smoothly, it may have helped that I'm a carpenter and have fitted many wooden doors. Once on to asses alignment, added shimms and I was happy enough to put the nylon nuts on for a final bolt up. The door catch mounted to the car tricked me. I thought I had run out of adjustment to pull the door in. It turned out I needed to pull that out, to allow the door catch to fully lock and pull the door hard in.

The to do list is really getting small, little bits keep cropping up to double check, lock off etc but far enough for me to ring around mini friendly garages and ask what their lead time is for mot's 

Finding time

 Finding time has started to become hard again. The start of autumn term with the kids at school and helping at a scout group, not forgetting working on my friends cars that helps fund the mini parts. It's fleeting small stints at best.

But of course work is still happening. After many sidetracks I did manage to do basic wheel alignment using the string method right round the car. But that meant the car was getting off the axel stands for good, yay.

 The drivers track rod end locking nut was ... um, locked to the shaft. The mini not being fitted with shafts that have flats made that unnecessarily taxing, stilsons where borrowed from the neighbour as my mole grips had lost the teeth points doing the other side!

 The bonnet catch lever missing the window in the grill and actually coming out under the next rung was addressed. We'll I removed it and bent it, sorted 😎 

With the car on the ground and rolling, she was rolled out of the garage so I could get round it and .... put the front seats. Due to the prep done well over a year ago when the re spray happened, a fairly straight forward job. Also met a local mini nut who walked by while I was blocking the rear alley, always nice to meet up with a local with the same passion.

I thought the part buying was over, so as pay day had been I treated my self to led bulbs for the dash, simple job. Simple my arse,  just a coupe of thou over sized for the hole. With a 50/50 chance of fitting the bulb the right way, I managed to get them all round the wrong way. Then they fell out of the holders and into the dials when I tried removing them to flip them round,so the dials came apart to retreave them! Got there though, and looking good.

Another evening and very late, I wanted to get to the bottom of the horn not working. Thouhht I had a result, only one wire attached, shame the added earth wire didn't make any difference. Out came the multi meter and its looking like the stalk is at fault, yay buying bits again and now waiting again for parts to arrive!

Noisy

 The last few days attention has moved to the exhaust. With a combination of 3 possible different manufacturers I knew it would not be a smooth assembly. Fortunately I help a friend a lot ... he makes exhaust systems, so I have a fair understanding of exhaust systems and the problems/options to get over them. With an unknown long branch manifold, fletcher Y peice and an unknown center/ back box I set about carefully lining things up to see what would need altering. I quickly found out I needed to buy a rear hanger and remembered I needed to buy the front gear box to exhaust clamp. They turned up quite quickly, which was nice.

But before they turned up the steering arm gaiters turned up, I cracked on and fitted them so the front wheels could finally go on and stay on. There was a little trouble with the lock nut not wanting to budge, but the blow torch soon encouraged it to play ball.

Yesterday I got home and was shattered but a lot was going on in the house so I disappeared to the garage, got the tap and dies out to clean up the captive nuts and what seems like the last old money bolts I have left! Led on the floor with my legs dangling out the side door of the garage i used the tap and die fitted the bracket and then pondered some exhaust options. With a little jolt I opened my eyes, I might have nodded off in the relative quite and darkness of being under the car! That was it cup of tea time.

Tonight I was working up at the Y price, fitted the gear box clamp and laid out the center section again to check clearances and alignment. It wasn't looking to bad, I am going to make a short straight joiner piece source another clamp and cut a little off the center section where it curves the wrong way. With a fairly confident plan in hand that will have to wait till work shop time on Saturday that was enough exhaust work.

The last of the bulk head insulation was quickly trimmed up and fitted. 

The gear stick gater was next, the freshly painted clamping ring and freshly washed gater was slid over the stick. At this point the holes in the floor where very hidden by the necessary layers, out came a bradel, poked till it went through the floor and quickly fitted some nice new screws. Of course the gear know had to be fitted, looking good.

The last bit for today was the speedo test. The car is still on axel stands while the exhaust work goes on. The battery was connected, started her up... quite loud with just the manifold. Sat on the floor, pushed the clutch and was pleased I could select a gear and set her off. Result the speedo i swoped over ( so the speedo matched the other 2 dials) a few weeks ago worked, phew.

Now it's enjoy a short mini night and study the to do list. May be buy a well deserved little mini treat 🙂

Chipping away

 The brakes where addressed yesterday. A lovely brake bleeder was borrowed (a canister that holds brake fluid that is screwed onto brake reservoir and you pump to pressurise it).

The rears bleeding surprisingly quickly, moved round to the front ...  and saw a leek. One joint hadn't  quite been nipped up tight enough. With that done I re did the rear and moved onto the front .... to find a blocked bleed nipple. Quickly resolved with a clean up. I did manage to loose count of how many times I knocked over the jar of bled brake fluid! In the end, the battle was won. Just before the day's work was closed, I thought double checking the brake lights would be good.... to find a faulty brake switch.

It had taken ages to connect and route those pipes that now hid the faulty brake switch. It was a new day and after a little fight with the backing nut the switch was off and quickly stripped to find a bad terminal. 

A quick file and it tested just fine and was refitted, a little battle with the main air intake pipe and we where back on track.

a quick glue up of a temporary battery cover, then onto timing.  Checked the water from the slight leak the other day and topped up the dash pot oil . It seemed to be a struggled to advance the timing,  a quick pause revealed the wiring harness was fouling the module on the side of the dizzy. A thankfully quick fix and now reving smoothly. Tick over adjusted and feeling quite good.

A quick tidy of the handbrake, slip a tattoo but functional cover. The gear stick cover has a ring that clamps to the floor, yep that needed sanding and painting. Done now  and reverse wire routed through the floor with a new gromit.

The late night evening stint I squeezed in was tidying up the dash wires and sorting the immobiliser. Looking much better, also not a job that had been listed to keep the work ordered for the final push. So nice to get rid of that job.

Also squeezed in fitting the new wiper arms, well I did need stronger springs. Blimey, yes they are stronger, bit of an ass fitting them but another job I had forgotten about. 

Tiny stints

 With school term starting again, my "spare " time is already starting to reduce. I have been strong and even though I've had only 1/2 hour windows of free time, I have been in the garage.

The choke cable ... fixing nut? Clamps the cable to choke lever on carb. Arrived and was fitted. Indicator relay arrived and did the trick at reviving the indictators back into constantly flashing. The new wiper arm that has a spring with full tension, so the wiper blade should contact the windscreen fully! Has arrived but yet to be fitted.

A nice step forward was being able to start the car with out leaning over and holding the choke. As the heater is fitted now, and I had filled it up, I could let it run for longer than a couple of minutes.

It was nice to stand back and see her running, as ever with a full rebuild I was watching the many joints carefully. One jubilee clip needed a couple of turns to stop a small leak. The idle needed raising, But other than that all was good. I have also had a quick check of the carn needle, result the correct needle for the engine is fitted. Good to know that shouldn't give problems when the tune up happens.

Tonight the passenger hub, disc and calliper was fitted.... yep, we are ready to fill the brakes up with fluid. Oh, I filled and bled the clutch reservoir up last week. A timing light was dropped off tonight. So hoping for some more obvious progress this weekend. Just need to make sure I stay focused and in the garage.

I'll leave with a pic of today's arrival, leather gear stick know:)

Coming together

 A few more hours done and it really is starting to actually look like it's coming together.

Done some more fine tuning of the wiring for dash ancillaries and final testing. The rocker switch for rear heated window was not working so that was stripped and terminals cleaned to get that working. The new hazard relay was a lovely simple swop over and they work now. Wiring for the under dash lights is done and tested, they do need mounting but that should be quick... now I have re stuck a couple of small sections of the bottom dash rail on properly! The clock test didn't go so well, the light works, the clock doesn't. I did find out it came froma 1960,so porsche  :) that willl be coming apart soon. 

With the switches alll tested attention had to move onto the heater. Routing the pipes for this around the steering column and the engine bay has been on my mind for quite some time. This was last week

 With just the screen pipe and heater/water pipe, doesn't look to bad.

Then the air feed pipe needed to go in there as well as another water pipe. After much wrestling and vent pipes popping back off.

I was quite glad I bout a silicon 90 bend, with  out it I am sure a water pipe would have kinked. I was determined to have as much foot space as possible, I do remember it being cramped on the foot space.

Just as I was about to bolt the heater in, I remembered being told by the sparky there was a factory connection for the auto box in the loom. Separated that and quickly added extentions to fit a immobiliser switch. Close to missing that opportunity. With that done the switch panel was finally installed, a quick stare of admiration and on to fitting the last 2 heater mounting screws. 

Tonight ended with the engine bay ends of heater water pipes being trimmed and clamped off, loving the brass 90 I snuck in the engine bay to keep the pipe angles tight.

 cable routes re checked  and we are now ready to add water. The last big test, does the heater matrix and radiator actually hold water under pressure ???

Have to admit the worries got the better of me and a quick compression test on the engine was done. Why I had not done this weeks ago I have no idea. But all is good with 150 -148 accross them all I can rest easy... for now 😉

A short list!

 Yep the list of jobs to do is getting short, nice.

With the engine fitted it was time to start adding some of the cables, speedo first, while I could still rock the engine and get my hand down the back of the engine. Then the copper pipes from brake bias valve to the servo. Quite a bit of time spent staring and pondering the best route. Had to re make one pipe as the chosen route left it falling short by an inch.

The new slightly longer wheel studs arrive, wacked out the old and pressed in the new. Passenger hub  was installed that evening and checked the torque  on any nut I was near. Drivers hub wasn't as ...  I have misplaced the calliper to hub bolts, which still haven't arrived  it they will soon.

The mini specialist came round and went over the engine bay electrics, routed nicely, changed connections he wasn't happy with and left me with a fair list of correct varient parts for me to buy.

With refreshed confidence some refining of the electric take offs for my extras was done, also a feed to the starter motor was made/added to the bay loom.

Then back into the engine bay to install the exhaust manifold, which took a little fettling for it to just slide over the studs. Then fit the carb to the new inlet and fit that... with a little more fettling! Petrol lines installed, battery cable clipped up under the floor pan front to back with some nice new P clips and i had all the metal tabs on the floor pan as well :)

The new tyres turned up, so I shot off to get the brother in law to fit and balance them. Of course one had to be fitted to the car. Still looking ace by the way :)

It was definitely time to check the wiring with power. We'll that didn't go to well.... nothing, like zero. After a little chat, the earth lead inthe boot was removed all components filed up and one of my special grounding washers fitted. Just the job. Interior light came straight on (no doors on yet) so a good start. Drivers side indicators and one side light didn't work. A blown indicator bulb changed and a little wiggle of the side buld to ground it. Quite pleased with that.

The brand new hazard switch only worked if I half rocked it!!! And the flasher relay seems faulty. Indictators flash but slow down until they just stay on, quality. New parts ordered and waiting for the post for that.

Well, with that done.... it had to be prep to start it up. Eeek, nervous. Fuel tank refitted (with the obligatory struggle to get the strap seated right), loosely placed the exhaust together, HT leads fitted to dizzy only. A good cranking to get oil pressure, add fuel to tank and a good crank to get that through. May be a little pause to tighten a fuel jubilee. Another crank,pause to change hands on key and cranked while adding a little choke. Beauty, fired up and stayed running. A little lumpy but happy with that.

The pressure is on though, marmite had been promised as a daily commute for the wife. That would be for the start of September.. almost! Also a friend had quitely pondered who would finish first, project blinky or me. It could be a photo finish

Bolt ons

 It was high time the car was tagged, the vin plate had arrived and I knew where the pop rivet gun was. Carefully offered up the plate to double check the marked but blank holes lined up, drilled and riveted it on.

I moved round to the dials after that. I had twin dials with mounting frame but the triple didn't have the frame. Lots of checking, measuring then off to the friends work shop to cut and fold some metal. Then round to father-in-laws to Rob some rivnuts in stead of welding in captive bolts as per the original, easier to line up and a little tidier in the engine bay. 

A little paint and ta dar, dials and set back so at 6' I should be able to see the dials through the steering wheel, with the bonus that the sun shouldn't blot the dials out. Something I suffered with 20 years ago driving them.

The mini specialist had finally visited and been subjected to a lot of routing questions, also he pointed out a nice list of parts (correct varients) I need to finish up the engine bay. He checked over the engine loom, replaced some potential bad terminals, supplied correct nuts for a few items .... and spotted the speedo I borrowed from the twin cluster was the wrong colour (grey background instead of black) which he had a spare for me to swop with him. Nice.

Today has been wiring up the starter motor and using the standard set up for marmite, a wing mounted solenoid, but converting it to a junction box as the solenoid is now on the starter motor. New feed wire and ignition wire extended then taped I to the loom, in what can only be said as a very smugly tidy manner.

The loom could be a little bit less flappy, but I was told an extra earth is often added to the wing and seems like a good chance to add a P clip while the bolt is out to mount the earth to engine, and pin the loom down at the same time. Earth ends cleaned up and area that will not be bolted is painted. So time to get that on.

The lower front engine steady was next, nicely powder coated already and new bushes fitted, wow that was a bit tight and largely done by feel!

Then axle stands are out again to take the front hubs off, only fitted to check wheel scrub on the new wide wheels. Then take the hubs to work and swop over the studs ready for the new spacers... then they can stay on and I can finally fit the brakes, yay

Mini engine in, is a go

 With the rad finally attached after a bit of messing around getting the fan spaced correctly, the correct top bracket (which was one I hadn't already cleaned up and painted!) And of course falling short of bolts, the rad cowling this time. The alternator and belt was fitted. At this point it is really start to look like a proper engine !

On the run up I couldn't help but notice a lot of dust, dirt and cat hair (yes cat, it snuck in with out me knowing and I locked it in for 24 hours) all over the engine bay. With out think much of it I got the house hoover and gently hoovered the engine bay .... who hoovers an engine bay ..... 

Um, me..... then  wash it, oh we'll why not get the shammy out as well..... Nerd! But looked better, and was easy with no engine there. So I don't  care, job well done.

Engine mount bolts were gathered up and a chat with a local mini nut who wanted to help drop the engine in, and a date was set. I trundled off to my parents with the trailer on a wet Saturday morning to collect the engine hoist. Dropped  that straight to my garage and then pushed the engine on it's  dolly from the front of the house round to the back alley. Some idiot put a big wooden shed/garage accross the back gate so it can't  be used any more.

So a few hours later the engine had been delicately placed in and bolted in, just the bottom to allow some more bolts ons to be done.

On the Sunday the drive shafts came out of storage, cleaned  and greased then shoved in their holes. Then the hubs were bolted on and the shocks

I had to stop at putting on the hub half with wheel studs in a mild moment of dought over the stud length/ need for spacers which would need longer wheel studs. With some birthday cash burning a hole I phoned a great local chap who had been holding a set of wheels for me... for 2 years. Arranged to collect them so I could check alignment.

Oh, just look at them :)

Yes I had to see how they looked on the back as well, nice. Much better arch fill over the mini lights.

 That evening it was attack the brake servo, well fit the braided clutch pipe while I could still get to it and fit the freshly made copper pipe from master to the braided pipe. 

Then onto the brake pipes from front/rear manifold to servo. Wasn't happy with one of those coppr pipes so re made that one which came out much better, the first was just a little short giving a bad route. It's great when your neighbour says hi, and then ends up lending you a pipe flaring kit saving a run to my friends work shop.

Tonight the servo vacuum pipe and accelerator cable was fitted, really starting to look a but proper in the engine bay. Yay

I had a brief moment staring at the steering wheel I had to get out from the loft so I could straighten the hubs and check the wheels. Really do like it, but hang on, it's  dirty and NOT  shinny!

 

Hang on .....

That's better.

I'm thinking I now have more bits on the car  than waiting to go on it. Now that does sound like progress, still a way to go but it's  good.

 

"holiday" friday

 As ever there is so much to do I had to crack on with some home chores first so the conscience was clear and I was at least semi focused!

I did see this coming so had a quick moonlight go at the clutch bell housing, just one of the 3 bolts to mount the clutch slave plate just didn't  pick up enough for a secure mounting. After it was re tapped and a longer bolt was found the test fit was all good. It had seemed like forever to "just" mount the clutch slave. Missing bolts, spacers, new pins, new washers.

Have to admit it was just a test fit last night but meant a confident and quick bolt up this morning.

It was then onto the front brake pipes, which was nice just to tidy up the copper brake lines, that until then, had been flapping around the engine bay. Under the wheel arch is looking good and ready for the engine before the hubs go on.

Sorry it is a bit dark, but you can still see shinny things :)

I spotted I had been waiting for a sharp Stanley blade to cut the front window beading, so got on with that and tucked it in to the rubber seal.

Another job which has dragged on monumentally is the steering column bracket. This time .... After I had worked the right location again, it all went smoothly. All new washers and spring washers every were. Oh, I have been so used to the rope holding up the column I didn't even take it off the car! I super easy job for the next visit.

Talking of easy jobs, beaded fuel line to carb fitted at the pump and intake has the jubilee fitted as well. Small bits but all have to be done

 

Bolting up

 Since the last post a couple of brackets have been bolted on to the engine .... And I found some bolts I didn't have, sigh.

Some nice progress was made on the front end. Finally the front suspension was removed and new cone springs fitted.... After I was loned a compression tool which fitted unlike mine, there is only fine thread or course thread. Mine was course ... It just didn't fit the new cones!? While I was down there the bottom arm bushes looked past their best, so they where replaced and the front tie bars got the same treatment. Well the new bushes where fitted to the adjustable front tie bars ;)

The decision to stop there before putting the reconditioned hubs on was made when I realised I could cut out the bottom door stop rail on the garage. This would allow the engine hoist to get inside, so I no longer needed wheels on the mini to poke it outside and then get the engine fitted. Yay.

New brake pipe s have finally turned up, I really wanted to fit them before the engine went in and got in the way

Things are looking good for bolting on some big parts, a long time coming but it has given extra time for those little parts to be cleaned or painted.

A quick decision to take this Friday off was made, so I am hoping to get on with some of this prep and be ready for dropping the engine in. A little bit excited :)

This and that

 Since last time ...  There has been double checking wires, and realising I wasn't overly focused at some points. All corrected now!

A lovely 1275 engine was offered locally. Apparently low miles, had the timing chain done and been checked over. It also came with almost all ancillaries! So when this one fires up (he says whilst crossing fingers) I should have a nice pile of parts to sell ... To cover the cost of the latest engine, sigh, so not to be plowed back in to the mini on shinny bits. I did manage to do a stage 0.5 tune up on the new engine, being shinny must be at least 2 bhp extra, surely. 

The front suspension has been taken apart and the metro hubs put to one side. Obviously after a little struggle with one of the trumpets stuck to the rubber doughnut! But I showed it some chopping which could have worked but oh no, not this time, and then I really showed it!

I am now waiting on some parts turning up (largely bushes as of course, they were missing or just cream crackered) so it can go back together with the shinny re furnished hubs I did ... Um, ages ago. Then it's put the engine in, woop and woop. I could be on the verge of actually making some progress?