1991 Mini - Project Trig

[NathanE-94]

I mind you! Cool car! I will be over to Ireland in August with it

haha small world man i'm on TMF too but it's gone shite!! also i could be still in Ireland but i might be going back home for an apprenticeship man :/ either way we shall have to meet up haha if your up for it

[Mini 360]

I mind you! Cool car! I will be over to Ireland in August with it

[NathanE-94]

Thanks dude! What was your username?


As promised....

First drive - YouTube

Well as it was back around 2010 with my first one you'd know me by "scotty_1987"
Loving the car man maybe if i'm back home i'll see it just maybe

[Mini 360]

Thanks dude! What was your username?


As promised....

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeVXjE_KrO8"]First drive - YouTube[/ame]

[NathanE-94]

Hey man followed your thread over a few forums over the years used to chat to you over on Scottish minis!! keep up the good work man plus love the steering wheel !!

[Mini 360]

Thanks man! So have I! :

Another day another big bit of progress. Amazing what some fine weather can let you do!

It actually hit mad levels today!



Went back to the rear number plate light wiring. Had to drill a hole in the boot floor and then another in the rear valence to achieve it which was a sore one considering its perfect paint! But with holes drilled and fresh edges dressed and hammerite'd to prevent rust they were through. Tested and they work. Done! (dont worry I cleaned up the wire)



Made the connections to the lights simple spades so if the plate needs to come off at any time its a quick job.



Put the bootlid on to check fitment. Not the best and I know its going to be a big job so left it for another day as I wanted to get lots done out of the way today instead. It does still look very good but excuse the blue tape. Didnt want to risk damaging the edges.



Got my bonnet trim put on after glueing the plastic paint protector on the leading edge. Same went onto the grille end moustaches too. Still amazed at the finish on the paint (you're still not getting to see whats underneath )



Fixed the wipers with a new switch. Old vs new shot is of course required here....



Whilst I was working away on these things my dad was polishing up the bare alloy door furniture. Like chrome now!



Also popped the grille back on for now. You can see Ive got the washer bottle in place now along with the internal release bonnet catch with a stainless steel slam plate.



I dont have pics of it but the lower dash rail is now in and switches are all in place. I relocated the foglight switch into here to save having another plinth on the right hand side of the column. I dont need the brake test switch as its pointless (tells you if your brakes have failed but is common to fail itself.....)


Got a couple of videos to come of the car moving about under its own steam. Needs fettled with but its sounded much better than yesterday even with a little tweak of the fuel/air mix screw. Copious amounts of exhaust noise was created in the process of this testing. Which was nice.....

[CubbyChowder]

That exhaust sounds great! Can't wait to see this one done, been looking forward to this for a while

[Mini 360]

Aaaaand heres that small update!

Got a lots done today thankfully!

Fine day, new seals, so got on with fitting the side windows. Not the easiest but once we got the technique (thick nylon cord in the channel being pulled inside) they were in. Genuine seals so perfect fit all round. Lovely! Almost looks like a complete Mini here! (If only.......)





Wheels look amazing in the sun



Also got mirror plinths delivered. Made up a couple of seals from thin foam to prevent water getting into the doors through the rivnuts. They are a good seal anyway but better safe than sorry!



And that was today! Good progress and more tomorrow


Oh......forgot about this bit.......after wiring changes last night went to fure up the car. It runs. Almost 3 years to the day since it fired its last breath. Beyond happy. Its running rough but a bit of tuning and it will be sewing machine smooth. Sounds ACE! Its a full stainless engine to exit system. Specialist components LCB, centre link pipe and PlayMini Supersport back box. Its totally inneficient for power but dont care, it looks ace and sounds even better

And heres the obligatory 'vid or it didnt happen' video :lol:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slmm5rWujPc"]Project Trig - Engine start after 3 years - YouTube[/ame]

A HUGE thanks to Dan from The Mini Forum for guiding me through, step by step, all the coil/distributer wiring. It was a MASSIVE help and has helped the car progress massively!

[deutschman]

Why not just grab a hair dryer and warm the rubber up a bit?

[Mini 360]

Fantastic work, Andrew. Don't suppose you have a spare seat for the Thistle run do you?

Nope! Well, I may but wont know nearer the time. If so, its yours!



Well today has been probably one of the least productive ever. Went to start engine (it turns over well after charging the battery overnight) but no, it just kept on turning over, not even the hint of catching and firing into life. Balls! Turns out its a rather complicated fix that I need knowledge and multimeter skills for. Neither of which I have so im stuck for now on that front.

In better news the engine does have consistent compression readings across all 4 cylinders. 1-4, 130, 125, 130, 130. Happy with that considering I bought it fo £130 untested!

Went to fit the side windows. Didnt go well. The seal was too long, so i cut it at the bonded bit and rebonded to get the right fitment (very tight to allow for slight contraction over time) however upon trying to fit it, the seal got damaged, so need a new one. Balls!

As you can see, far too big....



So we thought, ho hum, get the windscreen in. Was sunny when we started, but the clouds soon took over and cold wind picked up making the seal solid. Balls!

So its currently sitting with the seal on awaiting a warmer evening or weekend.......



Got the plinth fitted into its chrome trim. Thankfully, it was a job that couldn't go wrong......



and i got one of the mirror plinths on too. Other one is missing the metal plate that sits below this, so will add it to the window seal order.......



So yeh, 7hrs to fit a window seal but no window and a mirror plinth. Given up now as i know I will damage stuff if I continue to work on it. Making a list of small things that need done so i can tick them off as I go so I feel like Im making some form of progress.

So to summarise.....BALLS!!!!!

[Minuki]

Fantastic work, Andrew. Don't suppose you have a spare seat for the Thistle run do you?

[Mini 360]

Update time........

Few wee odds and sods completed. Sprayed my harness bar black, in prep for wrapping in alcantara to blend in with the seats.



finished off the headlining pillars and other trim. Looks amazing!





and got my passenger window mounted on the mechanism runners. They were VERY rusty but nothing a good scrub with a wire brush and a coating of Deox Gel couldnt sort.



Few other bits and pieces done but will leave that for tomorrows update

[Mini 360]

Also, heres my motivation for getting it done asap. Thistle Run on the 26th of May.......a month away :lol:

[Mini 360]

What I DID get done tonight though was temporarily plumb in my oil pressure gauge for when the engine is started (at the weekend first thing saturday morning). Used the T piece on the front of the block instead of the sump plug alternative.

Gauge looks like this, to go along with the clock and voltemeter on the dash. Genuine Smiths with magnolia face. Classy!



T piece was looking tatty so cleaned it up on the bench wire attachment.



Replaces the wee red thing on the left which is just a sender. The cappilary for the gauge screws into the hole on the side. Simple!



Was going to fit choke and heater cables but found that the plinth was looking crap too.




So took it apart, repainted cranberry red to tie things together nicely. Eventually this will be carbon skinned but will do for now.



Working our way round the car gradually with the pillar trim. Think we need more clips.....



Should get the front and rears done tomorrow or over the weekend hopefully then windows once they are dry and starting. Need to set the tappets first though.

[Mini 360]

Uuuuuuuupdate!

Arrived home and MiniSpares had pulled a blinder and got my parts to me in just over 24hrs order to door. Ace and very unusual for them!

Braided front lines, clutch clevis pin and split pin, chrome body/grille filler trim and bonnet seal. Small order but Ive pretty much got everything else! :lol:



So got the lines on, reflared the passenger side subframe brake pipe as it needed cut off the original braided lines. Easy enough. Then bled the system using the Eezibleed and I now have a rock hard brake pedal! Very happy as theres not a single leak. Torqued up the hub nuts, split pins in and wheels back on. Done!



Then i remembered I needed to change the rear shoes about. They aren't symmetrical as I had them, so flipped one round and will leave adjusting them for another evening.



Also remembered I had a set of genuine Minifins kicking about (as you do...) so looked them out and will get them off to the powdercoater (PPS in Inverurie) after payday. Just straight gloss black, nothing fancy.



Also realised that with the 1000W worklight and shiny wheels and paint, you get cool pictures.



It was getting dark and wind was picking up so decided to call it a night.



Put on the bonnet seal as I was tidying up though and used up the slight excess on the channels running towards the front panel.





Another big milestone down and next up, engine starting