Matty

Next big job as funds allow is a new exhaust made for it as the home made effort on it is abysmal. Then new period correct buckets to replace the Rover metro seats. Better work some overtime then 😆

And finally, the money shots. How bloody good do they look?!? Exactly the picture I had in my head before I even bought the car. Slightly wider at 13x5.5 but I've stuck with the same sized tyre (165/70) so I've just got a bit more graduation from contact patch to sidewall I guess.

No photos of oil changes on engine, gearbox and diff cos I reckon we all know what they look like. Had a new gasket to fit under oil filter housing as well as it was weeping. Anyone want to take a rough set of 13x4.5 rostyles off my hands? 😁

Bit of judicious waxoiling whilst I'm in there.

New engine mounts. Old ones definitely older than me, possibly original.

Front hubs off and studs changed.

Drums off, half shafts out, hubs off and studs changed at rear (along with half shaft seals).

Picture heavy update. I've had wheels and tyres ready to go on this for ages. First the studs in both front hubs were bent (fuck knows how, must have been someone's good idea cos how do you bend 8 studs by accident?). Then the studs on the rear hubs were too short. So took a days holiday and headed to the unit in a car loaded with parts.

I'm mean the heart wants what it wants and all that but, smart as they are, I just don't get the money that's in minis. For example I wouldn't swap any of yours for one. Still though, that's the point I suppose. If you want something, nowt else will do. I wanted a mini when I bought my first car. Couldn't afford one even then (1998). Ended up with a mk1 Uno. Clearly a better car than a mini in every way, but it still wasn't a mini.

The world moved on. Vauxhall didn't. And that's from a massive GM fanboy.

Tell you what, with the work you've put in that would've genuinely brought tears to my eyes. Bet its a lovely drive as well. 80s and 90s. Peak car

To be fair, that doesn't cover much in the present climate. Diesel Axiam?

Clues?

Thanks pal. Don't do Facebook and twitter you see

Brilliant! That was on the way out yesterday. I saw him fming me, he's a barber who likes beetles, has a type 2 pickup and a notch back. Don't know him, just walk past his going in to work. Where'd you find that @Angrydicky?

I like the ute. I understand what that makes me 😄

I've only driven one mini. Good crack and obviously handle well but, maybe I'm getting older, I really don't mind the Armstrong dampers. I imagine it a bit like a 60s/70s French car, once you get past the lean, there's a lot of progression and mechanical grip there. As I'm building familiarity and confidence in mine I'm amazed at how fast I can enter corners. The limiting factor in my book is the steering box. Lovely light steering but not much clue what's going on. I'd love to bodge a rack in it.

Tbf smallish petrol autos have carried a premium for years now. Nothing new. Bit of a captive audience

Out of interest, albeit you've not been far yet, but bgt or midget so far, which do you like more?

Mines relatively new. The vac advance is disconnected as the lad who did the rolling Road said it was advancing fine by centrifugal. Worth looking into though, I spend that much time buggering about with feeler gauges at work that I can't be that arsed with doing it to the car too regularly.

What's that then Si? I'm assuming it isn't just solid state bits replacing the points and condenser in a normal dizzy?

Well it works again. GLF as well. Even got wheelspin and a bit of a fishtail out of a junction 🤣 . Of course it rewarded more love and attention by developing a rather large oil leak on arriving home. Sigh. Never mind, I'll get on it tomorow. Looks like gasket on oil filter housing at a cursory glance. I've a big sheet of Cork gasket at work I was using on a job. I've got a really nice set of wheels to go on which was supposed to be a decent update, but you have to sort the running in issues first before commencing the tart up.

Fuck. If that's the tyre pressures it'd explain why I'm 4 wheel drifting mine everywhere!

At least they told you 😆

Not being a natural born fettler I'm really keen on the idea of electronic ignition. But then every old school mechanic from my uncle upwards says nowt wrong with points. Me I just want the car to be as reliable as it can be. The pleasures in the driving for me, I mend stuff because I have to, not because I want to 😄