Tommyboy12

Id cut that aux belt when you attempt a start. Its almost a guarantee that the water pump is seized.

The other thing to check when you take the head off is the flatness of the block. It's fairly rare but not uncommon to have an uneven block face.

We had some lovely weather round this way this weekend so I made use of it by doing car stuff. Firstly I spent waaaaay too long rearranging my driveway. Previously I could only drive two cars off the driveway without moving others. Now I can move three. Although honestly I'm not happy with it. The Porsche feels a bit hemmed in to be honest and I'm a little nervous about hitting it with something else. I may revert to my previous layout which while less practical. Feels less squeaky bum when pulling onto the drive. I also fitted a new higher flow rate fuel pump to my turbo Mini. I also uprated the wiring to match the higher amperage requirements of the pump. I've been meaning to do this for a long time as the fuel pump has always been a bit weak and can sometimes result in my carb float bowl running out of fuel when I'm definitely not racing cars away from traffic lights... I also took the Cambridge to a local car meet. I parked next to this lovely Ford Fairline 10-seater estate. 3 in the front. 3 in the middle. 4 in the back with seats facing each other like an old Defender. It had a monsterous V8 and he tracked it. Averaging 3 miles/1 lap to the gallon at Snetterton last time out. Very cool. It had some nice patina so I felt right at home. I then took my girlfriend to the garden centre. Very practical boot on a Cambridge. I failed to do any welding on the Mini despite the weather. I'll regret that when it rains next weekend

I am not ashamed to admit I have put Mini carpets in the washing machine before. On a delicate wash no spin. They came out lovely

As an utter Mini licker this looks like my idea of fun! The front end looks pretty solid despite the colander in the rear. I would put money on the scuttle closing panels being non-existent despite the solid scuttle though. Looks like its going to need the waist rail as well as the rear quarter panel on the passenger side. M-Machine in Darlington is a great source for panels. Good prices and good quality panels http://preview.m-machine.co.uk/ Id be happy to tinker at a FoD event!

I love seeing slightly ratty old cars on the road. Ignoring the fact I'm a Mini fanatic it's great to see it out and about!

Well it's not a keeper for me but intend to fettle and enjoy and it's definitely worthy of bike status!

That's some rapid progress. If you have the time and indoor space it's amazing how quickly a project moves!

It's been relatively quiet with the fleet as of late. Everything is behaving itself. Even the 65 year old Cambridge! I did however manage to fix the horns on said Cambridge. They were non-functional when I collected it and I imagine it was to do with the original wiring potentially being positive earth or the fact the cars been converted from a dynamo to an alternator at some point. Regardless the wiring to the horn was seeing a constant 12 V which dropped to zero when pressing the horn. As such I have done some light wiring work and used all red wires to wire the horns (via a fuse) directly to the battery. Then used the horn button as the earth. They are lovely sounding mechanical horns! I also set about changing the fan belt but I have the wrong size ordered it seems. It's fitted with a 10x950 belt which means it's right at the max of it's tension and quite floppy. I bought the standard 10x900 but it doesn't fit. Because the new alternator hits the engine mount and can't be adjusted all the way back. Annoying really because it just about clears the steering box. Clearly someone else found this problem because the engine mount has been taken to with a hammer.... Regardless I managed to squeeze on a 10x925 belt which gives me plenty more life. I'm also in the process of reinstating the missing heater. The matrix has been removed from the loop and the blower box removed. I bought a Smiths blower motor of the correct vintage but it was clocked the wrong way round so I've had to disassemble it and swap round the motor to the other side. It now fits but I can't find the wiring for it. I am also hoping the heater matrix isnt holed... Although having a blower is probably the biggest battle. I've been taking it on regular trips to work regardless. I love how old and mechanical it is but it doesn't really fit in well in the car park! I also replaced the wiper motor on the MGF which had been very loud and grumbly since I put it back on the road. I fitted a new/old rack and motor which I had to wire in as it had the wrong plug fitted. It's quieter, but still more noisy than I would like. The Mini has not progressed. I'm starting to think with 52 days left that I'm probably not taking it to Germany. It's amazing how quickly you run out of time on projects! Luckily @sharley17194 has made good progress on his Mini so I think we'll be taking that instead. Finally. I bought myself a new daily (probably wise as my newest car was 24 years old to this point). I'm over the moon about it as it's been on my radar for a long time. I've been saving relentlessly for some time to be able to get one and I couldn't be happier with it! For those that will ask it's a Cayman Gen2 2.9 PDK. It looks and drives great!

Dont get me wrong. It gets an annual/12k oil change religiously. But in my personal experience cam chains arent as ever lasting as auto manufacturers might want you to think! I still stand by the fact its one of the most reliable cars I have ever come across

I need to tell my girlfriend she doesn't need to sell our cockroach i10 then if this is the kind of mileage people are getting out of them! It is a pain to get random parts for though. Even a CV joint (the only thing I've replaced) wasn't as easy as I would like. At 160k it's also getting to the point where it's gaining rattles and squeaks which are annoying. Not as annoying as the worn drivers door seal that whistles in any headwind. That being said. It's hardly a deal-breaker if the mechanicals just keep going. Personally I'm waiting for the cam chain to crap itself...

Stick a (second hand) piston in it. It's the AS thing to do!

And that's the Rover off to Chateau @sharley17194

Yeah theres a few cars of that era that are pretty common because of the scrappage scheme! Equally I am trying to buy a very specific car from that era and theres none of them!

This thing is a damned cockroach. 160k miles on it and with regular servicing and consumables it just keeps going. Rust is only just starting to creep in at 15 years old. My girlfriend really wants to replace it but it's just so damned reliable 😅 I see plenty of them around too. Dozens in fact and theyre all 2010ish.