Six Cylinders Motoring Notes - Not such a good day today!

[Christine]

23 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

The Big News of the day is the Mini Mayfair is back!

The rotten wreck that had been off the road for 25 years has been transformed into a legal running driving Mini again.

 

I'm afraid not .. no obligatary mirror

[Six-cylinder]

10 minutes ago, Christine said:

I'm afraid not .. no obligatary mirror

Yes, ok it is in the container and needs to be fitted. Anyway it would have been full of red Mercedes that was following him just in case!

[Six-cylinder]

April this year Colin a Mini owning friend from Milton Keynes Classic Car Club encouraged me to buy this Mini saying he would help me. He then volunteered his Mini owning friend Geoff to do the welding needed. He fitted a fair bit of metal work, but not the worst he had seen. It had both sill, cross members, floor sections and half the boot floor.

Geoff’s involvement was supposed to end with the welding, but he asked me if I needed the brake pipe behind the rear subframe replaced while he had it in the air as it looked rusty! Then Geoff asked if I wanted him to go through all the brakes, of course I did, the car had not been used for 25 years. New wheel cylinder, master cylinder, flex pipe as a matter of course and metal pipes as needed.

Next message was I would like to get it started. It was missing the oil filter housing so that got fitted   and after a bit of a struggle it started. I added oil and acetone in the bores as the engine was a bit seized when I got it. That sprayed out all over Geoff’s garage as a gunge.

Geoff says the worst bit for him was finding the clutch was stuck in spite of new slave and master cylinders. Once he took it apart and gently chiselled it unstuck. Everything was in good condition and works well now.

This is the abridged version. I am so pleased with Geoff, a man I had not met before for all his efforts to save this Mini that would have died without him.

Yes there are still jobs to do the heater matrix is weeping and the interior needs preparing and refitting along with a few other jobs.

The paint has been rattle canned which has made it tidy, but I want to use the car so there is no plan to do any more with it.

[Snake Charmer]

On 04/10/2024 at 19:58, Six-cylinder said:

A teaser of what is happening this weekend! 

Tiddly winks or confined conker competition?  😄

 

On 04/10/2024 at 21:18, Six-cylinder said:

In 1993 this one was my new company car.

Still a good looking car, always fancied one.I found a 3ltr manual for sale but could not convince my other half we needed it!

 

[Six-cylinder]

5 minutes ago, Snake Charmer said:

Still a good looking car, always fancied one.I found a 3ltr manual for sale but could not convince my other half we needed it!

A 3.0 24v Carlton was my dream when I worked for the Vauxhall dealer, I drooled over the Diamond Estate brochure when they were announced, but never even saw one.

I have driven a Manual Senator 24v saloon and I think I prefer the Auto in that car.

[richardmorris]

Well done on the mini resurrection, I must admit that I think it looked awful to start.

[HMC]

Loving the mini, looks very mid 90s- you need an oasis cassette for the stereo to complete it.

[brownnova]

Great work on the Mini! And incredible to see it resurrected. 

Never had the chance to own one… but think I would probably like to!

 

[hairnet]

2 hours ago, Six-cylinder said:

 Geoff 

Geoff’s 

 

Then Geoff

That sprayed out all over Geoff’s garage 

Geoff 

 Geoff

 

 

 

 

engagement party is when?

[ianbmw]

Wonder how many dead cars we can revive before the years out?

[Six-cylinder]

8 minutes ago, ianbmw said:

Wonder how many dead cars we can revive before the years out?

The potential list is endless!

Vauxhall Carlton Estate

Mitsubishi Sigma Estate

Discovery 1 300 TDi

Renault 4GTL

Fiat Seicento

Invacar

Saab 95

Opel Manta

Citroen ZX TD Estate

[Six-cylinder]

57 minutes ago, hairnet said:

engagement party is when?

He only loves Minis!

[ianbmw]

17 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

The potential list is endless!

Vauxhall Carlton Estate

Mitsubishi Sigma Estate

Discovery 1 300 TDi

Renault 4GTL

Fiat Seicento

Invacar

Saab 95

Opel Manta

Citroen ZX TD Estate

Missing one!!!

[Floatylight]

8 minutes ago, ianbmw said:

Missing one!!!

Safrane?

[AnthonyG]

That’s very impressive on the Mini, I genuinely thought this one might be beyond resurrection. 

I agree with HMC, the rattle can paint job gives it a very ‘1994’s on the phone and wants its Mini back’ feel. 

[AnthonyG]

5 minutes ago, Floatylight said:

Safrane?

The next one @ianbmw is rescuing is the Carlton saloon, regardless of whatever Chris wants him to do!

[Six-cylinder]

30 minutes ago, AnthonyG said:

The next one @ianbmw is rescuing is the Carlton saloon, regardless of whatever Chris wants him to do!

You could be right!

[hairnet]

whats rong with reno 4

[ianbmw]

11 hours ago, AnthonyG said:

The next one @ianbmw is rescuing is the Carlton saloon, regardless of whatever Chris wants him to do!

After having to get union involvement to resolve whether we subframe frame brackets are painted or not.

i know Jace a new sense of importance and do whatever I want!

 

however, I don’t mind working on a Renault, it’s just metal st the end of the day 

[LightBulbFun]

11 hours ago, Six-cylinder said:

Invacar

I am personally willing to sponsor this one with however much tea, biscuits, or other dubious substances is required to convince someone to help out  

[Six-cylinder]

9 hours ago, hairnet said:

whats rong with reno 4

The wipers go slow and jam. The problem is the dash has to come out to get to the motor.

[ianbmw]

How complex is the dash?

[ianbmw]

7 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

I am personally willing to sponsor this one with however much tea, biscuits, or other dubious substances is required to convince someone to help out  

I know they have a following, but after walking through the FOD numerous times…..I’d prefer to try and round up the shire horses, blind folded, with my legs tied together , whilst trying to bump start the CF.

I await Mrs6C banning me from the field for such comments 

 

[24vdiamond]

15 hours ago, Six-cylinder said:

A 3.0 24v Carlton was my dream when I worked for the Vauxhall dealer, I drooled over the Diamond Estate brochure when they were announced, but never even saw one.

I have driven a Manual Senator 24v saloon and I think I prefer the Auto in that car.

Here you go Diamond Estate 3.0 24V Manual undergoing rust removal

 

[Mrs6C]

1 hour ago, ianbmw said:

I await Mrs6C banning me from the field for such comments 

Not until you've finished my Carlton!🙂

[Six-cylinder]

2 hours ago, ianbmw said:

How complex is the dash?

Internet wisdom says “The steering wheel needs to be removed. You will also need to remove the instrument panel first but it is very easy. You first remove its plastic surround by pressing on its sides and pulling it out. The rest is simply unscrewing and unclipping apparent screws and clips. For the post '83 Renault 4s the dash panel is supported by two plastic clips and two bolts. Remove the bolts and knock the dash upwards to release the clips”.

[Six-cylinder]

1 hour ago, 24vdiamond said:

Here you go Diamond Estate 3.0 24V Manual undergoing rust removal

 

Non standard wheels?

[ianbmw]

15 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

Internet wisdom says “The steering wheel needs to be removed. You will also need to remove the instrument panel first but it is very easy. You first remove its plastic surround by pressing on its sides and pulling it out. The rest is simply unscrewing and unclipping apparent screws and clips. For the post '83 Renault 4s the dash panel is supported by two plastic clips and two bolts. Remove the bolts and knock the dash upwards to release the clips”.

Well that sounds achievable with biscuits and such like! 

[hairnet]

[Six-cylinder]

1 hour ago, ianbmw said:

Well that sounds achievable with biscuits and such like! 

 

29 minutes ago, hairnet said:

I guess they need to be French or the Renault 4 might not like it!