BorniteIdentity Posted April 11, 2019 Author Share Posted April 11, 2019 As for the Mini? Well no real surprises. It’s a 35 year old Austin that was taken off the road 20 years ago. We have replaced all brakes front and back, hoses, brake master cylinder and water pump. Every single task has been marred by complications and frustrations, and after nearly 3 solid days on it we are still off the pace. Rear subframe mounts on the front have been changed and I’ve just had four new tyres fitted. Just as we were bleeding up the brakes the front-back pipe popped. Grrr. I also seem to have stripped a wheel stud and nut thread. I briefly had hazard lights functioning, but the addition of the second new relay for the indicators caused everything to stop working. Suspected earth and/or fuse issue. We’re going to get it over to Alf892s house where he has all the correct tools and kit, and still hope to get it in for a test in the next few weeks. Dirk Diggler, holbeck, Mrs6C and 18 others 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Bo11ox Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 Welcome back BI!!! LightBulbFun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 That Merc is the living sex. Glad to see you back chef. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted April 11, 2019 Author Share Posted April 11, 2019 Exiled_Tat_Gatherer, RayMK, Joey spud and 31 others 34 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted April 11, 2019 Author Share Posted April 11, 2019 Oh, and thanks for the kind words. It’s been the toughest of tough months, but I’m just about out the other side. The head of Toyota UK PR wanted to buy the Avensis this time last year, but his colleagues didn’t see the value in adding it to the fleet. I think, personally, that will change when we pass 300,000 but, by that stage, it’s unlikely I’ll part with it easily. HMC, Brodders, Dick Longbridge and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthecapriman Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 Great to see you back posting again. Glad to see the Mini is progressing too! LightBulbFun and tooSavvy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk2_craig Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 ^^^ What Dan said!! Is the Mini work more recommissioning than restoration? I bet it's a sight easier to get the parts for it than these old RWD Fords. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 Annoyingly, I had a pair of wiper arms correct for your year of Mini. Controversially, I fitted a later set to our B-reg Mini, because I prefer the look. If I wasn't such a messy bastard, I'd know where the old arms are. Joey spud 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMC Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 Oh, and thanks for the kind words. It’s been the toughest of tough months, but I’m just about out the other side. The head of Toyota UK PR wanted to buy the Avensis this time last year, but his colleagues didn’t see the value in adding it to the fleet. I think, personally, that will change when we pass 300,000 but, by that stage, it’s unlikely I’ll part with it easily.My 1.8 is on 235k but there’s a receipt for a new “short block” in 2007, replaced under warranty, and a gearbox overhaul the year before so has had more than its share of parts to keep going tooSavvy, BorniteIdentity and Joey spud 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted April 11, 2019 Author Share Posted April 11, 2019 My 1.8 is on 235k but there’s a receipt for a new “short block” in 2007, replaced under warranty, and a gearbox overhaul the year before so has had more than its share of parts to keep going AB2836AD-AF31-4F01-8079-0D9A1541D8B7.jpegThe short blocks were all done because of oil burning issues with the VVTi engine. I think you had to complain first and pass Toyota’s (stringent) standards of burning more than 1 litre of oil per 500 miles I think. Great that this one has been done. The MPG is far superior to the 3sfe that mine has. HMC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Longbridge Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 Good to see you back on here. I've been following the Mini shenanigans on Twunter, but always prefer the detail and chronology of a decent build thread. Avensis sounds like minor detail considering the sterling service the old girl has given you. If it were a modern derv, it would have shat out its DMF, DPF, injectors and the rest several times over.I think the Avensis is allowed a couple of small toy/pram issues. tooSavvy and The Moog 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiC Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 I've been looking forward to you coming back. Not least that I'm really excited to see your Mini project develop! LightBulbFun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted April 12, 2019 Author Share Posted April 12, 2019 Avensis back from the local garage. Not my preferred, but all that was available. He’s a lovely bloke but a bit dear. Anyway, the pipe was an absolute wanker but has been replaced with nice Nickel stuff that should outlast me. Irritatingly the other side isn’t far behind; in a way I wish they’d have given me a price to do it there and then. Meh. Front flexi done too. Tyres on Monday and then retest time. The new plate turned up for the Mini from A1 Showplates. Again, it’s quite thin compared with the old DMB stuff but what can you do? I went for an oversize plate as I saw it once on a MK4 and it looked fab. I’m delighted. Jim Bell, RobT, adw1977 and 19 others 22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schonker Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 Good to see you back and I love to see the Ipswich telephone code on the mini number plate!Youve chose the right size plate as well Brodders 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMC Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 That plate. Well played it looks teh sex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMC Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 Is this heading for FOTU? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted April 13, 2019 Author Share Posted April 13, 2019 Is this heading for FOTU?That is the general idea. If I win the lotto I’ll be trailering it with the Sierra. mat_the_cat, Brodders, GrumpiusMaximus and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Longbridge Posted April 13, 2019 Share Posted April 13, 2019 I think I'm the only person here who prefers the original sized dealer plate on the bootlid. Good to see the other progress though! Noel Tidybeard and mk2_craig 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel Tidybeard Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 I think I'm the only person here who prefers the original sized dealer plate on the bootlid.Good to see the other progress though! no you're not Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-T Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 Well I like the oversize one. So there. I remember seeing them like that in period. Something I've wondered about before is why some dealers used to fit them and some didn't, I remember it used to be a thing with loads of 80s jap stuff. I changed the regular size rear plate on my AE82 Corolla for an oversize one as they look crap without one and again, most of them were like this (but not all?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMC Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 ^ me too. I remember a mini 25 (1984ish) that an elderly neighbour bought new and it had the jumbo sized rear plate on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted April 14, 2019 Author Share Posted April 14, 2019 Here’s the one I saw a few years ago. I like it. At some stage I’ll have a replica made of the original, but the pressing priority is getting the car legal. MorrisItalSLX, danthecapriman and Angrydicky 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barmatt Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 Good to see you back Dan and the mini getting some love. Look forward to seeing it on the road. BorniteIdentity 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted April 14, 2019 Author Share Posted April 14, 2019 Good to see you back Dan and the mini getting some love. Look forward to seeing it on the road.Cheers man. I’ve still got your strap on here. I’ll give it a clean up and hope to give it to you soon. In person. LightBulbFun and barmatt 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barmatt Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 Cheers man. I’ve still got your strap on here. I’ll give it a clean up and hope to give it to you soon. In person. No probs, I'd forgotten about that. kirton 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adw1977 Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 I’ve still got your strap on here. I’ll give it a clean up and hope to give it to you soon. In person.Am I the only one reading that in totally the wrong way? DSdriver, Twiggy, mat_the_cat and 14 others 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timewaster Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 Are you sure you are wrong? adw1977 and Jerzy Woking 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barmatt Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 Am I the only one reading that in totally the wrong way? I could explain but I'm sure your imagination is much more entertaining than the boring truth. BorniteIdentity 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LightBulbFun Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 Yay glad to see your back BorniteIdentity as i may have already mentioned in this thread already my mum owned a Mini before I was born, and she has told me many interesting fond memories/stories of it, so I look forward to seeing more work on your Mini (especially notable that she liked it, because she grew up around/driving 1950s-1970s American land barges and prefers cars of that size normally) mum said she sold it to an enthusiast in the end, so I wonder if its still out there somewhere... (Sadly I dont know its reg) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted April 17, 2019 Author Share Posted April 17, 2019 If this Mini is ever going to get finished, it needs to be: A) in the hands of someone who knows what they're doing2) at a 'tooled up' locationD) actually worked on. With this in mind, the executive decision was taken to move it from mine (where continued frustrations have thus far hampered progress) to the executive home of Alf892. Unwilling to pay £120-£155 to Shiply couriers to move it 30 miles, new tyres were fitted and I A-Framed it last night with Alf following "convoi exceptionnel". It was surprisingly simple with not a single drama (even when I hit a slalom a bit briskly, completely forgetting there was about 15 foot of metal still behind me!) We used a borrowed EZYTOW™ system which was fantastic. Worryingly, the Mini didn't do a lot of steering, but it did the job and it's now lowering the tone of Alf's neighbourhood, no doubt adding a frosting of brake fluid and 20w50 oil to the morning dew on his 'high end' driveway. Have some photos. Could have done without stopping for diesel en-route really! I keep telling Alf to get this bastard thing sprayed up (or at the very least Rattle Canned in Matt Black) but he needs more persuading. Might just turn up one day and Hammerite it for him. He'll thank me I'm sure...) HMC, ProgRocker, danthecapriman and 20 others 23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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