Irish Mini Owners Club

Drove the car to work today, it was a bit sluggish at starting, so think it may need a new battery. The battery that's in it came out of my daily driver Nissan Leaf, so may be on its last legs at 10 years old. An uneventful drive to work, temp gauge went up a shade, but was going up a long steep hil...

And it's out... https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53669441909_a8a5017837_b.jpg Got the last few bits done, bit of a tidy up of tools inside then pushed it round and out of the shed onto the lawn. Filled the float with fresh petrol and it started first turn of the key. Need to get some wire for the...

Thank Colin, I think the rear valence can be got from underneath too. I don't plan on putting the original fog light back on the car. I bought an earlier valence without the holes and nut for the external fog light. Mine has a hole each side of the boot floor, but I've figured out its because its a...

Oil filled and adjusted the door striker plates, passenger side was always worse than drivers, both nice and flush now when shut. Made a start on rerouting the heater hoses to go through the inlet manifold, then decided to swap the hose entry to the passenger side. Side of heater removed and drilled...

I used rattle cans of zinc rich primer, followed by gloss black top coat. The 2K epoxy would give off nastier fumes if welded nearby, both probably have the same chance of catching fire. For cavity wax, you can get to the majority of the sill through each flute and the heelboard captive nuts, scuttl...

Another step closer, got oil drained and front of engine cleaned off, new gasket on heater tap, new silicone rocker cover gasket, new oil filter filled and on, not too many things to do before I can get it out of the shed... https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53654224875_92368e5660_b.jpg Just letti...

Had a quick look on minispares and they only offer them with the new mirrors as you've said, but they're not listed on any parts diagrams.

Are the mirrors plastic or metal? You could use some closed cell neoprene to make a gasket that would prevent metal to metal contact.

And reassembled...

And reassembled...

Finally back on it, got the exhaust all fitted and tightened up. Couldn't get the longer brass manifold nuts tightened on the inner studs with the alloy inlet, so had to cut one in half to make 2 normal size ones, thankfully there only brass... Then made a start on fitting the new water pump... forg...

Have you cleaned up the earth on the bulkhead cross member, just in front of the reinforcing triangle as you look into the engine bay on the left. You may need to remove the washer bottle of its mounted on that side for proper access. Also the negative connection to the boot floor. There's 2 inline ...

Hopefully get back in the mini soon, lean-to/pergola is almost finished so that means I can get the patio furniture out of the shed and get some working space back! Main roof...total size 7.5M X 4.2m https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53564642157_1e8de30fed_b.jpg Side covering....total size 1.8M X ...

It's been a while since I got near the car, building a lean-to / pergola and side entrance cover, so it's been collecting lots of dust... A few more weekends should have pergola finished and garden stuff moved out of shed, ready to get the mini sorted for the better weather.... hopefully.... https:/...

Also noticed a bit of peeling on the rear subframe, just where the vent pipe from the fuel tank comes down, the top coat (2k rattle can) must not be fuel resistant as the zinc primer underneath is fine. I'll clean it off and give it a quick touch up. [url=https://flic.kr/p/2pstN7m] https://live.stat...

Started fitting the RC40, it would be great if some parts came with actual fitting instructions rather than leaving you to figure it out. Thankfully I had bookmarked a few threads with guides. Not sure on the front bracket, it seems to fit directly to the diff bracket without the need to use the fla...

Rust-oleum paint is good too, that's what I done my block in, albeit in yellow.

I got my rocker cover powder coated gloss black, but it doesn't get overly hot so shouldn't need any high temp paint.

Started to remove the standard exhaust, getting ready for the RC40. Out with the old... not even any surface rust on it... https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53427929297_132b52d7ba_b.jpg Cleaned up the back side of engine block, it had a good misting of oil from the leaky cork rocker cover gasket. ...

Fantastic repairs as usual Conor, if the exams for welding bodywork you'd ace them!

Got my minispares parcel today, very well packaged as usual, recycle bin is full now lol RC40 looks very nice, much bigger bore than the standard 850/998, and a nice polished tip too. Looking forward to getting it all onto the car now, need to get some extra wire for installation of the tachometer t...

Decided to part with a bit more money with the minispares black friday sale.... Got a RC40, maniflow extractors and alloy inlet to match the AAU needle and K&N filter that I already have on the car, so this will complete the stage one kit. Also got a Smiths 80mm tacho, not risking using the RVI ...

Channel cleaned, wire brushed and zinc painted. Came in about 25mmm from the edge of the glass and got it back into the door, refitting was much easier than the removal. Have to put a dab of glue on a small piece of the inside weather strip, just came away from the chrome trim about 2 inches. https:...

No chance of it moving by tapping it, it was well stuck! Had to keep working it with a scalpel, soaking it with plus gas then managed to pry it off by stand on a pry bar locate in the channel, will protecting the other end with a wooden chopping board, then pulling the glass upwards and pivoting on ...

Got the glass removed today without needing to take off the weather strips, just had to wedge open the frame/door skin opening a bit. Have it sitting now soaked in plus gas and used a scalpel to slowly work it from the glass. Will leave it overnight and see if it moves tomorrow. https://live.staticf...

Made a start on the first of the winter projects, removed the drivers door card to fix the window stiffness when winding it up. Trying to get the weather strips off will be interesting as I have glued these on rather than using the rust inducing clips. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53325886307...

You don't see too many of them about with that original style grille.

How close you hoping to get to original spec?

I think you said that you'd be adding a few essentials like temp and oil gauges....