Finally got the clutch working and the boys and I took the Mini for a quick spin around the cul de sac. Still needs tuning, but at least it is moving!!!
Author Archive
It is running, but… the clutch doesn’t disengage
August 1st, 2013
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Well everything is moving along nicely. Finally got the car running and it sounds great. It took a couple of hours to go through the break in process, changed the oil to take the car for a drive, and… the clutch won’t disengage. Feels like this car isn’t going to make it on the road before the snow comes. I’ve already had one volunteer indicate they would push me around the block if it comes to it.
One of the experiments in this car was to try an RTS clutch. This appears to be an excellent alternative to switching everything out to a pre verto clutch and was fairly easy. In the picture below you can see the double up’d fingers on the revised pressure plate.
Now the hope is that making this change isn’t want is causing me the trouble. Unfortunately it is looking more and more like I am going to have to try and get the clutch cover off and see how exactly this thing was put together…
As an aside here is a link to instructions on the RTS clutch. http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=437563
Jeremy
Oil pressure
June 25th, 2013
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So, first step in getting this Mini going again is making sure that oil is pumping around the engine. We have the plugs out, etc.. and the engine is being turned over, but no oil pressure. We are checking for oil in the various hoses, filling the oil filter, trying to dump oil in the lines, etc… no oil pressure.
I start reading online… it is kind of like reading about a symptom you have. You search for it online and the next thing you know you have some weird tropical disease and only have months left to live. I was convinced the motor was going to have to come out and that this car was going to take another 4 years to complete… Some of the suggestions included bad gaskets that require you to pull the engine, an oil pump that needs to be re-primed, etc.. Some good suggestions like putting the car in 4th and pushing it backwards to re-prime the engine.
In the end… it is really helpful to make sure you setup the pressure relief valve and spring. The spring had gone missing over the last few years. I got a new one from our local Mini experts Miles Imports and now we have oil pressure.
Next step is still to start it and through the break in.
Ready to go…
June 20th, 2013
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Everything is ready to go. Just need to start it, stay tuned…
Body work
June 20th, 2013
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Little bit of a tricky job last night, but the fender flares, hood, grill, spot lights, etc… are all back in place. Getting close… hope to be cruising around this weekend. I am picking up the air filter tonight. No pictures as my phone died mid way.
Chainsaw, radiator, and exhaust
June 11th, 2013
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Well… the evening started off with me working a chain saw to remove my brother in laws rotted out deck. Took about an hour and I thought hey I’ve got some extra time to work on the Mini. Went home helped Kim get the kids in bed and out to the garage I went.
First the exhaust. Well connecting that pipe to the turbo took a lot of trial and error. Learned a few lessons including bolt the exhaust pipe onto the engine first, don’t start at the back of the car… There is almost no space to reach up from the bottom of the car to get the clamp on and yes there is only one way it goes on… figured that out after half an hour or so. In the end what worked best was to jack up the exhaust pipe just in front of the elbow so that it is fitting up tightly against the turbo exhaust. then rather then trying to get the clamp installed from the bottom of the car you can actually reach it quite easily from the top. It took me a good hour and half of fiddling to get this done, but next time around it could be a lot quicker.
Second dilemma is getting the radiator back in. I still have no idea what is the best way. I started on this at about 11:00 thinking it won’t take me too long. Well it takes for ever. Just getting the bottom hose connected is a war. I finally got the whole bloody thing installed at 1:00 am to find out I have the engine fan installed the wrong way. I have to take the whole thing apart. I wanted to stay up and sort it out, but for probably the first time during the night my better judgment kicked in and I went to bed.
Engine is back where it belongs
June 9th, 2013
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Finally the engine is back in the car. On the way out Alex, Don and I lifted the car off. It was a struggle that time so this time around I got some new recruits and put two a side and after some fiddling we got the car back on the sub frame and the engine where it is supposed to be. I didn’t get a shot of the car being lifted, but here are a few of the aftermath.
I definitely owe a big thanks to Dan, DJ, Chris and Graeme.
Turbo, carb, engine steadies, … making progress
June 4th, 2013
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The carb has been rebuilt, the engine is back on the sub frame, engine steadies are in place, and the Turbo is back where it belongs. Progress continues to happen. Here is a quick shot as it stood late last night! I need to buy a few things before the progress continues.
Thanks for the hand Jesse!
Finally the rebuild continues…
May 27th, 2013
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To say that I have been inconsistent is an understatement. Regardless the bits are going back on the engine. I a few bolts have gone missing, but I’ve sourced most of them and found a link that has been helpful as a reference.
http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=507384
madmk1 also put together some bolt packages…
http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=456918
I would like to say that I went titanium, but… it didn’t happen. Here is a shot of the engine.
Engine and gearbox are built
September 5th, 2012
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Last night was a big night as we bolted the engine and gearbox together. I realize that I have been very delinquent in my updates and there will be some catch up that is done on the whole build process, but I may still get to drive the mini before the snow flys….
Here is a shot of the gearbox. It took a bit of work, but I finally got it back together with the new baulk ring. Not sure what I am going to do with the old one as it is the source of all this craziness.
Here is another shot with the new LSD insalled! Not sure how long the old one was going to make it.
A shot of the engine waiting for the gearbox.
and one of everything bolted together.
