Mini ST Hotrod

[MiniDave]

So, there's been a bit of a delay......I've spent most of the last three months flat on my back in bed with back problems. Two different trips to the ER (which are basically a waste of time as all they can do is give you heavy drugs to try and blunt the pain) and finally got in to a "pain doc, who gave me an epidural - which to my surprise (I had one in 2019 for similar issues, and it worked) had little to no effect. After a week I called and they said it could take up to two full weeks for it to give any relief!

Right at the end of the two week period it began to get better, but I got another appt and they doubled down. This one seems to have done the trick tho they cautioned me "no lifting over 10lb" and "take it real easy for the next two more weeks. If this doesn't do it I can't have another till Mid Nov, and I may wind up being a candidate for surgery anyway.

So needless to say all I've been doing all summer is watching TV....

Today I went back to the shop and tore down a friend's Mini gearbox so he can order parts. This is a very nice looking car but I think the maintenance has been sorely neglected. There was a surprising amount of sludge in the bottom of the gearbox, and 1st and 2nd gear synchros were wiped out, and teeth broken off of the gears too.
So he's got a list in to Spares and when those arrive we'll put it back together.

The hot rod is back on the rack and ready for more welding. My friend Zac acquired a nice set of 13X7 wheels and we tried one on and it fits perfectly, I traded him my rear swaybar for a pair so I now have my rear wheels sorted. Fronts will be matching 13X6. So it looks like the Sport Pak flares will work.

I also did some more trading, the WRX seats I ran for a while will not fit with the door beams in place, so rather than remake those I sold the seats. The leather seats that Dan gave me are very comfy and will fit, so that's one choice still available.

[Willie_B]

Those wheels fit just right.

[94touring]

They look good.  Sucks you've been out with back issues so long. No fun at all.

[MiniDave]

I think they're going to work perfectly, just need to figure out what to do for tars....

Without the left side flare I can't check for sure but it looks like the frame is shifted about 1/4" to the right, but it's also up against the body, so it's probably just the fine quality of the MiniTec frame, or the Mini body! 

Either way, all I'll need to do is use a 1/4" spacer to get it to match up.

The best part about these wheels is that they don't hit the trailing arm, the offset is better. I had to put a 3/4" spacer behind the other ones to keep them off the trailing arms. Of course the alignment isn't set and the hubs aren't tight without the axle shafts bolted in place. Still, another piece of the puzzle in place now.

I'm starting PT for my back today, and the doc encouraged me to join up with the local community center - which has indoor pools - and start swimming, so I'll do that too.

[Red Riley]

Dave, I bought a set of 175/50-13 Grip Max MaxGrip Classic tires from Priority Tire for 60ish bucks each. Actually I ordered them while I was in Asheville at MME, when they got them in stock. Just checked and they still have some. Tiremart.com has them too. If you can find Nankang AS1 in that size, they are good too, for not a lot of dough. I've been running the Nankangs for about ten years on my Elf and I think they are better than Yokos. Not got the MaxGrips mounted yet, but they look decent.