Recent posts

#11

The Lounge / Re: What did you do in your sh...

Last post by MiniDave - April 17, 2024, 08:07:20 AM

I've only driven one or two cars with mirrors up on the wings like that and  I could not get used to them!

#12

The Lounge / Re: What did you do in your sh...

Last post by Red Riley - April 17, 2024, 05:48:12 AM

So, now that you have everything cleaned out, does it feel any different when braking? Did you reset the balance bar so that the rears are actually doing some of the work?

PS I never noticed the mirror extension before, that's wild!

I haven't messed with the balance bar yet, I figured I'd drive it a bit to give everything a chance to settle in. The rear drums are actually working pretty well, though. I had my wife pump the brakes a few times while it was still on the jack stands after I bled everything, and it was locking up nice on the drums. It does feel different. There's a decent amount of pedal travel now, not engaging at the top of the pedal like it was doing.
Yes, those are original Desmo towing extensions. They actually make the wing mirrors functional. I can use them to back up the trailer.

#13

Daves Garage / Re: 73 Mini Innocenti 1300 Exp...

Last post by MiniDave - April 16, 2024, 12:49:11 PM

Update - I sent the fuel sender and gauge off to a guy in LA that was recommended by Kent Prather, it sat for a while and after about 10 days I finally called and asked what was up. I got to talk to "the guy" himself and he said he had it working perfectly and it would go out to me in a day. It took another week for it to come back from California and when it got here - well, I was puzzled. It arrived on a Thursday and I didn't unpack it till Friday, when I did it was too late to call them till Monday'

What caused the consternation was the needle was stuck on "F" instead of resting below "E" where it should have been. When I finally reached him on Tuesday he said it was fine, and sent me a video of it working to prove his point. He said all I needed to do was apply voltage and it would reset. I was skeptical but wired it up to a battery on the bench and I'll be damned if it didn't do exactly as he said.

So, I finally have a fuel gauge and sender that work, so now I can put them all back in recheck that everything electrical is working correctly, reinstall the dash - which is a significant project all on its own - and finish up the little bits and bobs to get the car ready to go to the new owner's place.

Before and after pics - with it wired up correctly the needle went right back to E, and when I moved the sender arm it moved exactly as it should. Oh and it turned out that the wiring schematic I was using had it wired wrong. The gauge guy gave me the correct way to wire it.

#14

The Lounge / Re: Freon costs

Last post by MiniDave - April 16, 2024, 12:28:30 PM

If I had to add Freon every year I'd be seriously looking to find the leak - that's a spendy service call when you add in labor and trip costs - to have to do it every year. Like I said, I haven't added any in 10 years or so, so it's not unexpected that I might need a top off.

#15

Daves Garage / Re: Mini ST Hotrod

Last post by MiniDave - April 16, 2024, 12:25:22 PM

I've been acquiring parts, finishing up other projects to clear the shop out and looking at whether I need to build a rotisserie or maybe acquire some other specialized equipment.

I've also been working on engineering the rear subframe and suspension. I currently have two different designs on the drawing boards, one with long/short arms and one with trailing arms ala MiniTec's version.

Once the shop is clear, I'll be back on it "full time" - in quotes because I can only work in the shop for a few hours at a time.

#16

The Lounge / Re: Freon costs

Last post by Brit_in_TX - April 16, 2024, 12:10:12 PM

I got charged $150/lb in November last year. Which was up significant on the previous year of $90/lb. 

#17

The Lounge / Re: A new game... Post pics fr...

Last post by Brit_in_TX - April 16, 2024, 11:54:05 AM

It is a 1964 Austin Mini Countryman. I bought it from someone in South Texas and it was a none runner, the engine started but the brakes and clutch did not work.  So spent a bit of money to get it running.

I keep toying with the idea of selling it, but every time I take it out it gets such a great reaction. 

#18

Daves Garage / Re: Mini ST Hotrod

Last post by Scargo - April 16, 2024, 09:59:22 AM

What's happened with this project in the last seven (7) months?

#19

The Lounge / Re: What did you do in your sh...

Last post by MiniDave - April 16, 2024, 07:25:07 AM

So, now that you have everything cleaned out, does it feel any different when braking? Did you reset the balance bar so that the rears are actually doing some of the work?

PS I never noticed the mirror extension before, that's wild!

#20

The Lounge / Re: What did you do in your sh...

Last post by Red Riley - April 16, 2024, 05:59:02 AM

I've been putting some miles on the VTEC Elf, and I started to notice a weak return on the brake pedal, so decided to pick up a vacuum bleeder and do a fluid flush.
Can of worms, opened.
I guess the 9.5 inch racing discs on the front work pretty well, because I suspect the rear drums hadn't been doing anything in quite a while. I'm running a three master Wilwood pedal box, and the rear MC was completely inop and the whole rear brake circuit was bone dry except for a little thick sludge. Long story short, I bought two new Wilwood compact master cylinders, two 3/4 inch rear wheel cylinders, both rear hard lines, new master cylinder hard lines, and flushed and replaced the fluid. My first time doing double flared brake lines. I wish I had ponied up for the pro-level flaring tool, but I made do with the standard one with the bubble flare adapter. The vacuum bleeder did a great job, although it takes some getting used to. No brake fluid on the garage floor after a few days of driving around, so I guess I did okay.