Difficult if not impossible to find, but I found a guy in Japan who sells an interesting cover plate, supposed to work with center clocks too. I've sent him a PM to find out what they would cost posted here, but best info I have right now is $90 plus shipping. if there is enough interest maybe we could get together a group buy?
The cool thing to me about these is that they are two piece, so you don't have to pull the wiring harness to install it. It has two grommets, one for the speedo cable and one for the wiring harness.
Looks great. I would be willing to ad my name on the list for a few.
Will do.....
I bought the two he had (says he can get more and will let me know how long it will take....)
Once I get the invoice I'll know the exact cost too, but it looks like $100 each delivered to the US using economy shipping, faster shipping is about $10 each more.....but I don't know how fast.
Here's a pic of one installed....
I'd be in for one, think mine was just covered up by padding in the engine bay.
As was the Inno, we'll get a tally and order the next batch, he says he can have them fairly quickly, but let me get these in and see how it fits on Deightons car and the Inno.
I would probably be in for two. I bought some of the metal versions thinking I could adapt them, but I concluded it was more trouble than it was worth. I thought about sending one to the company that is remaking the instrument pods in Oregon, but never did.
I like it. So I am interested too.
Doesn't your car have a cover plate already, Bruce? My 89 does....
OK, the first two covers have been shipped to me from Japan and I'll post up when they get to me.
For the next order we have the following, let me know if this is correct....
WillieB - 3
Mark - 1
Bruce - 1
Terry - 2
Ok for me.
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Yes
Do you all want me to just give you the Facebook link so you can order your own and have them shipped directly to you, or shall I order them all and have them come to me and I'll ship them from here? (extra shipping, tho not much)
Cost is looking to be just shy of $100 shipped to me. ($197 for the two I ordered)
I am open to whatever anyone else wants to do. It does not make sense to trouble you with the extra work.
I don't mind, it's just a little more shipping to you guys....
Unless we could get a group discount price to buy all at once, then it would probably be easier if we just ordered our own.
OK, I talked to him about a group price but he said he marks them up very little, so there's no real room for a discount - he was pretty transparent in the whole deal so I believe him.
Contact David Ainley on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/d.ainley (https://www.facebook.com/d.ainley)
Just message him and he'll set it up when he gets them in stock, remember the time difference as he's in Japan. I paid for mine via Paypal, they did the conversion from Yen to Dollar.
Just a quick heads up - David just messaged me that he has branded versions of the cover plate, he has 6 non-branded, 9 Mini, 1 Austin, I Cooper and 1 Morris
I received mine today from Japan, it's very nicely made but for some reason I thought it was made from aluminum - it's not, it's plastic. Extremely well made plastic mind you.....I'll go see if/how it fits on the Inno and take a few pics.....
Edit: I attaches with sheet metal screws (provided) and comes with a self adhesive seal tape. The top rubber grommet is split so that you can slip it over the wiring harness, and the cover fits into slots on the grommet to hold it in place once the two halves are slid together. Seems to be a real quality piece of kit.....
Looks great, waiting for the next batch.
Terry
Did you order from David in Japan? I only ordered these two.....one for the Inno and one for Deighton's 73.....
Yes, I contacted David and requested two. Not sure what his time frame is/was for getting more.
Terry
16 days to me, FWIW.
Nice cover - Offering some really high quality parts
Apparently online store is coming.
My buddy Cole has some ' Non Serviceable sealed Mini specific ball joints on the way from David... (not metro) but same concept.
Thoughtful upgrade to not mess with ball joint tension anymore...
Quote from: jedduh01 on July 29, 2019, 08:50:29 AM
Nice cover - Offering some really high quality parts
Apparently online store is coming.
My buddy Cole has some ' Non Serviceable sealed Mini specific ball joints on the way from David... (not metro) but same concept.
Thoughtful upgrade to not mess with ball joint tension anymore...
I saw those too. They look like a real PITA time saver. I hope Cole does a review of them.
How much were those? I agree, not having to shim them would be great!
50$ per Ball joint... 200$ For a set.
At first # i thought that was High.. But then i had to Install a ball joint in my Volvo XC90 == 45$ for the part from MOOG at Advance auto... then it was a Slam it out slam it in affair all in about 45 Min... No problem.
This conversion for the mini could be really practical and time saving and modern upgrade.
Cole will have a review , Cole needs to keep his car on the road to put some MILES on it, but will be installed hopefully this week.
Yikes! $200 a set, plus shipping is pretty stiff.....If I were working in a shop and spending OPM, I would def do them.
Quote from: MiniDave on July 29, 2019, 11:28:41 AM
Yikes! $200 a set, plus shipping is pretty stiff.....If I were working in a shop and spending OPM, I would def do them.
I think if you were paying a mechanic to install and set up new ball joints it would be cheaper at $200 plus the minimal labor to fit these when compared to the labor time on the old style ones imo.
Then there is the plus factor of never having to adjust them again.
Plus not having to grease them too!
Quote from: BruceK on July 31, 2019, 05:59:21 AM
Plus not having to grease them too!
That was going to be one of my questions: whether they required greasing like the originals.
No they are sealed for life much like the early Metro hubs.
While I had the main harness out I went ahead and fit the bulkhead cover - it's pretty simple. First I installed the foam seal in the machined groove on the back. Then I screwed the two halves together and put it up on the bulkhead so I could mark the holes. Once I drilled the holes I trial fit it and it fits perfectly. I think it looks great and it's bound to make things quieter compared to just having the hole open to the engine and carbs.
On earlier cars will it used the exiting machine screw holes that hold the pod in place?
Good question.....I don't think so but I don't really know. My other car is even newer than this one....
Quote from: tmsmini on August 01, 2019, 06:19:51 PM
On earlier cars will it used the exiting machine screw holes that hold the pod in place?
I don't think they will. If you look at the part the tab on the top right is not symmetrical with the others, from memory the early cars are evenly spaced.
I think you're right, I think they are where the larger holes are around the plate on my car. On an Inno those holes are used to secure the middle of the dash - it has a metal brace that is attached with screws thru those holes.
I would love one of these but I don't use Facebook. Is there any other way to order these lovely bulkhead plates?
Ted
Hey Ted, how you pay for stuff online? Do you use paypal or credit cards or what? Let me email him and see if he'll give me an email address to order direct thru.
Or, if you use Paypal, you can send me $100 and I'll order one for you - send me your address and so on so you only pay shipping once. Alternately you can also just mail me a check if you prefer.....PM your info to me and I'll do the same.
Edit: I sent the guy in Japan a note to ask for his email address, but due to the time difference I may not hear from him till tomorrow.
I use paypal/venmo/bitcoin etc.
I'll reach out to David.
Thank you!
Ted
Hello,
I purchased one of these a few days after I originally posted here. Super quick reply from the seller and the part arrived in 7 days. Excellent experience. I'm going to install it this weekend.
Excellent experience from start to finish.
Ted
Post up a pic once you have it installed! I did mine too and I really like the way it looks.
Still waiting on mine, but I was a little slow on the draw...
Mine will be a really tight fit on the bottom edge against the bottom edge of the air filters, I hope it doesn't hit, I'd hate to have to start over on these air filters, or buy a brace of K&Ns.
My injection engine will be very tight as well, but it has a foam filter that compresses.
The HIF car uses a later standard cleaner, so hopefully it is out of the way.
I have a tapered cone type filter on my car. Shouldn't be a problem (famous last words).
I will post a photo once I get it installed.
Ted
Mine came today. Is there anything that might be important in the directions?
You didn't get them, or you don't read Japanese either? ;D
Assemble the two pieces, put the foam into the groove in the back, take it to the bulkhead and mark the four holes. Drill them.
Put the speedo cable thru the lower grommet (You'll have to make a hole for it, but make a small one, the rubber is very flexible so you can work the nut thru it easily) and fix the lower section to the bulkhead. put the upper split grommet around the main cables and install the top half onto the bottom, secure with two screws then put the two screws into the bulkhead - done.
No speedo cables to worry abut as I have the electronic version, but I do have a bunch of other gauges.
I have been waiting for these to arrive to do a throttle body and carb swap on the two cars.
I need to sort out what i need for those first.
I did a trial fit of mine with the carbs in place, there's about 1/4" of clearance, Clarance at the bottom edge. Should be just enough....
Hard to see in this pic, you'll have to take my word for it.... ;D
I am hoping I have that much clearance. I have a few more wires to deal with and then I can reassemble.
@minidave, how do I get one of these?
The facebook link doesn't work anymore :(
"Classic Minis Japan" on Facebook.
What he said /\ 77.gif
Remember the time difference when emailing him and allow for him to get back to you....
Yeah, created a new facebook account (killed mine years ago) and will wait and see! Will be useful for normal wires, but for rest, I am using mil spec cannon connectors which are blingy too and I can mount them into this plate....