What did you do in your shop today?

[Jims5543]

Well here's something.  Battery was old and wouldn't take a charge, however my brake lights won't turn off with the new battery.  Got under the dash and the switch off the pedal is full open due to a horrible design flaw in the pedal assembly.

Thought of you when I saw this Dan.

[94touring]

Lol almost but not quit.

[Jims5543]

Lol almost but not quit.

FYI - My FC had the same retarded deal with the plastic grommet. I JB welded a plug in the spot where the plastic grommet was supposed to be.

My E30 has a switch that is held in place by very little and very prone to breaking at the mount points, I replaced mind after I rubbed against it and it shattered, the new one is zip tied in place in addition to the mounting clips.

Such a stupid design on both companies parts.

[94touring]

I truly don't understand why they did it that way.  Weight savings!

[tmsmini]

Not much yesterday, 95 in the garage. I wilt at that point.
I did start all the cars up, looked for a coolant leak which I think I found, looked for an oil leak that I assumed was a rod change seal, but wasn't and recalibrated the injection on the tin wagon

[BruceK]

Nice Mini collection! A nice garage too. 

Seeing that rubber gator on the rod change, it looks like you have fitted the MiniSpares kit.  It's great that it's not leaking -  did you use one seal or two? 

[tmsmini]

Seeing that rubber gator on the rod change, it looks like you have fitted the MiniSpares kit.  It's great that it's not leaking -  did you use one seal or two?

Yes it is a Minispares kit. I just used the one seal. The rubber bellows is already cracked and it is barely a year old. But no leaks. I also thought the drive shaft seals could be the cause, but no drips there either. I may to resort to the UV dye to find out.

At least the coolant leak is pretty straight forward or so it sees at this point. Should only be 85 today, not the high 90s like yesterday.

[MiniDave]

It's hard to get the rear cover on the diff to seal properly....I've resorted to using Hylomar on both sides of the gasket.

[tmsmini]

It's hard to get the rear cover on the diff to seal properly....I've resorted to using Hylomar on both sides of the gasket.

It seems like that is what it is. It is only weeping a few drops, but I like to know where it is coming from.

[MiniDave]

Late models used only a thin layer of RTV on the rear cover, no gasket.....

[John Gervais]

I don't know how you guys keep getting away with posting undercarriage porn on this site.  How is it possible that everybody's minis - except mine - are so friggin' clean??? 

And, you call that an oil leak?  Sheesh - if mine's not weaping from the timing cover, a diff cover or a still-undiscovered yet occasionally noticed drip coming from the split pin in the clutch housing, I assume that my sump has run dry.

[ve9aa]

I don't know how you guys keep getting away with posting undercarriage porn on this site.  How is it possible that everybody's minis - except mine - are so friggin' clean??? 

And, you call that an oil leak?  Sheesh - if mine's not weaping from the timing cover, a diff cover or a still-undiscovered yet occasionally noticed drip coming from the split pin in the clutch housing, I assume that my sump has run dry.

What John said !

[tmsmini]

It needed cleaning so I could see where it is leaking. Renee's wagons usually live in the garage and the sedan is on the street. So when I parked it on the driveway to fix the heater valve, it left a spot.

The sedan engine was rebuilt only a few thousand miles ago and was out for an overheating issue a few hundred ago, not time to accumulate road grime.

[Willie_B]

Had to replace the brake master again today. Always fun. I have found an easier way to put the pin in. Glue dots. Just the right size.

[94touring]

That certainly looks like it works good!

[MiniDave]

I use my MiniSpares tool, works a treat!

[John Gervais]

"I use my MiniSpares tool, works a treat!"

I've never seen one of those before!

[BruceK]

I've never seen glue dots before.   I usually use high levels of frustration and cursing to put those in.

[gr8kornholio]

Have to remember that glue dot trick once I run out of 4 letter words 😁

[94touring]

The welder was due for a new gun. 

[MPlayle]

Saturday, I rewired all of the tail light connections on the Burton.

The Texas DMV offices have finally reopened so I took it to get the safety inspection before making an appointment for the VIN verification.  I got through the inspection, then it started popping the brake light fuse every time the pedal was pressed.

Instead of attaching the correct connector to the wiring harness for the socket on the back of the tail lights, they did individual connectors for each wire and tried using just small bits of electrical tape to insulate each one.  The connectors had begun to work loose and the tape gone soft in the Texas heat.  The result was connectors were shorting across each other  and popping the fuse.

I removed all the tape and replaced it with heat shrink tubing on all the connectors, then snugged each connector for a tight fit onto its pin in the tail light socket.  No more blown fuse.

[94touring]

Also ended up changing the oil in the compressor and cleaned out the shop vac and filter.  Got a coat of primer on Mark's car items and por-15 on the interior floor.

[MiniDave]

Wow, compared to you guys, I've been slacking!

Of course, it's hot as hell here, but tomorrow it's supposed to be cooler and no rain, so tomorrow is paint day!

[jedduh01]

Co worker,s husband , was gifted a 66 Mustang Convertible. He knows mustangs but thats it = not how to wrench.
  Clean car = very presentable  But like any classic = things.

New Seat belts, New antenna for radio, New Trunk Liner Kit, Power steering pump leaking and it Got Warm driving. Replaced Fan clutch . had a few rattles and clanks that were annoying.  It sounds like to me the rear end is 'noisy"  pinion bearing?   will advise.  Top loader 4 speed also leaks pretty good.
  My first venture around an Murcian Classic = 289 / 4 Speed manual = Electric top =   Cool ride = gets a lot of looks = but MAN a MINI. Little British car of any type is so much more fun. Finding parts and knowldge is super easy however = VERY available.


Another local . brought his mini back for round 2 =    His first ventrure into  buying a mini from the UK .. for Resale in the USA.
  Arrived driving badly, Like a loose bag of noodles .    Steering Rack worn out + Tie rods.   Upper engine mount gone.  Headliner ripped up.. visible rust all over.. He wasn't thrilled.   Tidied those tings..  Next came back for wire harness fixing ( one badly melted wire that shorted) from being badly converted from a 998 to 1275 Swap.   DIRTY rusty interior.   Had more engine bangs and clanks - Replaced more mounts ( lower engine mounts) and the brakes were HARD.    Rotors warped + Shaky = Pads 99% gone .   New pads and rotors = but STILL brakes dragged were VERY hard to retract.
  Replaced Calipers.  Replaced 2 lower engine mounts. Replaced Lower engine steady mounts  Replaced Lower Subframe Tear drops ( MIGHT have to do rear sub frame mounts.

Safe to say this mini was DONE in the UK for Passing MOT = needed alot of work = so it was offloaded.  It Looks OK but Definatly has its flaws.

Now hes +2K on costs to ' fix it up"

[MiniDave]

I think almost any Mini exported from Britain these days is more of a core than a car. Huge project to make it any more than just drivable. Buzz was supposed to have a fresh engine when I got him - I had the paperwork. But when I took the head off to put hardened seats in it, my heart just fell. It did have some new parts in it, but it was clearly a patch job......

I know what you mean about the size tho, even my 09 MINI Clubman feels huge these days, I much prefer the classic, size-wise.

That Mustang looks nice! We used to think those were small cars......

People are always surprised how much it costs today to fix up a small car - or any car! I can't believe how much $$$$ I have into this 998 rebuild at this point. Just parts and machine shop labor.....