In between spring rain and snow, I had a chance to do a couple of quick test drives after getting our fabulous Mark 1 Mini all back together. This car really shows how quality components AND superb workmanship and attention to detail add up to a car that is a pleasure to work on as well as drive! The engine compartment is a tight fit with the brake servo, oil cooler, and the related lines and hoses, but everything went back together just as it should.
Here then is a last look at our engine compartment, now nicely packed with the quality components every well-dressed Mini should be wearing:
Probably the single most difficult task of the entire project was getting the four bronze washers back into the proper sides of the bonnet hinges on the bulkhead! I elected to remove the hinges along with the bonnet, rather than leaving the hinges hanging over the engine compartment. I forgot how hard it is to start those screws, particularly with the bonnet attached.
Perseverance and a calm and collected demeanor eventually paid off, with no damage to me or the car, and the Mini was ready to start:
After taking it off the jackstands, we had dark clouds but no rain, so off on it’s first drive:
And finally, a few rain drops on the window, ride along as I verify that our gearbox shifts fantastic, the engine runs and sounds great, and we successfully wrap up another Cooper Road Mini Project.
https://cooperroadmini.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Cooper-Road-Mini-Logo2-1.png00Jemalhttps://cooperroadmini.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Cooper-Road-Mini-Logo2-1.pngJemal2014-04-01 13:56:142016-11-22 04:26:45Project Wrap-up, Start-up, and Test Drive
Here are a series of short clips showing some of the details of the engine compartment, the types of things you can address while the engine is out. Now is the time to deal with items like the inner CV joints, motor mounts, shift linkage, making any repairs to the brake lines, steering, radiator shrouds, and so on…. any kind of work that is usually MUCH more difficult with the engine in the way!
We’ll start with a general look and clean up of the engine compartment:
And as we fix a few small items and get ready to set the engine back in:
Now, the engine is hanging on the hoist as we shoehorn it back in:
Finally a little help from our lovely assistant with her smaller hands:
https://cooperroadmini.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Cooper-Road-Mini-Logo2-1.png00Jemalhttps://cooperroadmini.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Cooper-Road-Mini-Logo2-1.pngJemal2014-03-31 13:49:312016-11-22 04:27:38Getting the car ready and the engine back in
We’ll try to catch up a little…. Our gearbox is all back together! We’ve covered various details of building them before, so just a quick look at what we did to cure the grinding 2nd gear, and a last look inside our A+ Rod change gearbox, and the usual set up of the differential bearing shims. You can see that I installed a center oil pick-up, and really put this together from scratch, including cleaning and painting the case as I would for a complete rebuild…. You can’t go much deeper than replacing 2nd on the main-shaft!
https://cooperroadmini.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Cooper-Road-Mini-Logo2-1.png00Jemalhttps://cooperroadmini.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Cooper-Road-Mini-Logo2-1.pngJemal2014-03-27 17:19:092016-11-22 04:31:17Gearbox Back Together
Project Wrap-up, Start-up, and Test Drive
/2 Comments/in Classic Mini Cooper /by JemalIn between spring rain and snow, I had a chance to do a couple of quick test drives after getting our fabulous Mark 1 Mini all back together. This car really shows how quality components AND superb workmanship and attention to detail add up to a car that is a pleasure to work on as well as drive! The engine compartment is a tight fit with the brake servo, oil cooler, and the related lines and hoses, but everything went back together just as it should.
Here then is a last look at our engine compartment, now nicely packed with the quality components every well-dressed Mini should be wearing:
Probably the single most difficult task of the entire project was getting the four bronze washers back into the proper sides of the bonnet hinges on the bulkhead! I elected to remove the hinges along with the bonnet, rather than leaving the hinges hanging over the engine compartment. I forgot how hard it is to start those screws, particularly with the bonnet attached.
Perseverance and a calm and collected demeanor eventually paid off, with no damage to me or the car, and the Mini was ready to start:
After taking it off the jackstands, we had dark clouds but no rain, so off on it’s first drive:
And finally, a few rain drops on the window, ride along as I verify that our gearbox shifts fantastic, the engine runs and sounds great, and we successfully wrap up another Cooper Road Mini Project.
Getting the car ready and the engine back in
/0 Comments/in Classic Mini Cooper /by JemalHere are a series of short clips showing some of the details of the engine compartment, the types of things you can address while the engine is out. Now is the time to deal with items like the inner CV joints, motor mounts, shift linkage, making any repairs to the brake lines, steering, radiator shrouds, and so on…. any kind of work that is usually MUCH more difficult with the engine in the way!
We’ll start with a general look and clean up of the engine compartment:
And as we fix a few small items and get ready to set the engine back in:
Now, the engine is hanging on the hoist as we shoehorn it back in:
Finally a little help from our lovely assistant with her smaller hands:
Gearbox Back Together
/0 Comments/in Classic Mini Cooper /by JemalWe’ll try to catch up a little…. Our gearbox is all back together! We’ve covered various details of building them before, so just a quick look at what we did to cure the grinding 2nd gear, and a last look inside our A+ Rod change gearbox, and the usual set up of the differential bearing shims. You can see that I installed a center oil pick-up, and really put this together from scratch, including cleaning and painting the case as I would for a complete rebuild…. You can’t go much deeper than replacing 2nd on the main-shaft!