Pleasant surprise this afternoon since parts weren't supposed to be ready until Friday. Stopped by to see how the parts were doing and he had everything polished. I pick up the chrome pieces tomorrow. This MINI's future looks so bright your gonna have to wear shades:
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Thanks Mr Jim, I have some updates despite waiting on parts. After removing the trans mount I went ahead and removed the front end to do make it easier to clean in the bay and do some work on the parts of the core support that can be seen:
and since I didn't want to remove the AC lines, I hand polished them too:
Having all of this stuff out of the way makes it real easy to get in there and clean, but since the supercharger and intake are open, I can't use water so it is all has to be done by hand. I also had the wheels polished and then I polished the inside of the bolt holes:
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Well it is all back together now:
I missed about 9 bolts that I would like to have chromed, the inside of the passenger side bracket needs to be chromed, and it my be time to look into a better looking intake. I was thinking about getting the GTT coolant tank, but the polished Canton turned out great so no need for that. Down the road we would also like to get a better dipstick handle and oil cap. I still need to get the hood latches back and that should be tomorrow.Attached Files:
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Mr. Jim MudsharkLifetime Supporter
We never get tired of hearing about your VW! But glad to see the MINI is getting some attention.
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I got some things reassembled. Intake manifold:
Trans mount with Powerflex bushings:
and I painted the GP intercooler with some Eastwood radiator satin black paint:
Too bad most of it will be covered:
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Saw this car at AMVIV in 2010. It is unique and most definitely one of a kind. Subscribed....
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Metalman Well-Known MemberLifetime Supporter
- Sep 29, 2009
- 7,688
- Ex-Owner (Retired) of a custom metal fab company.
- Ratings:
- +7,960 / 1 / -0
Wes, is all the polishing done by hand with polishing media and small buffing wheels (Dremel like?)? I can't understand how they manage to get in all the little nooks and crannies.
Or is it done with some kind of rotating tumbling machine? -
This is great stuff. You and Kelli come up with great ideas and then pull them off even better than described.
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https://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/alpolkit.htm -
goaljnky New Member
I think Wes is using the reverse method of this:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RicwTkzyFJY]Jenny McCarthy Sucks the Chrome off a Trailer Hitch‏ - YouTube[/ame] -
Speaking of chrome, One thing I learned from doing the engine bay on my VW was that beautiful polished parts just don't look right if they are assembled with dingy flat hardware. On this bay, as I pulled the parts, I put all of the hardware in a bag and sent it out for chroming. I picked it all up yesterday and it looks amazing:
I am still waiting on the hood latches since those went to a different place. Another trick I learned was that stainless steel acorn bolts can be used in place of nuts to hide exposed studs like I did on the three nuts on the front of this valve cover:
Before
After
Now reassembly can begin in earnest. Unfortunately I have to work this weekend so it probably won't be finished until next week. -
It's those little details that make the most difference. Looking forward to seeing this progress.
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Metalman Well-Known MemberLifetime Supporter
- Sep 29, 2009
- 7,688
- Ex-Owner (Retired) of a custom metal fab company.
- Ratings:
- +7,960 / 1 / -0
One thing I learned some time ago, if you use the braided SS hose lines, make sure they are secured against rubbing other parts they might come in contact with. I had a BMW 2002 years ago and replaces all of the rubber hoses with aeroquip. One of the steel hex bolts had the head almost completely worn away just from the movement of the braided line from the engine rocking.
I would particularly watch the line in the last pic that appears to rest on one end of the valve cover.... -
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Just got back from my National Guard weekend. Friday I managed to get this much done:
I'll get it all wrapped up tomorrow. -
Mr. Jim MudsharkLifetime Supporter
Sweet!
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