Engine Drivetrain 1st Gen Cooper S GNAT - The Resurrection

Discussion in 'Tuning and Performance' started by Nathan, Feb 23, 2012.

  1. old81

    old81 Club Coordinator
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    Used to work making computers run fast!
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    Really going to need to clean and paint the end-links. :)

    Looking really nice, should be a new MINI for the drive down to MOTD!
     
  2. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    To prevent mushrooming you need an STD

    [​IMG]

    Now that first sentence will cause some odd Search Engine results...

    There was a little mushrooming on the passenger side. That has now been beat in to submission. To help prevent a recurrence Craven Speed Strut Tower Defenders are now in place. Picked them up almost a year ago from a Mid-Ohio MINI owner.

    Some may ask, why not the ones where you can use a strut brace too. My car doesn't need the strut brace. There are other braces in play, TSW X-Brace, convertible braces and the ultimate in stiffening, a welded in roll bar. I've tried adding a strut brace before. It added nothing I could feel with all that other bracing in place already.
     
  3. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    My MINI has a strut brace. I bought it to keep fungus at bay & that it has done. As far as any stiffening benefit, for my money it is a placebo at best. Our cars are pretty stiff little buggers.
     
  4. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    Hmmmm.....
    What's with the hose "lipping" over the rubber seal? Some new way to bleed the calipers? Close the bonnet and you might affect the brake bias.....
     
  5. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    It's not a brake line. Just something Chad moved out of the way while the engine is still out of the car.
     
  6. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    I would have thought the camber plates would have done more to prevent the mushrooming....
     
  7. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    There are potholes here that could eat Smart Cars.

    It wasn't mushroomed till I moved to Columbus. Was slight and on the passenger side only.
     
  8. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Scott I run IE fixed plates & they are beefy. Had I bought & installed them first I's have passed on the strut brace.

    In 100,005 miles of driving on Columbus' fine roads I have yet to shroom a strut tower. I do run tires with actual sidewalls though. :smilewinkgrin:
     
  9. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    I also have the IE adj plates and I agree they are BEEFY. And I have no evidence of mushrooming since installing them. And our roads are probably every bit as bad, as they see some severe winters and summers around here....
     
  10. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    Nope, I would ask, "if you had them, why didn't you put them on BEFORE it mushroomed"? :lol:

    Jim
     
  11. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    I happen to like sautéed mushrooms.... Whatsamatterwithyouguys???
     
  12. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    Blue, the color of the fastest gaskets for the fastest MINIs

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Cool the skull cap is about to be replaced. :Thumbsup:
     
  14. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    What's the peanut smears doing in there. There's gotta be a samich in there as well.....
     
  15. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
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    :cornut: I've seen similar looking stuff in a newborn's diaper:lol:This ought'a be a good story.:Thumbsup:

    Jason
     
  16. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    No story, nothing untoward there. It's a normal sealant from the factory seen in just about every MINI Valve Cover.
     
  17. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
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    Yep. I asked a tech about that on a recent DIY day at MINI of Dallas. Nathan's actually looks like a thoughtful job by the person who did the application compared to the glop of crap that was inside that cover. The tech admitted that the first time he saw it, he went running over to another tech to ask WTF?

    Honestly, though, I think that Chad just had a PBJ for lunch and had run out of napkins. He figured "Why not... what are the odds that the Gnat's engine will be cracked open for the 4th time?" and wiped his fingers there. :D
     
  18. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #318 Nathan, Apr 16, 2012
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2012
    Brake Fluid being flushed today. Have been using MOTOL 600 but I've not been doing the track days I once was so went with ATE 200.

    If and when I start up being a track rat again then I'll probably go with the MOTOL again.

    [​IMG]
     
  19. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    Word has it the engine is going back in tonight and possibly even started too! Now where did a leave that Gene Wilder It's Alive image...

    Tanks all nice and polished again. :D Thanks Matt :Thumbsup:

    [​IMG]

    Rebuilt TSW Engine Mount, it had some issues. I have to remind and/or mention this mount was the last beta version so a few little issues are no big deal here, much was learned from the mount.

    [​IMG]

    The pièce de résistance - engine on cart all ready for install.

    [​IMG]
     
  20. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Looking good Nathan. :Thumbsup:
     

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