Most liked posts in thread: Rally Mini Cooper

thanks so much Don, I've doing some kicking too in a nice way. haha That's why I started early I know reaching the target is not going to be easy.

 

We had a good start to the funding but its a little slow but I'm on it chaps. Emailing folks and companies so I hope over the never few months we will be closer to the target.

Meanwhile I'm waiting to go back to CR and start the cage up grades and drop the gearbox. Most likely I'll have to run the stock gear set with the 5:1 final drive as the straight cut set is to short and a new final drive would cost nearly $1000.....unless the UK pound devalues..LOL

As Mexico as a night a stage I'll have to get some lights and a trip computer.

 

Having WRC+ helps me see all the stages for Mexico. So I'll stick with the low final drive because 90% of the stages are tight and twisty. I ordered the FIA spec roll cage padding today because the heater pipe foam insulation I have now won't cut it with the FIA..LOL

 

Not much going on regarding the funds or the Mini. I was in Panama last weekend for work purposes and this weekend I was hoping to get the roll cage sorted but the welding guy is swamped with work so he says next month. That's the Costa Rica way so I have to be patient. I got some gearbox parts but I need to get the cage done and certified before taking the Mini off the road for a few months. The gear change is not good. I'm reduced to switching the engine off to select either 1st or reverse then switch on the engine to proceed. Gear changing requires some skill to avoid the crunch. I'm using lunch time to email UK/USA companies based in Mexico but nothing so far from any email....

 

I've decided to swap out the fuel tank as my hot weld repair to the gash after the roll might not survive a big rock hit on the stages. I found 'S' tank in CR for $260, I've brought back from CR my 8" lightforce spot lamps to sell cover the cost. Meanwhile I've just bought another used Midlands in CT as a casing back up. Oh BTW the Mini passed the CR state type test last month! The only rally car in CR with a legal ticket! LOL

The issue is all the rally cars don't have the manual hand brake. So for this year they are supposed to have it but as always money talks...My Mini has both the hydraulic and stock hand brake.

Also I've been emailing Way to reload the ECU tune since January but he never returns my emails or calls so figure I'll move on. Shame really because that tune seemed to work well with my engine mods and the crappy fuel. Business must be good there. I've been looking at the LO3 tune from Lohen seeing as they reply to my eamils and the pound/dollar rate is good.

 

Thanks Don, I did think to tap them up for a discount in exchange for some decals I did contact Jan once or maybe twice but didn't really get any quick replies or a price I could afford. He did introduce me to the Vipec ECU but at $1500 I'd have to sell my body on the streets of CR!

 

Ah I'm back down here again but arrived with a sinus infection which sometimes I get due to traveling. Tuesday was a day off so I took use of the time to go get another fuel tank. Always buying used stuff here is interesting. My Co-driver called the shop to see if they had one, they said only for the S, Eminiparts confirmed both the MCS and MC are the same. The cost was 110,000c about $220 . So I went down there and they said sorry we don't have a tank for the MC. I said the tank is the same, after some polite conversation and I pointed out the sticker on the tank said R50/R53 they agreed, Then the fun part....paying. The price went up! Gringo tax strikes again! after some heated Spanish on the phone with the shop boss and my co-driver the tank was mine. They even left all the pipes and filter housing which is great because remember mine does not filter for some reason.

Now I have to go get the cage welded and start to pull off the gearbox once my sinus infection has calmed down

 

Yes, a wise decision indeed. ..not much chance of finding another cheap Mini for parts down here. thanks for the good wishes,

 

It was a busy weekend cutting the brackets and plates for the roll cage upgrade, I hope to have that welded up this week. So I will be back to hitching a ride to work for a while.

 

The Mini is back from the shop, all the welding is done and looks good, so now I can start to take out the gearbox and clutch before I leave on Saturday...... ooooh I forgot how to remove the gearbox! LOL The good thing is I now have the Mini under cover due to a lockable shed became available for a few months.

 

For Costa Rica you can get away with a basic cage but for the FIA I need to add a few gussets and a better center belt anchorage. Also my rear belt angle was wrong so I had the weld another cross bar in.

 

I modified the stock sliders for 2 reasons, the OMP sliders were expensive and to make them fit would require more work. I just chopped up the stock sliders and welded heavy duty plates to the slider. Worked well and easy to remove the seats.

Hahaha yes Dave I should show them but they might look closer for damage...LOL

 

Last Saturday I dropped the gearbox and removed the clutch to find out why all the selections crunch. The black powder is metal dust! The plate is close to the rivets and the pressure plate has about a 2 mm recess worn into it. The flywheel plate is a little better but will need replacing. The clutch I will ship back to Clutchnet for a rebuild. I was going to buy a SPEC clutch kit but have not heard good reviews. I've used Clutchnet since 2004 so better the devil you know.

The clutch has done 8 rallies and about 6000 miles in total. That's stage and CR driving miles since 2012 so not too bad. Also I found a coolant leak from the metal pipe under the intake and the PS rubber pipe is leaking too. All in all the Mini was due for a rebuild.