Most liked posts in thread: Rally Mini Cooper

The alignment seems ok. I hear that rear caliper squeaking so it must be sticking...another part for the shopping list!

• Ver Tema - RALLY PACIFICO CENTRAL - FECHA 5, 2013 - INFO Y MAS...

I put the Mini as John Cooper Works just to scare the other teams! hahaha

 

I've just won a nice set of 800miles 2013 STI front and rear struts for $300. This should hopefully sort out the soft spring issues and give me a spare set of struts. Then I can sell the 08 STI struts I have to get some cash back. The rallies will most likely start in May.

 

The nice thing about being away for 3 weeks is I have time to focus on the Mini after work. Last night I had a big piece of aluminium plate sitting in the shed that was begging to be a front suspension top mounts anti-mushroom reinforcement plates. I made some cardboard templates, then after about an hour with the trusty Jig saw I had had some plates. The center hole for the STI top mount is not exactly circular due to the Jig saw had a mind of its own! LOL The plate is around ¼” thick so I’ll get a little extra ride height. Tonight I need to fit longer top mount bolts and fit the plates/suspension.

 

I hope this cradle/support bracket will stop the bolt bending. I added a locking plate to stop the bolt turning and working loose.

 

I've been a bit quiet but now I'm gearing up for rally 4 on Oct 19th. I have a new Ebay radiator, tow strap, axle bearing housing and Shop InvisaFlow Black Metal Lock-In Gutter Guard at Lowes.com gutter leaf mesh to blind rivet to the lower bumper. Before leaving CR the LSD was getting that clatter clatter noise again so I swapped the oil to Red Line Synthetic Oil - Gear Oil for Manual Transmissions - 75W90 NS GL-5 Gear Oil which seemed to help. The noise is the clutch plates breaking and gripping.

Also I found a busted gearbox and some spare axles from a fellow Mini chap doing a 6 speed swap over in CA.

 

Lancia spolier looks more like an air brake! File:Lancia Delta HF Integrale 03.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

 

This is what a straight cut gear set sounds like. 5 speed reverse gear sound!

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUJvpWwLmHM"]straight cut gearbox mini - YouTube[/ame]

 

bloody hell it's cold here! and I forgot to bring my winter coat from CR. So I must have looked tough in my short sleeves at the Boston airport early this morning!

I finally managed to fix my trolley jack with a o ring from work. Then I was able to jack up the Mini to look for the strange steering issue. Bingo! Both ball joints were shot. The passenger ball joint had about 5mm+ of play!!! lucky I didn't drive around as it was ready to pop out. I'll be returning in 2 weeks with new ones.

 

This week I've been trying to sort the electric's. I hate sorting electric's because I can't see the fault like you can witha mechanical part. Anyway I have all the lights working with the LED side markers.

The most frustrating issue was the reversing light. I have this wired up to a manual switch which was working fine. After the body shop work the reversing light did not work. I checked all the wires, I had power to the bulb,the bulb was good but did not light up. I took the whole light unit off and finally figured out the incoming wires had been swapped???? so the body of the bulb got + and the center connector - ???? So cut the wires soldered them the other way BINGO I have a light. Go figure.

Next is the passenger door that does not lock. Then this weekend I hope to do the ball joints, roof spoiler and checker decals.

The gear set requires Peugeot synchro rings for 3rd , 4th and 5th which my good sponsor Mini gearboxes has a ton. They will be sent with the final drive from Gripper .

For the suspension the Euro has dropped so one of my sponsors has offered to buy the rear dampers from Reiger. We hope to have them by May/June

 

I thinking of putting a vice and bench drill on the wing. hahah funny thinig is I was using it yesterday to put various tools. hahaha

 

The test drive back from work was fine. I tested the handling on a few bends so I think the chassis is straight which proves a very good cage is an investment. I'm waiting for Gripper and Reiger for the next modifications. Meanwhile I need to fix the passenger door lock and bleed the brakes again.

Came back to snow today. ouch

 

Latest news is one of my sponsors will cough up for the Reiger rear dampers which should be finished by June. I will have to cover the fronts. I'm going to get the STI inserts modified to gravel spec by Feal suspension.

If the final drive does not show up before I leave for the next visit to CR I will start the next project: moving the spare wheel forward to the rear seat area. I'm sure with the weight of the wheel and battery does not help the rear dampers.

 

Suspension ,final drive and new helmet are on my desk in the US. Front struts are MIA in CA??? and the decals are done ready to be printed! Even got a new Sponsor!!!! FORTECH I've been busy. LOL We are gearing up for a rally in July fingers crossed