The Mini seems to be running well. The oil cooler gives me 10PSI more at idle so that's good. I have been buying the Holey rim off Ebay but did not check them until I had all the rally tyres mounted last weekend. One of them had a hole in it! So I had to go get it fixed for $50. next time I'll check instead of waiting 6 months. ooooh is it nice to be motoring again.
A welding weekend! I made a little dolly out of scrap metal to move tyres and heavy spares boxes around. Then I cut the brackets off the spare set of STI front struts to make another spare set of Mini struts . When I was at work last week I notice a company checking the fire extinguishers so I asked if they can check the rally version, which they can so I have that at work today. Just waiting for the cage certification and we are good to rally worldwide!
elsewhere you can read my woes with being FIA compliant....what a money pit those guys make for being compliant. Meanwhile back in CR the Mini is getting wired up for a nice light bar I got from China a few years back. Something similar to the one Alex uses. A funny thing since fitting the oil cooler is now I get from time to time when the engine is cold "P0128" cooling temp to low! hahahaha
i hope you got a light bar with color temperature 5000k or less? anything above is stupid bluish and useless and get your eyes tired very quickly. ideally it should be 4300k but those are hard to come by. and oil temp shouldn't be too low. if i remember correctly optimal working temp is 80 or even 90 celcius? but i guess it'll get pretty hot in Mexico =o)
the issue with the P0128 is that I run around with Max coolant fan in traffic but with the oil cooler now I have to flick the fan off and on. I bought this one https://www.aliexpress.com/item/30inch-140W-curved-cree-led-light-bar-combo-beam-for-off-road-4x4-for-f150-ford/32670135140.html?spm=2114.30010308.3.25.bwsQd1&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2_10091_10090_10088_10089,searchweb201603_1&btsid=1dfe1740-5c00-416d-ae8e-86eb5f83cb6b melts the paint off the walls
6000k it is. should be ok for dusty conditions since you're gonna be on Ogier's tale all night long :wink: i had issues with my rad fun as well and just hardwired it to a switch with a light in it. works on full speed only. i guess resistor is blown but i didn't have time nor i wished to remove the whole front end again lol. now will have to figure it out before the next rally. hey i wonder if you had a chance to contact reiger guys?
The Mini is still blasting around CR! I have the new fire extinguisher coming today and I will swap the gear box oil for 75w/140 Royal Purple at the recommendation of the supplier of the gear set. I'm still waiting for the roll cage cert..but that's another thread.
I got some sad news on Monday that May 31st will be my last day with this company of 10 years. Which effectively ends my visits to CR and my relationship with the Mini. The reason being I owe money on the Mini for spares, tyres and the taxes when I shipped the Mini into CR. This cost was covered by one of my sponsors which I have been slowly paying off but I still owe more than it is worth to pay up and ship the Mini back to the US. Therefore I have to leave the old gal on vacation in CR until I can figure out what to do next. Sad news yes but not the end of the world. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me since 2012 with my Mini Adventures and hopefully I will have another Mini in the near future. I'll be dropping in here from time to time to see what you're up to
oh no! it sucks big time! sorry to hear that Chris. where are you going to be settling down? PS. what kinda sponsor would require to be paid back? i could hardly call it "sponsorship" it's simply a loan! seriously ...jeeez! i hope you get to keep the suspension and such!
Chris I'm sorry this has happened. With your press on regardless spirit I'm sure you'll be hitting the stages again soon. All the best my friend & if I can be of help just ask.
Thanks guys I will survive! It was sort of a sponsorship! He paid for stuff and I paid him back! He did buy stuff I didn't have to pay for so it worked for me.....all interest free. Anyway today is a different day and I have 2 months to sort things out.
What can I add, Chris, that has not already been said? It truly sucks about your situation...truly, and I will always be wishing you the best!
awe thanks. The most frustrating thing is the time and money I spent preparing for Mexico. Also the support everyone gave me to get there but fear not folks because ................................................................................drum roll.........................................................there's a rally in CR before I leave! so your support and all that preparation might not be wasted! Rally mode on! you see just another day makes the difference.
Run the last Rally, enjoy it. Sorry to see the job hit, but that is life, it will get resolved. It has been a blast watching your adventures. Don