Italian Job 1972 1.8 VVC

[CooperWorks]

Given the fact that I bought this car as opposed to building it I feel like a fraud creating a build diary. But given the amount of interest I have received I've decided to do one anyway.
I bought my mini last August off Ebay from Ian, a member on here.
http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff485/Garvan/IMG_0002blankedout.jpg~original[/IMG]
The pictures do not do the car justice as it is absolutely A1 mint, Ian has done a fantastic job building her.

[PHILBISHOP]

Acouple of fluffy dice would have gone down well to make it your own

[CooperWorks]

I'll move on. It was one of two ways for me when building/buying a mini - either a mean looking clubman or a sleeper roundnose. I loved what Ian had done to this car with the 10 inch D1's, spot on Colour of Almond Green with an Old English white roof - it just cried out Italian job to me.
This is how she looks now:-
Overriders fitted front and rear, lamp bar fitted with 1 LR6 and 2 FT6 lamps, expansion tank dropped to lower the bonnet, full length leather bonnet straps fitted and FT6 reverse light fitted.
We've taken off the front Cooper S disc brakes (which I have to say are like new) and fitted Minisport 4 pots and vented discs. This is only approximately 50 miles ago so they are far from being bedded in yet.
Keiran off here welded together a cable for mini clocks with a Rover worm drive to get my speedo working. All was good except 2nd gear was hit or miss. It turns out the the cable interfered with my gear linkage
Half an hour under the car and several cable ties later I managed to re route the cable and everything was good - for a week or two
It turns out that with moving the cable away from the gearbox linkage I was also pulling it out of the drive so it eventually gave way and by the time I drove home I had knackered the end of the cable
I rerouted and refitted the cable but to no avail - it needs changing.
I have bought seat belts for the front and rear but have not fitted them yet.
I've wired in the stereo but I am yet to buy some speakers. I have shaped a piece of plywood to go under the rear seat to house a pair of speakers and have the carpet ready and waiting. When I get round to buying the speakers my stereo will be up and running in no time. I've got to say I do enjoy the sound of the engine more than any CD I own though
I think that is all the good stuff for now...

[CooperWorks]

Now the bad stuff.........
I took her out for a drive today near my home where there is a left turn followed by a sudden right turn. I turned left and immediately indicated to go right. There was two cars coming the other way so I stopped to wait for the road to clear and then it happened...
Peugeot up my backside, I'm absolutely gutted. Damage doesn't look to bad but all the same...
I'm away on my jollies on Wednesday so no time to get her repaired before then, so now I'll have to spend Monday getting quotes, contacting the insurance etc - stuff I really have no time to do.

[Bram]

Gutted for you as that is a lovely looking mini. Just a good job it was not worse!

[PHILBISHOP]

now that is a shame,could have ended up a lot worst.
my mum says there only tin cans and as long as you walk away from them in an accident.

[CooperWorks]

I'm still waiting for the insurance engineer to drive my car away and fix her .
Picked the lad up from school today which is only a 6 mile round trip in traffic. Driving home I noticed the temp above half way on the dial so stuck my fan on. The temp kept on creeping up until I got home. Popped the bonnet and suddenly steam everywhere . Eased the top of the expansion tank and waited. Filled the tank with coolant and cold water so fingers crossed I got to it in time. Turns out the fan is no longer working. Not sure if the fan is knackered or it is a connection as it came on briefly but went off again. Hopefully I will get the chance to jack her up tomorrow to have a proper look. Fingers crossed I'll find a connection problem as a big job will breakout fitting a new fan due to limited space under the bonnet.
If I do need to change the fan I think I'll get one with an adjustable temperature switch.

[AGoaty]

The insurance are dragging their heals there. It's a shame you have to wait such a long time for a relatively simple repair.

I'm still not convinced the radiator is big enough. I ran mine round for a year without having a fan on, so you shouldn't have to relay on it. I now have one but it rarely comes on as it's linked into ECU as the standard car would of been.

[CooperWorks]

Originally Posted by AGoaty

The insurance are dragging their heals there. It's a shame you have to wait such a long time for a relatively simple repair.

I'm still not convinced the radiator is big enough. I ran mine round for a year without having a fan on, so you shouldn't have to relay on it. I now have one but it rarely comes on as it's linked into ECU as the standard car would of been.

Thanks for the reply.
Three days after the accident I had a two week holiday so things didn't really get moving until I got back. My fault really but I am pushing them now.
My concern is I have not had the slightest hint of overheating until now, and this was on such a short run. I'll try and get my fan going & wizz her around the block a few times, but an automatic fan would not be a bad idea anyway.

[ardonfast]

Ok garv, did you check the water before you drove it that day?
I often don't bother until I see steam, maybe a small drip leak while you were laying in the sun coused it, problem is the ins rep can't drive it away ,good luck

[CooperWorks]

Alright Shaun,
Yep I know the level was high enough before my drive, I'll be having a look this afternoon hopefully & I'll report back.

Oh, and I spoke to the insurance this morning and their engineer has reported that the car is "showroom condition" and they don't want to do the work.
Going round to see Kieran on Saturday to see if he can bash it back into shape before taking it to be resprayed.

[ardonfast]

That's a pitty I was hoping it had evaperaghted or dripped out,
Hope it's ok beleve thers a method to getting are locks out,
I was going to say leave the insurance out of it,, but it's mint so don't know,
Thers no bashing needed is there?
Buy a new boot and a light lense ,take the boot to be painted and bolt it on, and the lense,
Well for less drama anyway,

[CooperWorks]

Originally Posted by ardonfast

That's a pitty I was hoping it had evaperaghted or dripped out,
Hope it's ok beleve thers a method to getting are locks out,
I was going to say leave the insurance out of it,, but it's mint so don't know,
Thers no bashing needed is there?
Buy a new boot and a light lense ,take the boot to be painted and bolt it on, and the lense,
Well for less drama anyway,

Unfortunately the bumper has pushed in, there is a dent behind the bumper and there is a fold in the boot

[ardonfast]

well ok, you do what you gota do aint you, good luck,

[filski]

it pains me reading this thread.... i really hope insurance sorts the repair and if so do a good one as well and not a bodge.