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+--- Thread: Caesar the 1275 E - Diary of minor changes (/showthread.php?tid=186)
RE: Caesar the 1275 E - Diary of minor changes - Vinay-RS - 08-06-2017
So we had a fun day today... Not
We decided today would be the day we fitted the twin carbs, but we ended up spending a good hour trying to swap the manifold gasket, then the exhaust manifold wouldn't line up and lastly, the carb manifold didn't fit. So we refitted the single HS4 carb and packed away the twins... again. Now the next plan is the take a grinder and modify the exhaust manifold flanges. Although given all the crappy issues so far, I'm not even sure that will solve the problem. A total waste of a Sunday morning working on the Mini.
RE: Caesar the 1275 E - Diary of minor changes - minitim - 08-07-2017
That sounds a little rough Vinay.
Do the carb and exhaust flanges not fit between each other, or are the holes slightly out?
RE: Caesar the 1275 E - Diary of minor changes - Vinay-RS - 08-07-2017
Hey Tim, the exhaust flanges aren't the correct shape. They mostly line up correctly with the inlet studs, but the twin carb manifold abuts against the flanges instead of being flush with the head. The reason seems to be that they're either too big or they're not rounded correctly. Since getting a new manifold isn't feasible right now, we figured modding this one would be the best option.
RE: Caesar the 1275 E - Diary of minor changes - Vinay-RS - 08-25-2017
So some big news. I decided that I don't have the skills, tools or time to get the suspension sorted and I knew it needed doing. Hence I took the car to a local Mini/Classic car specialist - Dennis Nathan at NVS at Killarney Race Track. This was the best decision ever, as he gave the car a once over, checking the suspension, brakes and cooling systems.
I was hoping to get the adjustable tie rods, adjustable lower control arms and front and rear Hilos fitted. Additionally, I was hoping to get the rebuilt gear selector fitted. It turns out that there was a little more wrong with the car than just worn components. Dennis found that the tie rod mounting point had sheared. He had this refurbished so that the car was safe. He then proceeded to fit the new components. Following this, he found the lower and upper engine steady brackets were also either damaged or completely sheared. He brought in a professional welder who fixed the broken brackets and everything was tightened up. Next up the gear selector was fitted with a bit of filing down, as the fit was so tight that it wouldn't select gears at first. The cooling system had a few small issues too. The top radiator bracket bolts were sheared off and there was a small hole on the top cowling. These problems were all fixed as well.
Now, as a pro, he was also able to identify a number of issues that need to be sorted soon. There is a tiny leak from the head. This is probably because one of the head studs have pulled up and the stud holes need to be chamfered. Additionally, the sump plug, which is currently a random bodged bolt, needs a Helicoil. He said this can be done in-situ and is possible since he has a car lift. He wasn't keen to fit the twin carbs on a cylinder head that isn't perfect yet, so that is also still on the todo list. Lastly, once the brakes are done, they will go back to him to get installed.
I'm so happy with the result! The car drives incredibly well and feels so much stiffer with the new suspension components. I can feel all the bumps from the road and the squeaks and rattles from the suspension when going over bumps and turning are completely gone. The gear selection is also so smooth and feels like new!
RE: Caesar the 1275 E - Diary of minor changes - Vinay-RS - 08-27-2017
So I said the gear selection felt smooth... well it doesn't and it's a bit of a sad feeling, to be honest. When I left Dennis's place, I suppose I spent a lot of time on the highway, so only really had to change gears once to get to top gear. I've been struggling to select reverse and first and it doesn't really lock into second.
He had said that the mechanism might be too stiff because the tolerance on one of the parts was too high. Hopefully, as it gets used the mechanism will wear a little and will be smoother with the gear selection.
Anyway, been feeling kind of despondent about it all, as I've just spent quite some funds getting the suspension sorted and fitting a rebuilt selector. On a local chat, some of the people suggested that the gearbox is broken now (as in their opinion the selector can't be at fault), and they also seemed to suggest that my engine needs a rebuild.
I'm really starting to wonder whether there is any point in keeping this car as all they can say is how different components of the car are not working.
Anyway, I don't think I'll be taking the Mini to a car show anytime soon, as there seems to only be negativity directed towards it from the outside
RE: Caesar the 1275 E - Diary of minor changes - minitim - 08-28-2017
Vinay! Your Clubby is already 99% there, so don't get despondent.
Have another set of eyes look at the linkage situation under the car.
Remove the pins from the selector and feel how the lever setup feels without being hooked up to the gearbox.
It may be something small that is not 100%
RE: Caesar the 1275 E - Diary of minor changes - Vinay-RS - 08-29-2017
(08-28-2017, 12:01 PM)minitim Wrote: Vinay! Your Clubby is already 99% there, so don't get despondent.
Have another set of eyes look at the linkage situation under the car.
Remove the pins from the selector and feel how the lever setup feels without being hooked up to the gearbox.
It may be something small that is not 100%
Thanks, Tim
That's a lovely compliment of this car, but I don't know if it's quite that good. I'm not sure who else could give me some useful feedback on the linkage system, but I'll give it a think and perhaps there's someone in the club who can quickly tell what is wrong. It may even be a user problem
It's a bit difficult to not feel bad though. Especially if people (who've not seen the car) immediately say that the issues a car is experiencing require full rebuilds of components, which would require the long term decommissioning of the car.
It's also sad because I don't know if the car will be good enough to drive with you guys to Hermanus and I was hoping it would be ready for that event.
RE: Caesar the 1275 E - Diary of minor changes - abri - 08-29-2017
(08-29-2017, 06:59 PM)Vinay-RS Wrote:(08-28-2017, 12:01 PM)minitim Wrote: Vinay! Your Clubby is already 99% there, so don't get despondent.
Have another set of eyes look at the linkage situation under the car.
Remove the pins from the selector and feel how the lever setup feels without being hooked up to the gearbox.
It may be something small that is not 100%
Thanks, Tim
I'm not sure who else could give me some useful feedback on the linkage system, but I'll give it a think and perhaps there's someone in the club who can quickly tell what is wrong. It may even be a user problem
It's a bit difficult to not feel bad though. Especially if people (who've not seen the car) immediately say that the issues a car is experiencing require full rebuilds of components, which would require the long term decommissioning of the car.
It's also sad because I don't know if the car will be good enough to drive with you guys to Hermanus and I was hoping it would be ready for that event.
I'll give you my two cents for what it's worth...
I think a clear head and some reality is all that's needed. If the gear change needed modifying to fit because it couldn't engage gears to begin with and the problem is now repeating, that is OBVIOUSLY the first place to look. A gearbox doesn't break overnight while no one is driving the car and it was fine before, during and after it was at NVS. They would have picked up if there was anything wrong. It seems the logical first step is to take the car back so the gear change can be inspected again. If further modification is required one has to ask yourself the question if it is the refurbished gear change mechanism itself that has something wrong with it (and take steps accordingly).
No one else has worked on the car (that part of it), so everyone's comments are mere speculation (even though we all like to think we know what we're talking about) and should be regarded as such. You can't say what's really wrong until you have looked...and there are people who have looked and will know where to continue looking.
Speaking as yet another outsider who hasn't seen those parts or driven the car, it seems to me the problem has an obvious (and potentially quite simple/cheap) solution.
RE: Caesar the 1275 E - Diary of minor changes - minitim - 08-30-2017
Quick question Vinay. Was your original rod shift reconditioned during this process, or was it replaced with another item?
Clearly I don't have all the history behind this, so the more info we have the easier and quicker we can help you solve the issue.
RE: Caesar the 1275 E - Diary of minor changes - Vinay-RS - 08-31-2017
(08-29-2017, 08:12 PM)abri Wrote:(08-29-2017, 06:59 PM)Vinay-RS Wrote:(08-28-2017, 12:01 PM)minitim Wrote: Vinay! Your Clubby is already 99% there, so don't get despondent.
Have another set of eyes look at the linkage situation under the car.
Remove the pins from the selector and feel how the lever setup feels without being hooked up to the gearbox.
It may be something small that is not 100%
Thanks, Tim
I'm not sure who else could give me some useful feedback on the linkage system, but I'll give it a think and perhaps there's someone in the club who can quickly tell what is wrong. It may even be a user problem
It's a bit difficult to not feel bad though. Especially if people (who've not seen the car) immediately say that the issues a car is experiencing require full rebuilds of components, which would require the long term decommissioning of the car.
It's also sad because I don't know if the car will be good enough to drive with you guys to Hermanus and I was hoping it would be ready for that event.
I'll give you my two cents for what it's worth...
I think a clear head and some reality is all that's needed. If the gear change needed modifying to fit because it couldn't engage gears to begin with and the problem is now repeating, that is OBVIOUSLY the first place to look. A gearbox doesn't break overnight while no one is driving the car and it was fine before, during and after it was at NVS. They would have picked up if there was anything wrong. It seems the logical first step is to take the car back so the gear change can be inspected again. If further modification is required one has to ask yourself the question if it is the refurbished gear change mechanism itself that has something wrong with it (and take steps accordingly).
No one else has worked on the car (that part of it), so everyone's comments are mere speculation (even though we all like to think we know what we're talking about) and should be regarded as such. You can't say what's really wrong until you have looked...and there are people who have looked and will know where to continue looking.
Speaking as yet another outsider who hasn't seen those parts or driven the car, it seems to me the problem has an obvious (and potentially quite simple/cheap) solution.
Thanks, Abri. I'll definitely make time and take the car to Dennis and he can check things again.
(08-30-2017, 08:15 AM)minitim Wrote: Quick question Vinay. Was your original rod shift reconditioned during this process, or was it replaced with another item?
Clearly I don't have all the history behind this, so the more info we have the easier and quicker we can help you solve the issue.
No. Since I can't decommission the car, I got a rebuilt unit and had the existing one swapped out.
I think I was losing my mind, as over this past week of driving, the mechanism has become looser and now it slots into each gear with relative ease, although now there is a decent amount play when in neutral, 1st and 3rd. This is most probably normal since it's an old car (and also I've no clue what a perfect setup should feel like).
Next up, get the head gasket set, fix brakes and get the other stuff fixed.