Caesar the 1275 E - Diary of minor changes

[Vinay-RS]

No real update, as I've been lazy to work on the car and busy packing up everything I own for a move.

Got the handbrake cables (which really need to be swapped out), but found out I need a second person to loosen the little brackets by the handbrake lever.

Cleaned up the car super quickly on Friday evening with the fading light. It actually didn't come out too badly. Hoping they eventually lift our water restrictions and we can use proper car soap and water to clean the car.



Then got to meet up with a couple of friends and their Minis at a street show (cars, stalls with food and handmade stuff) on Saturday. We want to make this a thing and just meet up regularly (weekly or every two weeks) for a drive or just a cup of coffee.





This was the photo of the day IMO. Stunning picture taken by a friend.


There were also a few other cool classics at the show. A split window VW Van, a convertible Beetle and a Lotus Elan were the cool mentions.

[Vinay-RS]

So, the car has been running well since January, so I've not really done much or felt the need to do much.

On the to-do list, is to get the car to a body shop to sort out the faded paintwork and surface rust. I also need to place a Minispares order to get some small items to sort out things like the mkII taillights, the pressed rockers and the GTS box. In the meantime, there was a car show yesterday, so I took some time to wash and polish the Mini (which helped lift the colour a little).




While the engine bay was open I noticed the water level had dropped a lot (which is quite strange), also even though the oil level was fine, there was a greasy stain around the spark plugs, which some friends suggested might be due to the rocker cover gasket not being seated properly. Picked up some Prepsol to clean the greasy area and some gasket maker to seat the gasket properly. I was a bit too tired to do this job yesterday, so will try and do it today.

I picked up this really cool framed print of a red Clubman that I am going to stick up on the wall in my bedroom. I also picked up a fake leather tool roll for some car tools at the autojumble yesterday and it was a good size for all the old imperial spanners that I have.



I'm wondering if it would be worth getting the extra two head stud holes drilled into the block and fitted. Maybe I should take the car to an experienced engine builder and find out.

[Jared Mk3]

That framed print is really cool! I like how this car gets used and enjoyed, even when it frustrates you

[Vinay-RS]

That framed print is really cool! I like how this car gets used and enjoyed, even when it frustrates you

Thanks, man. We learn from the frustrations and it's still a lot of fun to drive daily, even with the odd squeak/rattle.

[Vinay-RS]

I haven't updated this thread in a while, mostly because while there are quite a few jobs to do on the car, I've not really had time (or some of the spares) to do the jobs.

Anyway, I finally ordered stuff from Minispares, and once SA customs had sorted out their issues, the parcel was delivered.

The first job to tackle was the rocker set. I had bought a couple of sets of pressed rockers with the oval pads and I'd ordered a new heavy-duty rocker shaft. I cleaned up two sets, found 8 rockers that were in good shape and assembled the set.



I had heard from fellow enthusiasts that it's worth flushing the coolant and changing the oil when fitting the rockers, so this seemed as good a time as any to do a quick service. So oil, filter, and coolant were replaced along with the rocker set.

Today, I asked a friend to give me a hand changing the handbrake cables. I really can't see how I would have managed on my own. Also, used the opportunity to fit a set of the finned spaced drums. I'd bought them because they weren't particularly expensive and I thought they were cool.


I didn't fit new discs when I did the conversion from the drums, so I thought this is a job worth doing too. I got a set of them but I've yet to fit them as I got quite tired spending quite a bit of time under the car.


I think I need to start going to the gym to build muscles so that I can loosen and tighten bolts and nuts properly. I couldn't break the locknut on the steering rack end and this was very annoying.

The next job is to build the mkII taillights up, fit some new bulbs and get it fitted and then solder the connections. I'm guessing the connections are the same... I should probably check.

[minitim]

Nice to see some progress again Vinay! Can't seem to see the photos though

[Vinay-RS]

Nice to see some progress again Vinay! Can't seem to see the photos though

Thanks, Tim. I think there was an error with the bbcode links. I've updated them now. I think it should be working.

[Vinay-RS]

Not much of an update. This weekend I met up with a friend. We swapped the one back steering rack end and tightened everything up. We set the tappets again and the motor sounds really smooth now. I gave the car a quick wash, polish and wax. I'm hoping it doesn't rain before next week.


I also found a Perana louvre with side clips, although it's missing the top clips (and I'm not sure what those are supposed to look like). Still, very happy with the purchase. It needs a clean and perhaps some plastic paint to lift the colour and there are a few small cracks that I was told I could fix with some Q bond, so I will try that.

[Vinay-RS]

So, the little 1275 E completed a 1000 km round trip this past weekend I'm so proud of the car. It ran faultlessly for the entire trip apart from my friend deciding the check and set two of the rocker clearances when we stopped.

This weekend was the Knysna motor show, and the organisers had decided to have a special display for the 60th anniversary of the Mini. Three Minis drove down from Jo'burg (1 Mk1 Cooper S, 1 7 port Mk1 Cooper S, and 1 MkIII Deluxe with some tasty upgrades). Two Minis drove from Cape Town (my 1275 E, and my friends Mk1 Cooper S). We took a slow drive on Saturday morning, stopping for coffee and to check out some local classic car dealers to see their wares. Then we attended the show on Sunday before driving back on Monday morning, again, taking a slow drive back and completing each leg of the journey in around 8 hours.

Here's some pictures from the trip.
First stop for coffee at a nice roadside coffee shop.



Next we stopped for some fuel.


A pair of Minis running D1s


Abri checking the valve clearances because he didn't like how the engine was sounding


A very neat Mk3 at a local car dealership.


Parked at the car show on Sunday:


Lovely sunshine on the drive back.


A pair of stunning classics in this through the windscreen shot. Mk1 Cooper S and Lotus Elan.


The last stop before returning to Cape Town. Old school place with some cool handcrafted items.





Really keen for another road trip. Just need to save up to pay for fuel

[abri]

Dude! I'm sitting here thinking the same thing! That was an awesome trip and we must do more

Really nice pictures too.