Geeze, I'd settle for 1 lap of Mt Panorama at the moment

The only problem with this head is that it has the temperature guage in the front and as I want to be able to show the van as an original 1964 850 eventually I didn't want to deviate at all. Or am I being too picky and they wouldn't worry about that. It would be a hell of a lot better having the temperature guage.

I have done a search on here and apparently you can get early 998 heads that don't have the temperature guage so I was thinking that may be the way to go. Mind you that's all down the track a little bit.
Ziff

Try some 600 wet n dry with the wd40 on the face and the inlet/exh face also, you might be surprised how much cleaner these faces come. Need to use a sanding block when working on these surfaces though. Also check both of the heads (and block face) with the side of a steel ruler or another straight edge to see which is flattest.
Most of all enjoy doing the job, or you might not want to do it again.

Thanks for the advice. I certainly do enjoy it. The best part is my missus is sitting beside me ready to give a hand nearly all the time I'm working on the car. I find it nice to have someone to talk to even if there is nothing else for them to do. The whole family gets involved with the Mini's. I have had all three kids helping me at different stages. The eldest daughter at nearly thirteen gets a bit over it every now and then but thankfully the two youngest are still willing participants
Ziff

I have a '67 with a 998 in it and it doesn't have the temperature sender in it. My car is a deluxe.

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

Ziff
Its great that you have family support because any hobby is terribly difficult without it. My circumstances are that I am basically by myself for most things and I also have to rely on my wife to help with so many things. She is the one with the slender arms and supple fingers that can get into a tight crevice and start a nut.

She is also the one who strains pulling the motor one way while I push the other end to get an engine mount to line up so we can slip a bolt into the holes. I have never learnt to do these things totally by my self and i have been playing with minis ( and other cars) now for over forty years.

I dont know if Graham wants to be formally indentified but you have a walking encyclopedia of all things mini in Graham_in_Aus who lives in the Hunter region. If you have particular questions on authenticity of restoration parts then I am sure he willing to accept questions via Ausmini in the first instance.

There is also a vast array of knwledge in genral via Ausmini and although you may occasionally have to sift the information provided, it is always in good faith.

Keep pressing forward mate.

Thanks Mike. It's funny you mention Graham actually as he and I keep in touch and I ask him for advice reasonably often. I actually got the original 850 engine out of my van from him as we both bought cars from the same place a little while ago and in amongst the spares he ended up with my engine.

It's amazing how things can work out as we had been talking about the two cars we had bought from this particular mob a couple of times. Graham remembered about the spare 850 engine with his lot, had a look, and the rest is history so they say. Small world. Amazing when you think how easily the car and engine could have been separated forever.
Ziff

Gosh he's a nice bloke, that Graham!!

Thanks Ziff

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Sir Alec! we are not worthy!

You are most welcome Graham. Credit where credit is due I believe. I just hope I can contribute as much to the Mini fraternity one day.
Ziff

Kids are great to get into the fun, when scraping back my floor I had a 5 yr old on the wire brush and my 3yr old with the vaccuum cleaner . Didn't get a photo of that Of course not much cleaning get done.

Yeah.....just ask him

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"Show me the Mini!"