Mini Update
Man I feel like I've run a marathon! Totally sore all over... It's hard to put a car together on your own! downright impossible for some things... I highly recommend asking a mate for help!!!
She's in!!! took 2 days of constant work but she's looking half decent now!
Here's a pic of the engine swinging on the crane. I said to myself This is about as clean as you will ever see her so admire now
Note the special tuning sticker on the rocker cover
Engine install
Man it was hard leading up to the event! wiring was all done, had to drill new holes for wire exit from cabin through to firewall and feed the wires through. Note in the pic below that you can hardly see any wires up near the fuse box!!!
Proud of that!! sure the front of the car needs work with wiring but...
Yes yes I didn't paint the subframe... ran out of time and just wanted the engine in. The scope of the paint job was to 1) clear the rust, 2) make the box look like it was meant to be there. I achieved both those criterias. The subframe was in very good condition so I just cleaned it.
What's the point of painting it inside the bay and leaving it crapy outside of the bay (ie under the car)? So I thought bugger it...
The engine mounts took awhile to put in, esp by myself. The remote arm was the killer! it took me AGES to get the blasted thing on, lying on my back, trying to hold it up with one hand and putting the screws in with the other
Now that it is in, I can sit in the car and and pretend I am driving
The remote gearchange is tight and SO short!!! Closest thing to factory new gearshift I will ever get me thinks. It's so notchy... I lurve it...
This week will just be about connecting all the wires, carby and exhaust, and hopefully by next weekend I can drive her!!!
Funny thing: Wife came down to garage and said "how the heck do you know what to do?" (she meant about putting the car back together). I said well think about this, a Uni degree is 3 years? well I've had my car for 3 years, read many books on theory, discussed theory for 3 years, also have had 3 years of practical, even been to lectures by people who are industry leaders in the subject, does that not make me a qualified Mini Nut??
Anyway thanks for reading. I will have a (hopefully) final update next week. In case I don't speak to you all before Xmas, Merry Christmas, drive safe and say hello to your mum for me!!!
