well as some of you may have followed the progress of my Mini, you'll know its now going.
I took it for its first drive last week to go to the auto sparky to sort out a few issues (alternator light was staying on, etc)

This is all after I've spent around $5k to get the engine pulled out, rebuilt, and put back in, brakes - total rebuild rears, metro 4 pot disk conversion to the front, lots of new parts including handbrake, fuel, oil and water pumps, cones, bushes, hoses etc)

The first drive:
The brakes dont work (pedal goes to the floor and very little braking power achieved after standing on them)
It overheats (2km drive, I thought it may be the radiator cap not fitting properly so I adjusted it so it sits snug, but overheated on the way home from auto sparky also)
The gear selectors are absolutely crap. If you can find a gear, its so damn hard to force it in, its really "undriveable" by any normal standard Id think.
The guy I gave it to (to do all this work) is coming to "pick it up" next week to sort out the "issues" but Im thinking Im sure this is wrong, and I shouldnt trust him.

Its overheating: What could the problems be? Is there anything I can check?It is actually getting hot, its not just the temp guage thats going up. Could it be the radiator cap not fitting right (2km drive)

The brakes: Could it be as simple as needing bleeding?

The gears: stuffed if I know, there's a local Mini guy coming over to look at it tomorrow, I hope he knows what its problem is

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78 van 1300 cam extractors weber, 12" Superlights Metros Konis HiLos MP3 Amp Sub Alpine speakers and lots of fur
www.crazybitchracing.com

Jill was the guy who did the work a mini specialist. You can PM me if you like with the details - It might save me a hassle or two if I know to avoid this individual!

Cheers

Gig

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67 Deluxe - Red and white
69 Deluxe - Sugercane Grey

it was claimed he was yes.. he was recommended to me... and he has a beautifully restored Mini which he did himself...
but it was private, not through a proper workshop.

PM sent, I wont name anyone here until I know exactly what Ive got to deal with.

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78 van 1300 cam extractors weber, 12" Superlights Metros Konis HiLos MP3 Amp Sub Alpine speakers and lots of fur
www.crazybitchracing.com

I don't think the radiator cap should cause it to overheat the way your describing, perhaps the radiator fan was installed backwards, You didn't mention whether you had your radiator replaced/reconditioned/cleaned/flushed etc...

Brakes, possible just need bleeding...

Gears, sounds like a clutch issue, possibly bleed the system again, check all seals...

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

Jill all these symptoms just sound like normal Mini stuff!! (only joking...but there is an element of truth there).

Take it back...give some of it a chance...like the overheating...it may get better with some use. See what he says....if he wants more referalls he will probably come good.

Meantime....have you tried checking the tightness of your splined linkages on top of the gearbox?? I assume you have a remote extension and ask if he did any work on the extension ball and cup etc prolly not....depends on what you asked for...what did it drive like before he did the work???

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"Show me the Mini!"

Jill, i kind of agree with 9YaTaH, i had similar probs (alternator light, temp probs, clutch etc) you just have to sit back, take a breath and look closer!!!!, and a bit of patience........... hope it all comes good for u, good luck with the issues

Steve

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I got nuthin......................

When I got my first mini done up I had NO hands on with the car, it was all outsourced. My nes engine cost me $6,500.00 and the first time I drive it it was crap. Basically I made it 5ks down the road and found by brnad new engine and recently pained engine bay covered in about 2ltr of brand new oil form he brand new motor (now 5km old) Like you I thought i ahd been ripped off, it did take a few returns to the workshop to iron out all the bugs.

With the last two minis I have had I have been more hands on and I can see how mistakes can happen when rebuilding a motor and most of the time they are simple. Overheating is probably something that can be fixed, same with the brakes. If it was belching bliue smoke and had no power well then you would have something to worry about.

When he picks up the car ask about some sort of Waranty on his work.

Mini Mad, radiator was checked and flushed (apparently), seemed fine (to him and I took his word for it, it does look fine) in saying that though, the cooling system was full of crap after being basically garaged for best part of 10 years, so maybe there's still a blockage in it somewhere?
Clutch and brakes might need bleeding.. I hope so

I just dont want to give it back to this guy. The car came back with none of the engine wiring connected (perfectly connected when he took it) the electric fuel pump was wired through the cab over the passengers seat with aligator clip connectors..

even though I know he should be given the opportunity to fix these problems, I'm sure he's gonna hit me with another humungus bill (when it got close to the end I asked how much it was going to be to fit the engine and get it running ..coz each estimate of costs just blew out.. and blew out... the final stage $500 turned into $1700 with bits and pieces and his labour). I'm beginning to think I should get what ever problems it has fixed by someone else

9YaTaH, I hope the guy coming tomorrow, to look at it, will know what to look for. He's been racing and building Minis for years, so hopefully he will know whats wrong.

Steve, I tried that, continue to think it'll be ok.. eventually. and it will. Its just so many potentially horrible problems after spending so much money. Its disheartening.

Hopefully some good news tomorrow.

If I pulled the bottom radiator hose off and water freely flows out, that would mean its not blocked right? Any other way I can check if its got a radiator blockage?

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78 van 1300 cam extractors weber, 12" Superlights Metros Konis HiLos MP3 Amp Sub Alpine speakers and lots of fur
www.crazybitchracing.com

I hear you.................. i spent quite a large amount of cash to get my mini, and yes it is very scary when u see these faults, and the usual thoughts creep in like "crap i have just wasted my cash" and "i'm over this just sell it" ............... IT WILL COME RIGHT!!!!!!!

Chin up

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I got nuthin......................

You are always going to have a long brake pedal with the 4 pot calipers, they take more fluidl! You should get a pedal though, try rebleeding them. Steve

yeah I just take one look at it and Im like god damn its cute
I just want it driveable..

yes, patience.. not one of my virtues

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78 van 1300 cam extractors weber, 12" Superlights Metros Konis HiLos MP3 Amp Sub Alpine speakers and lots of fur
www.crazybitchracing.com

There is no excuse for returning a customers car with temporary wiring in place or things not connected. Ask for an immediate reduction in the bill or you are going to Consumer Affairs etc.

From what you have told us it sounds like the guy is out of his depth....

Overheating...if the car has been sitting for ten years ...you need to "blow the cobwebs out"...this could take the form of a reverse flush, high pressure chemical clean of the block and the radiator followed by lots of long drives. It may take a long time to come good depending on what sort of use you give it. Has he replaced the water pump? If not, it probably wouldn't have appeciated sitting for ten years.

Good luck....this one needs intensive care!!! So don't be a stranger...keep us informed of what happens ...symptoms etc

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"Show me the Mini!"

i know its dissheartening jan.
since owning my car 8 months ago and having it on the road. there has NEVER been a moment when i haven't had something to fix. after a while u get tired of it. but it'll come good (i bloody well hope! )

overheating really isn't hard to achieve with a mini. i replaced my entire cooling system, and still it overheats (not as bad as it did, and the thermo is much more effective).
go all out with it, fit a heater core right up the front of the grill for lots of extra cooling and it should be sweet, that's if the radiator is all good.

i'd say bleed the brakes before thinking about checking anything else with the brakes, if u dont eventually get a firm pedal at least half way down then u really need to fix something.

wiring, well that's just shocking. u should get firm with this guy.

good luck. its worth it in the end.

the rad may look good but how much scale rust and crap is in the core it self how many of the fins are blocked inside prolly needs to be removed and get a 2core special
makka

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Anonymous moderation means the agro that is built up towards the mods isn't aimed at an individual (fewer "Makk" attacks). Less stress for mods means less moderator "retirements".

O dear its not a post I want to hear today dear...Jill
I would have want to see you were screaming aounr the blold the last couple of nights ( puff on on the sig and a swig of the old JD)
If you have outlayed any money to a company EG: drake, ELEctonics, anything, and paybe good money and its not correct...they realy should correct it
I feel bad enought that U pulled an engine today and don't think it correct. for refitting, so I have asked the question
Can you Extress what you have regaring to?
Cooling. Eg Fan Blad numbers, Thermo Number, Addtion Coolling
Wireing.....yes I know
Brakes...Duel or single, Slave, 4 pot, Etc.
I'm Like you ...but, yer, I know you want to drive it on the road but so do I
If you have payed money they should have it correct before it leaves the shop :idea:

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It