So the traveller (actually discovered it is a countryman but thats another story) is back from the paint shop and the rebuild begins. I have bought a huge amount of new parts to go back on to the car and nothing seems to fit!

Putting the sliding window doors back together, new chrome runners dont fit and need trimming down, then the felt track the window sits in doesnt fit needs trimming down. Got all that done and glass back in. Bought new window catch kits, chrome dome wont go through the gasket. Found the old gaskets still seem good so clean them and fit them.

Woo hoo one door done, window wont open the pin doesnt lift high enough to clear the hole it locks in

New door handles all round, key only locks the back door doesn fit the drivers door!

New wiring loom, doesnt include wiring to go to the headlights and on and on and on it goes. Have closed the door to the shed, not having fun anymore so will leave it for another day.

<end rant>

_________________
1965 Riley Elf
1974 Ex Army Moke
1997 Rover Cooper
2002 JCW Cooper
2003 JCW Cooper S

I feel your pain

_________________
the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates

And once you get it all finished the new rubber will all start to perish and crack in 12 months.

Something to look forward to then

_________________
1965 Riley Elf
1974 Ex Army Moke
1997 Rover Cooper
2002 JCW Cooper
2003 JCW Cooper S

Where did you get your new loom from?

I got mine from Vinwire and the headlight wiring came seperate.

Perhaps they accidentally left it out - Or who ever did yours forget to add the headlight loom

_________________
You're so square
Baby I don't care

Yep, production costs and material processing means 'she ain't what she used to be!'

I brought new engine mounts recently and they broke within 2 months... Found 40 year old ones off a wreck and they work much better

Surprising how much crap rubber is around these days.

Managed to find a couple of window seals for the Cooper and on the back of 'em spotted:

HYA 2290 SARM

Nearly 40 yrs old and still poifect!

Good ol' South Australian Rubber Mills of Main South Road Edwardstown (defunct circa. 1975?). They really made some quality stuff.

_________________
1967 Cooper S - new front bearings to do.
1965 Cooper S shell - Slow progress. No time or money!
1966 Deluxe- next rustoration!
Mk 2 & XJ6 Jags. Less said the better.

Most rubber comes out of China now. It is crap, natural rubber.
A while back I caught a rubber supplier here in Sydney passing off this cheapo rubber as neoprene (which I used to buy for welding curtains).
Charging neoprene prices too.
Easy to tell, neoprene doesn't catch fire with a match (or something hotter, like arc welding).
But this stuff did...

re Mini rubbers, I fitted new ones under the Matic's door handle escutcheons. I dunno why I bothered. 12 months later (garaged mostly) they had shrunk.
Next time the handles are off, S/H ones are going in there.

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

A bit of an update on more rubbish parts. New flasher unit, brake switch and voltage regulator both not working correctly. Spent ages trying to find why things wern't working.

You think all new parts here so cant be that. Ive a mind to pack all the parts up I have ordered and send them back that didn't work, voltage reg regulated voltage anywhere between 3 and 14 volts!. Still waiting for a refund for a brand new speedo that dint bloody work properly either, needle swung wildly all over the place and wouldn't sit back to 0.

Went out the back to the 67 countryman that had been sitting in a paddock for 20+ years and got bits off that, work a treat!

_________________
1965 Riley Elf
1974 Ex Army Moke
1997 Rover Cooper
2002 JCW Cooper
2003 JCW Cooper S

Moral of the story seems to be (for parts that make a Mini go) change one at a time...then wait

_________________
"Show me the Mini!"

Thats pretty bad you would think new replacemant parts would work , their quality control must be terrible.

By the way what place did you buy these parts off ? as i would like to avoid them.

And lastly keep your chin up your mini will be worth the effort.

_________________
Project Pickles is ALIVE!!!!! Click Here!
Success is so much sweeter after the struggle

Had similar issue with the rubbers I got for the headlights and parker lights. Had to sit them next to the old ones to make sure I did order the right ones. A bit of 'trimming' and all was good.

I too feel you pain.

Even the London Cabs have been effected!! Where will it all end!!!!

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/wo ... 6501477333

_________________
"Show me the Mini!"