Another long day today, I've done 20 hours in two days and am suffering now! what a way to spend your days off in this weather......being stuck in the garage, you might like doing that kind of stuff but I don't!
Enough of my biaaatching....
Started off with trying to work out how to work this overflow/expansion/whatever you want to call it bottle out, its got two pipes, a small overflow at the top and a larger inlet at the bottom, the bottom pipe will sit too low so ideally I need the other one but they are just pipes, so time for some genius thinking, picked up a drill and bored out the top hole and blocked up the bottom pipe with the good 'ol trusty tigerseal
Had some coolant overflow pipe wrapped up in a spiral overnight and chopped off a small section and gasket sealed it in place, the spiral thats fed through now sits at the bottom of the bottle, put a main hose on top and job done
Mounted it up where I did have the second rad
Overflow pipe sitting level and cap is 10mm under the wing - job done!
Also welded on a central support for the bonnet slam panel as it was bending with little pressure, it clears the exhaust manifold fine
Then the bonnet safety hook malarky, this was giving me a real headache as the MOT guy says it needs one period, so popped down to KFC for some inspirational stroke motivational food.....
by the way it tasted awesome as usual if anyone cares
Started off with some savagery with the angle grinder
Gaffer taped it up to the center to catch what was left of the slam panel but it was a no go, there is 'maybe' some room there but we're talking mm's here so with the engine rocking about on the move and even the front end being re-fitted not straight and true its not worth the gamble so went with plan b (the idea not the singer!)
Welded it up to the side of the bonnet
And welded on a catch on the wing as the angle the hook sits wouldn't hook the underside of the wing no matter how far I moved it across
Does it work? of course it does!!! I found out by mistake as I clicked the bonnet down as usual and lifted it as I have been doing - very quickly, but I forget about the hook (as its the first time I've used it on this front end) and it soon hooked up!
Then started to chuck some interior in, god I love this Rio design!
Need some carpets next payday, newton commercial looks good but a bit pricey, budget stuff should do....
Getting some chromework on
I used this numberplate with the previous clubman front, holes don't line with a roundnose/bullnose/bellnose front - great another one needed....
Bonnet alignment still needs playing about with but I'm sure the MOT guy won't find it critical for his needs!
Best I can do with the wing/scuttle as I'm leaving my a-panel flares sitting on the outside, I know thats not mini ethical but suck it up
Got MOT tuesday so just got some small stuff left to do which I will tackle tomorrow, but the main brunt of it is done
Also took it for a quick little drive earlier (on private grounds) but couldn't stay out long as I didn't have the front end on and was getting some funny looks, it was pulling me side to side but I know that aint torque steer as it was doing the exact same thing as before with the b16 after I played around with the suspension
I aint got no geometry equipment here so will try and see what I can at least do with an i-phone
Oh and the clutch is fine, for a stage 4 paddle clutch I was expecting it to be a menace, but apart from the total travel being short it is fine, more than fine, its not on/off atall
Next job - more KFC as its motivational!