Seemed like a good idea at the time!

[IainP]

My son has a Mini arriving at the end of the week, my wee Smart has to go to make space, so had to give that a good check over.
Had the power washer out so attacked the parcel shelf carpet as there was stuff growing on it.
How filthy is that water!


Power washers are wonderful things, from fungus infested to spotless in ten minutes.

 

[Zephyr]

You can give it a good spray with Dettol underneath and let it dry before putting it back and you can be assured that no more stuff will grow for at least two to three years.
(it will smell nice also).

 

[IainP]

Cheers, I used an alkali degreaser and then some nice smelling snow foam stuff. Why it would be perfumed I’ve no idea, but it worked well in the carpets when I did those.

 

[IainP]

Car fires scare the crap out of me, petrol vapour is highly flammable and while I carry a 2kg extinguisher, that’s assuming it goes up whilst I’m there to notice it.
The ferrules at the pipe ends were in appalling condition (top), turns out the pump end (bottom, weren’t much better.



Decisions, decisions, new pipes (£360+), stainless braided lines, which wouldn’t fit the clips, or kunifer, which means an extra two connectors?
In the end I chose Kunifer.



Took a couple of attempts to get the first one, but I’m happy with that.

 

[IainP]

Had to fight with the tank on my own today, my son was taking the Mini to bits before it’s trackday tomorrow.
Does look nice after 2 coats of silver Hammerite, but hopefully the last time I see this view.


Amazing what you find on eBay looking for something else. I already had this small twin box to replace the middle box,


I wasn’t happy with the flanges I made for the rear silencer, they were close, but not identical, which would make the sleeve difficult to fit/weld. Searching for pre made flanges turned up quite a few, only one set fit the bill, but first thing in the “you might also like” list was a complete box on buy it now. Cheaper than the set of flanges. Hit the button, thanks very much.

The tailpipe will be awkward, but I like a challenge.

 

[Digitalize]

Good progress

 

[IainP]

But Slow, especially according to Swimbo!

 

[Matt Barnes]

Car fires scare the crap out of me, petrol vapour is highly flammable and while I carry a 2kg extinguisher, that’s assuming it goes up whilst I’m there to notice it.
The ferrules at the pipe ends were in appalling condition (top), turns out the pump end (bottom, weren’t much better.

View attachment 255981

Decisions, decisions, new pipes (£360+), stainless braided lines, which wouldn’t fit the clips, or kunifer, which means an extra two connectors?
In the end I chose Kunifer.

View attachment 255983

Took a couple of attempts to get the first one, but I’m happy with that.

looks great !.. what diameter Kunifer is that?... I'm looking at dropping my tank when I take the subframe out and need to replace the hard fuel lines... cheers !

 

[IainP]

8mm comes to mind Matt, I’ll double check when I get home exactly what I fitted.
All of the lines on mine were quite rusty, comes from living in Scotland I suppose.
The rearmost 90 degree bend in both the main lines had almost rusted through, when I removed and flexed them, just out of interest, they cracked instantly.

 

[Matt Barnes]

8mm comes to mind Matt, I’ll double check when I get home exactly what I fitted.
All of the lines on mine were quite rusty, comes from living in Scotland I suppose.
The rearmost 90 degree bend in both the main lines had almost rusted through, when I removed and flexed them, just out of interest, they cracked instantly.

Cheers Iain, indeed... I live on the South Coast (Nr Portsmouth) so we "enjoy" lovely salty air here. I can't fathom why steel fuel lines are so ridiculously expensive, so was either going to clean them up as best I could and coat with ACF50, or do what you've done and go steel or kunifer....

 

[IainP]

I don’t have the tools to flare steel Matt, and bending it isn’t my idea if fun. Only did it once decades ago, quickly bought a flaring tool and copper line. Kunifer is a little more difficult to bend than copper, I have two bending tools for tight bends, but mostly I just do it by hand over a piece of tube.

 

[Matt Barnes]

I don’t have the tools to flare steel Matt, and bending it isn’t my idea if fun. Only did it once decades ago, quickly bought a flaring tool and copper line. Kunifer is a little more difficult to bend than copper, I have two bending tools for tight bends, but mostly I just do it by hand over a piece of tube.

cheers Iain.... did you flare it so the jubilee clip had something to "bite" onto to stop the pipe slipping out the hose? must say it does look like a perfect solution

 

[IainP]

Sorry Matt, didn’t manage home until late.
Def 8mm od.
I flare the end with an ancient imperial Sealey kit


The result isn’t even, but acceptable.
I don’t use Jubilee/worm drive clips though, I’ve traced fuel leaks in the past to people fitting the wrong size and just horsing them up. Ends up with a D shape instead of an O. I prefer proper fuel clamps.

Or stainless eared O clips for permanent connections, that’s what I used at the tank end, and what I’ll use on the pipes at the tank. The long hard lines to the front will use the screw clips above.

 

[Matt Barnes]

thanks Iain....legend...

 

[t-tony]

I prefer to use the alloy 2 eared clips that you nip up with a pair of end cutters or joiners pincer type tool.

Tony.

 

[IainP]

My first introduction to hose clips age 14 those were Tony, my father had a vending company, double ear clips on all the hoses, from 15 my summer job was helping on installations. I got all the crawling under floor and filthy bar counter bits, with hoses, clips and a torch. I was the smallest, but I'm sure being the boss' son helped. Lovely job, could go through a box of 100 every 3 days. Actually still have my fathers the end cutters, rounded and polished edges, shortened handles, so you can clamp in a small space and not worry about nicking, or cracking the clamp. Still use them for the single ear type.
I only stopped using double ear 'O's 6-7 years or so ago, forgot to clamp a turbo actuator, only noticed bolting the exhaust on. took about an hour to clamp the stupid tiny pipe on. No access, no visibility once a hand was in the space, had to clamp one side, then somehow spin it to access the other ear.
You have me all nostalgic now Tony, with easy access on the Z, I think i'll dig the little Mikelor clips (other brands are available) out and fit them on all the visible joints.

 

[t-tony]

I don't have many left now Iain as I retired a while ago. The beauty of the 2 eared type is that, if you're careful, you can release them and re use.

Tony.

 

[IainP]

Not too far away from that myself.
Never ever tried reusing them Tony, but I inherited so many I never ever thought of it. Can’t ever remember any leaks from them, but they were all the Mikelor brand. I would assume, like everything else, the market will be flooded with chinesium brands for cheap.
Yeah, I’m on the hunt when I get home.

 

[IainP]

2 steps forward, about 5 steps back.
I found a pair of 2.0 shafts cheap, so I could use the 2.8 arms, decided to try paint stripper to help clean them up. Bad move. Screwfix No Nonsense paint stripper doesn’t do much to the rubber coating. At all. Or the black paint, but it does make the rust worse. Taken an entire day just to clean one arm. This was the worst area, which had me initially worried I’d need to cut it and let some metal in. Though it looks rough as a badgers arse it’s solid, cleaned up well, though I forgot to take an ‘after’ pic.

You often see front anti roll links on eBay marked as heavy duty, usually quite expensive. Gets rid of the rubber in the system. I’ve looked at them thinking ‘those look like Mondeo’. A pair came up cheap, so I bought them. From the Febi numbers on them, they are indeed Mondeo links.

Also managed to snag another RC042, bottom left pic, now I have the option of a staggered or square setup.

I’ve gotten bored with painting things black, even when they come up as shiny as this.

So I’ve started using up whatever paint I have lying about

I think the blue is some old Triumph colour, looks lovely with lacquer on, even though it’ll never be visible.
Not a huge fan of wheel bolts, I much prefer studs, bought several cars over the years with stripped threads, or snapped bolts. Not as easy as just knocking out a stud and replacing it. Cleaning with a tap cleared all this out.


I understand some people think the push rod brackets/support brackets/whatchamacallits, can twist, or flex.
Reinforced with 3 and 4mm steel. Flex now you little feckers.



Oh, and I wonder how many of these I’ve gone through over the years.

 

[t-tony]

I got through a lot of half tins at work . . . . . .

Tony.