Osmars Car - Ready To Race

Oi Osmar.

Your car is ready for racing.  It's not very fast though.  I think the exhaust is leaking.

Enjoy. :)

www.the-brazilian-job.com

Wheely Good - Osmar's Bling

So we're a few days from shipping the first car now.  Some technical issues with importation licenses means that we will only be shipping one car in the first container now.

So Mini 2 was delivered on Sunday on a beautiful day.  Spoiled by the fact that we lost the football. :(

With only a couple of days to get a few bits on the car ready the fist job was to throw away the original carpet.  Apart from being brown, the carpet was filthy and had probably spent a bit of time under water!!!

Unfortunately the floor of the car has seen the tip of a welding torch a few times.  By the looks of it, by a blind person!!!  There is also some more welding to be done as a couple of holes are visible in the drivers side foot we.  A job for later. 

The new carpet is Biscuit Brown.  Quite light and quite easy to get dirty.  A new set of Mini mats save the day.

For ease of shipping (and also so not to pay extra tax) the alloys have been fitted.

These are the 5x10 Mini Light (Copies of the original Minilite) with some Yokohama rubber.

The wheels are slightly wider than standard.  These will need extended wheel arches to cover the edges of the tyres and stop rain and stones flicking up the side of the car. 
I have already bought a set of Stage 2 rally style arches for the car, but not enough time to fit them before shipping.  A bit of fun for Osmar!!

While inspecting the car I have spotted a few extra bits that need fixing.
1 -  Choke cable is shot and needs to be replaced
2 - Indicators not working.  Must be wiring issue as hazzard lights work fine.
3 - Drivers side parking light bulb is blown.
4 - Passenger side main beam not working.
5 - Battery clamp is missing.
6 - Battery cover is missing.
7 - Jack and Wheel brace are missing.

London to Brighton 2010 With Mini 1

London to Brighton 2010

Add a little bit of Sun, a little bit of rain, a tiny amount of sleep and lots of Mini's.  Hey presto you have a Mini Run.

Mini 1 was all clean and ready to go.  We camped at Crystal Palace and were woken at 3:30am with a roar of modified Mini exhaust pipes.  At which point the cars were neatly lined up at the start line.  See if you can spot the Brazilians!

When we finally passed the Start Line it was 10:30....  What a mess!!!!
By the time we hit the mid day traffic it was a nightmare...  What would normally be an hour drive to Brighton took us about 4 hours!!!!!  Utter Chaos!!!!!

Strip for a Fake Tan Application (aka Full Body Respray!)

Anyone for Fake Tan?  A nice shade of Orange?  Feel like a Tango?

First step is to get undressed then get prepared and finally get in the booth for a pray job.

So Mini 2 is about to go in for it's makeover.  The car with a hundred shades of orange and a minor case of acne rust bubbles finally gets it's kit off in preparation for the workshop.

I think she needs a nose job!!! A bit of prodding about found some of the rust has eaten a few holes on the front lower panel.  A bit of extra cost to get it welded up and looking like new.

The car is now off to the body shop to have it's welding completed.  Then it's off to another workshop to get the preparation work under way before it get's a shiny new coat.

In addition the car will not be getting a nice pimp style white top hat.  The cooper black was considered, but not such a good option in the hot climates!

Now the paint is complete.  From the pics it looks awesome.

This car will also be getting a new set of Stage 2 wheel arches.  Colour to be determined.

The car will also need some extra attention to complete.

A new set of carpets on order.

Paint Shop Pro's - MINI 3 Getting a Makeover

Second in the queue for the paint shop is my 1970 Mini 1000.  Oh how I hate that colour.

The plan is for a 90% respray of all visible paint except for the engine bay.  That's a job for another day.

These pics are of the car at the paint shop before it's stripped.  Hopefully will get a couple in progress. 
If all goes to plan the car should emerge from the workshop in Tartan Red with an English white Roof. 

The prep work started.  Unfortunately the passenger side front wing was not repairable. The wing will be replaced.

Bonnet complete.   Like the colour. :)

Boot lid cmplete.

Does my bum look big in this colour?  Looking good.
Hoping to have it completed this week.

Now for the sides. 

In the end the front wings needed to be replaced.

And finally it's complete.  White roof an'all. Wow.

Maybe the grey would have looked good.  Not!

Wonkey Rear End? Radius Arm Bushes!

Noticed when cornering that the rear left wheel was rubbing on the damper.  The Common worn radius arm.

The radium arm bearing shaft was badly worn.  Recondition time.

Leaving the wheel arch pretty empty.
Replaced the original rear brake hose while I was at it.  (Note: Next time do this after fitting the radius arm as it's not easy to clamp the new hose.  Hence lots of fluid on the floor)
Then Bolted the rear brake hub back on with new bolts.  Radius arm put in to place and bolted in with new bolts.
Connected the Brake line and handbrake cable. Bolted shock back in to place and filled the radius arm with grease.
Brakes set up and bled before finally putting the wheel back on.  Job done.

Mini 1 - Now Were Rocking (and Rusting) - Can of Worms #1

While the engine was cold today I thought I would have a crack at adjusting the Valve Timing.  Normally a fairly simple task.  However after removing the Rocker Cover, I was greeted by a grim looking sight.
It seems that the engine has been left for a long time in a damp atmosphere and resulted in the adjustment screws on cylinder 2 to rust solid.  

As you will see  in the pictures it's pretty messy.  There is a thick layer of carbon deposit which has probably lead tot he blocking of oil distribution.  The actual rockers are the original ones that were later replaced with more reliable cast ones.

First thing I did was to remove the Rocker Shaft.  After closer inspection the actual shaft was badly worn and needs replacing also.

Replacing with a new set of originals is not possible as the presser style rockers were replaced with cast ones.  To buy the cast ones new would be quite expensive so some eBay skills were required to secure a replacement second hand set. £12 later and hey presto I have some.  Just hope it fits ok now.




Note:  Always read instructions......  When removing the bolts for the Rocker Shaft you may notice water leaking from the head.  That's because you just removed the head bolts..  Doh!
Head off time!!!!

Got all the new parts.  New studs and gaskets all round.  Hopefully should help the afternoon job to get the engine running a bit easier.

Head back on and rocker shaft carefully lowered in place.  New washers and nuts added to the new studs.  All with a twist of Torque Wrench and hey presto it looks a bit like there is finally an end to the task.  Back to the task I initially intended to do and correct the Valve Timings. 
Also notice the new Thermostat Housing.  Let's just say Club Hammer 1 - Old Stuck Thermostat 0. :)

Final stretch not too bad.
With a bit of added paint to brighten up a couple of rusty parts.  Filled with water (remember to add coolant later!!).  All electrics connected and time to shut my eyes and turn the key.
Eyes shut......  Turn the key.....  Vrrrooom!   Started first time. :)

The Brazilian Job

Welcome to the new home for Project "The Brazilian Job". It a bit like the "The Italian Job" 1969 in the fact that it involves 4 Austin Mini's that will all be put in a lorry to transport across the sea. However it doesn't involve bank job's and the cars will all be shipped to Brazil. Hence the name change. With any luck it won't involve 'Blowing the Bloody Doors Off' either. :)

See the new website: http://www.the-brazilian-job.com/