by "fourvalleys" (fourvalleys)
Published 04/26/2017 at 18:37
by "fourvalleys" (fourvalleys)
Published 04/26/2017 at 18:37
Tags: wurst case racing
; fourvalleys
; classic mini
; british
; RHD
STARS: 12
If the currency was tax returns, it cost me 3. Yowza.
I might go through a more detailed post once I pick it up, but I finally got the total bill for the repairs my mechanic did to my Mini. In all honesty, it was not bad. Three times my tax return isn’t much - I’m one of those people who tries to minimize my tax return as much as possible.
I generally hate taking my car to the mechanic, but I’m fortunate to have a pretty wonderful British car specialist that’s between my winter storage and my house. I took it to them to diagnose why my crappy SU carb wasn’t adjusting properly.
In fact, this is the second time they’ve looked at that carb. I gave up after dozens of hours last summer and took it in. They got it to the point where it was “ok” but my clutch was slipping too much for them to road tune it properly. I put in a new clutch, but by the time the car went into storage, the carb had fallen out of adjustment. Great. When I pulled it out for spring, I limped it to the mechanic and gave them the objective: Get the car running right.
Day 1: Two guys spent all day looking at the car, and their diagnosis? “We’re stumped.” For reference, most specialty shops would have charged a labor rate close to my total bill
just for this one day.
Day 3 or 4: “We have to pull the motor.”
In short, my timing gear was off one tooth. You can get the timing cover off with the engine in... but why would you? It takes under an hour to drop the front subframe with the engine attached. You’ll spend longer than that getting the timing cover off. I learned this lesson when I did the clutch with the engine in the car. Never again.
Here’s the big stuff:
Timing gear was one tooth off. No more!
Went from a crummy single SU to a nice, clean dual SU carb setup.
Got a better flowing manifold for the dual-carb setup.
Ride height... adjusted. From whatever this was .
Starter had a dead spot... no more!
I put in somewhere between $1000-2000 last year in performance parts, and I still found the car way way down on power. Basically a new top end - new head, rebuilt carb, new intake and exhaust, and it was still a dog. It would do 60mph now, but it was frustratingly slow to get there. Even after they tried to tune it, it was absolutely a dog. The mechanic says that is no longer the case. Between the work last year and the mechanic’s work this year... I’m realistically looking at double the power from the last time I really got out and drove it..
I’m hoping it’s worth it. The total bill is expensive, but that isn’t unexpected. They gave me a very good deal, and other shops I’ve gone to in the past would have charged me thousands more.
Could I have done it myself? Yep, sure. Maybe not the diagnosis, without some special tools... but I certainly could have done the rest if I knew what my projects were. In any case, the dual carbs would have cost me about 3x as much if I bought them on my own, so I’m not really complaining. Plus, it would have taken me a month to get it done. I’m a busy person!
Anyway, new 10" wheels and tires are on order, and soon will be smaller 7.5" front brakes to fit those wheels. A couple other doodads, and I’m hoping to spend the summer driving the car, rather than just working on it and bashing my head against the wall.
I can’t wait.
"NojustNo" (front24200)
04/26/2017 at 18:43, STARS: 0
That’s great news and a really cute car.
now that the engine is sorted, expect the British electrical system to act up next lol.
"fourvalleys" (fourvalleys)
04/26/2017 at 18:49, STARS: 0
Thanks!
I’ve already faced a couple of minor electrical issues (my least favorite), but that just comes with the territory. Frustrating, but not the end of the world. It’s relatively well-sorted, at least.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
04/26/2017 at 19:02, STARS: 1
I am not a giant!
"E92M3" (E46M3)
04/26/2017 at 19:15, STARS: 2
Carbs can be so frustrating at times. Especially if the car sits for a period of time. I feel like I’m always messing with mine. Right now my truck is stalling if I hit a speed bump. The float is probably too high.
"gin-san - shitpost specialist" (gin-san-)
04/26/2017 at 19:25, STARS: 4
Based on my last tax return, this engine out service cost $124.05.
"duurtlang" (duurtlang)
04/26/2017 at 19:40, STARS: 4
Based on my last tax return I’d get paid for having someone else do that engine out service.
"citrus" (roamin)
04/26/2017 at 20:02, STARS: 1
10" wheels, wow
"fourvalleys" (fourvalleys)
04/26/2017 at 20:13, STARS: 0
10"x6"!
Theres a company that makes 10"x7" magnesium wheels. Under 5lb each, it’s crazy. Unfortunately they’re about $750 apiece...
"citrus" (roamin)
04/26/2017 at 20:45, STARS: 0
4.X lbs for something that holds the weight of a(n admittedly tiny) car is just wild
How hard is it to get 175/65-10 tires?
(Just a wild guess on size)
"DipodomysDeserti" (dipodomysdeserti)
04/26/2017 at 21:24, STARS: 0
I always owe. So what you’re saying is the mechanic is going to pay you $12k to fix your mini?
"smobgirl" (smobgirl)
04/26/2017 at 21:46, STARS: 0
I had to giggle at new 10" wheels as well :)
"fourvalleys" (fourvalleys)
04/27/2017 at 04:03, STARS: 0
Those magnesium wheels are super cool, I wish I could justify it.
There’s a decent number of 165/70-10 tires (close!) out there. Basically there are five options:
- Hoosiers
- DOT semi-slick tires (R-compound)
- “Good” road tires (summer tires)
- Budget road tires (summer tires)
- Questionable Chinese tires
I don’t drive the car in rain or in winter, and good summer tires are cheap... So why worry? A set of Hoosiers is about $170/tire, which isn’t even that bad. The road tires that are usually considered the “best” (Yokohama A008) are even available from Tire Rack. I paid less than $125/corner for the new wheels and tires, shipped.
In short? Actually pretty easy to get.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
04/27/2017 at 09:14, STARS: 0
That sounds like a good deal to me. Sometimes it’s worth it to just write a check.
BTW, the wieners and such showed up while I was at Byron. I’ll have the RallyMetro stickered out for next time :)
"fourvalleys" (fourvalleys)
04/27/2017 at 09:24, STARS: 1
Agreed, it stings a bit to pay it, but it’s worth it knowing I’ll get to enjoy the car. I probably would have lived with it and had no idea that the timing chain was even wrong! Besides, it increases the value of the car itself. Time to call my insurance company... :-D
Glad to hear about the wieners! And glad the RallyMetro made it home in one piece!
"JGrabowMSt" (jgrabowmst)
04/27/2017 at 09:35, STARS: 2
There is certainly something to he said about a shop that wants the car running as bad as you do, and doesnt nickel and dime you on everything. I nearly put the HEMIWagon up for sale last summer because it was stuck in limp mode, wouldnt shift right, wouldnt rev over 2000 without stalling, and kept throwing unrelated codes to basically everything.
Ended up getting the car running again, and ultimately found a lot of bad parts and while it cost a lot to troubleshoot, the shop had done a really comprehensive upgrade to the rear end of the car, and I would have lost a lot of money by listing it. It was a nightmare for about a month, but she’s running at her best again and it was certainly a fair price given the absolute hell everyone went through troubleshooting, test driving and sourcing parts to get it running again.
Hopefully your Mini finally gets back to putting a smile on your face this year, and many more to come!
"fourvalleys" (fourvalleys)
04/27/2017 at 09:53, STARS: 1
It’s great when it works out like that! I’m hoping for a summer of driving the car (a few trips to Road America are probably in order), rather than a summer of working on the car and driving it intermittently.
You’re right though, it’s an incredible feeling that the mechanic wanted it right as badly as I did. They don’t usually work on Minis (mostly MGs - I think it’s only my Mini and one other), so the guy in charge was excited about the challenge.
I could have picked it up last week, but he told me he wanted to keep it for another week just in case any issues came up. He’s taken it to a few events (British car club meetings) and on a few coffee runs... I’m not bothered. I’m just glad he’s as excited with the car as I am. I can’t wait!
"uofime-2" (uofime-2)
04/27/2017 at 10:36, STARS: 1
Wait so is the suspension level now, no more Carolina squat?
"fourvalleys" (fourvalleys)
04/27/2017 at 10:39, STARS: 0
No more petrol gasser!
"uofime-2" (uofime-2)
04/27/2017 at 10:47, STARS: 0
It was certainly unique, not the best for carrying 4 people around though haha!
"fourvalleys" (fourvalleys)
04/27/2017 at 10:51, STARS: 1
Just a liiiiiittle rubbing, haha
Only kidding, the rubbing isn’t going anywhere. All they did was bring the front down. And I’m going to wider wheels and tires... rub city!
"uofime-2" (uofime-2)
04/27/2017 at 11:26, STARS: 1
ha!
More projects are assured!
