The end of an era...

"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel) 03/09/2019 at 16:40 • Filed to: None

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After a season and a half of autocross, 2 seasons of Ice Time Trial, 2 track days , 1 autocross win, 3 ITT wins, and an ITT Championship the Mini wore #70 for the final time today. It was a fun autocrosser but the Ice was where it really shined. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t slightly teared up driving off the ice this afternoon.

It will still be my daily driver for the foreseeable future but the transmission damage means it won’t be able to autocross this summer. It’s not financially feasible to replace the transmission so today is the final time it will be driven in competition. I will show it the stages at the Team O’Neil Rally School when I am there in a couple weeks as a final hurrah but today was the final time it will run for times.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 03/09/2019 at 17:28

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I saw in a previous post that a 2nd gear synchro is only $65 but you don't want to as it's outside the scope of your abilities, but if you've got another vehicle in the meantime, I don't see why you couldn't give it a go and bring transmission work to within your ability. 

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 03/09/2019 at 17:34

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No spare car. The Mini is my only car which is why I can’t risk the transmission failing as a result of trying to autocross it. In addition to the failed synchro it also would need new seals and bearings (the input shaft bearing is making quite a bit of noise) putting the cost of parts at a couple hundred dollars, all to try to repair a transmission that by all accounts should have suffered the differential failure they are notorious for about 2 0k miles ago. The only way to properly fix it would be a new transmission which is $750-$1k depending on if I want to upgrade to the far more reliable 6 speed or not. All for a car that’s really only worth $1500-2000.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 03/09/2019 at 18:56

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Fair enough. But having a car that’s notorious for being unreliable as your only car? Risky!

...said they guy who dailies a 23 year old Volkswagen and has no other means of transportation besides a pair of Nikes...

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 03/09/2019 at 19:07

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Welp :(

You gonna daily it till you can get a BRZ/86?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 03/09/2019 at 19:56

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It went  from 135k to 158k without any issue that wasn’t my fault until the 2nd gear syncro went. With these R50s the only real problem spot to cause concern is the Peugeot transmission (or the CVT abomination if you want to torture yourself).

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 03/09/2019 at 20:00

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That’s the plan (and really the only option) . Then I am going to donate it back to my mechanic (who I bought it from almost 3 years ago) with instructions to put a new transmission in it and find it a good home with someone who will use it well. The body and engine still have a lot of life left in them.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 03/09/2019 at 20:41

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Getrag swaps right in?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 03/09/2019 at 20:42

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It requires a new clutch and flywheel assembly, new shift linkage, new clutch slave cylinder and new driveshafts but other than that it goes in without modification. 

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 03/09/2019 at 20:49

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Apart from the slave cylinder everything else needs to be removed for the gearbox anyways, so its fine i guess.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 03/09/2019 at 21:03

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It’s a money thing, not a difficulty thing.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 03/09/2019 at 22:00

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I meant for your mechanic.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 03/09/2019 at 22:06

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He probably has the required Cooper S parts hanging around all over the place. It honestly wouldn’t surprise me if he even had a 6 speed in storage ready to go if needed.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 03/09/2019 at 22:20

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Haha I wish I could find someone like that near me. I did find an euro specialist AND they were working on a E60M5 that I posted here. Maybe they are good...

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 03/09/2019 at 22:30

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I was lucky enough back home in MA to live not far from a shop that specializes in Minis. The owner of the shop has a particular soft spot for R50s like mine.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 03/09/2019 at 23:31

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Why the 50s and not the SC ones?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 03/10/2019 at 10:44

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Honestly not sure. I think he just likes the character of the R50 vs the R53.