v8ian
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,758
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I'm afraid your thread has inspired me a little too much, firstly we ordered a new cocker puppy, and I have put a deposit on a R55 Cooper S with massive spec, low mileage, and full service history, the downside, as a compromise to the wife, I have had to sell our VW T5.1 camper, but I'm now in the good books as were getting the puppy. Sorry mate! I’m looking forward to seeing your thread about the Cooper. Daisy says hello. And there a hello to Daisy from Tex, and the 50k, R55 Cooper S is in my possession too
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Atmo V8 Power . No slicks , No gas + No bits missing . Doing it in style. Austin A35van, very different------- but still doing it in style, going to be a funmoble
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Sorry mate! I’m looking forward to seeing your thread about the Cooper. Daisy says hello. And there a hello to Daisy from Tex, and the 50k, R55 Cooper S is in my possession too Win & win! Tex looks lovely. Congratulations on both acquisitions. When do we get to see the Cooper?
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Sept 17, 2022 11:13:47 GMT
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Whilst the weather is still warm and dry, I've tried to use the Cooper as often as possible. On route to my local pharmacy, I saw an early (02 reg) Cooper S. Nice! I love the Cooper's interior but I wanted to make it more cosy. I went to the Beaulieu autojumble last week, with a generous budget, to find something to jazz up the dashboard. All I found was a £2 ashtray, which is part black plastic, part chrome, a colour scheme that matches the Mini's dashboard. Fitting wasn't difficult and I had no qualms about drilling into the central panel considering that it has already been modified (sprayed black) by a previous owner. I like it.
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Oct 25, 2022 16:01:54 GMT
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I haven't updated this thread for a while simply because the Cooper has been performing without any issues. It's taken me to various pretty and interesting locations. I keep an eye on the oil and coolant levels but neither need toping up. I drive like a girl and consequently the Cooper is returning approx 38MPG, which is pretty good for one of these. One big job that I am planning this winter involves replacement of the increasingly saggy headlining material. Plan is to fit new black headlining. Watch this space. I have also bought a replacement aux belt but it seems that to replace the belt I need a special tool to slacken the tensioner, so I'm putting this job off until further notice. I know the tools cost about a tenner from EBay but... I know, I know.
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geoffc
Part of things
Posts: 55
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Oct 25, 2022 16:53:15 GMT
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Or you can hobo it. I use a 6 ft long steel bar with a point, put a 16mm socket on the bolt to pivot on, insert point under the edge of the tensioner and with very little effort you can take the tension off and insert a pin, I use a 4mm drill bit held in a pair off long needle nose pliers
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Oct 25, 2022 16:56:18 GMT
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Or you can hobo it. I use a 6 ft long steel bar with a point, put a 16mm socket on the bolt to pivot on, insert point under the edge of the tensioner and with very little effort you can take the tension off and insert a pin, I use a 4mm drill bit held in a pair off long needle nose pliers I’m struggling to visualise your method, which is a shame as I enjoy making special tools. Do you have a photo?
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geoffc
Part of things
Posts: 55
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Afraid not, its all in bits at the moment sorry.
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I made a tool that one of my tyre levers fits into, but you can buy the tool
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Thanks guys, I might have a go at making a tool. The trip computer is a little optimistic compared with my robust calculations.
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Mark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,097
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Oct 26, 2022 15:24:46 GMT
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There are a good few guides for the tensioner "hack" on youtube FYI.
Great cars!
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Oct 26, 2022 15:53:46 GMT
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There are a good few guides for the tensioner "hack" on youtube FYI. Could you please point me in the right direction as all the vids I’ve seen feature a proper tensioner tool?
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Mark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,097
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Oct 26, 2022 16:57:40 GMT
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Here's one!
There are a few different ways of doing it depending on what tools you have access to. Can't remember which way I chose, think it was similar to the above!
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Oct 26, 2022 17:19:35 GMT
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Here's one! There are a few different ways of doing it depending on what tools you have access to. Can't remember which way I chose, think it was similar to the above! Thanks for that. Looks like a lot more work getting the front end off and the belt doesn’t look slack enough for easy removal. I’m tempted to make a tool.
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geoffc
Part of things
Posts: 55
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Oct 26, 2022 18:53:48 GMT
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Now that’s what I’m talking about, thank you geoffc.
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OGDB
Part of things
Posts: 544
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Oct 28, 2022 10:46:25 GMT
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Where are you?
I’ve got one you can borrow if you’re near Kent, proper simple little job with the right tool.
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Oct 28, 2022 15:51:01 GMT
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Where are you? I’ve got one you can borrow if you’re near Kent, proper simple little job with the right tool. Deepest Buckinghamshire. Very kind of you but I’m miles and probably about £30 in fuel away from you.
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mat88
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 1,542
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Oct 28, 2022 17:36:00 GMT
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Just read this start to finish again. It's really not helping my silly urges for a modernish toy and despite being an original mini fan the Bini seems to have really grown on me as I've got older (and fatter, bigger, more sensible)...
Question is do I go r53 and limited by the charger or r56 and have a french engine in a German mini 🤷😂
Bookmarked (to talk me in or out of this silly idea I'm having)
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Oct 28, 2022 21:03:32 GMT
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Just read this start to finish again. It's really not helping my silly urges for a modernish toy and despite being an original mini fan the Bini seems to have really grown on me as I've got older (and fatter, bigger, more sensible)... Question is do I go r53 and limited by the charger or r56 and have a french engine in a German mini 🤷😂 Bookmarked (to talk me in or out of this silly idea I'm having) R53 all the way my friend. My first car was a 1976 Mini 1275GT and I had a number of Austin Minis back in the 1990s and I understand the appeal but a modern MINI makes a lot more sense in the 21st century.
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Last Edit: Oct 28, 2022 21:06:45 GMT by Peter C
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Oct 28, 2022 21:09:21 GMT
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That’s my 1275GT and I’m the good looking fella with the big hair on the left.
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