Hi guys,
I bought this car as a fun run around. Turns out it's great fun so I thought I'd treat it to some new parts and minor upgrades. See pic beneath lol

Mid way through project \"show her some love"


I've come across some problems mainly bolt related! Is this normal for the mini?

 

Looks like fun! What are your plans?

Bolt issues... as in rusty bolts not coming out? For ANY car that is 19-20 years old, I would expect many bolts to be difficult to remove.

 

That's basically it, I'm finding that the bolts are particularly fragile compared to the Japanese vehicles I typically work with. Many steel bolts have been directly threaded into cast aluminium meaning that after this period of time they've essential welded themselves together.
Does anyone have any tips for getting these out without breaking the fragile bolts?

I've had one bolt 10mm through the lowe position on the belt tensioner that would not come out even after cutting away the cast tensioner and having shaft exposed just wouldn't release. Heat penetrating oil everything you can imagine used without any benefit. Eventually I've ordered a new cam chain end cover with pump and seals to replace this as the bolt hole would now be useless for fitting the tensioner to!

 

Welcome.

The bolts are not bad unless its the valve cover, those ones are a pain. They collect water in the traps.

PB blaster, Free ALL , that type of spray. I don't know what you guys have over there. Let soak and they will come out.

The bolts are shared on BMWs and some Rolls Royce. So they ae not really a bolt problem. Its just under certain climate the bolts can rusty. I would say they are not any worse then most euro cars.