I think I can scare up some good local stuff.

 

We've got about 4 weeks worth of work left to do to the MINIs before MOTD. Anyone here have the ability to slow down time?

Mmmmmmmm, maple cookies :drool:
I think they were the big hit of the fall dragon

 

Getting closer... Now I'm just waiting for parts to arrive!

1. 2 more coats of Zaino -- DONE
2. Clean/Lube rear brass brake bushings -- DONE
3. Lube rear swaybar & control arm bushings -- DONE
4. Interior detailed -- DONE
5. Check fluids / lug nuts / air pressure in tires (last minute check next weekend)
6. New front brake rotors and pads (parts arrive Wed/Thurs)

 

Argh... insane amount of stuff remaining to do:
1) Remove seats (again), complete rewiring of under-seat lights
2) Re-install fire extinguisher
3) Detail and install summer wheels
4) Pads and Rotors if they get here in time.
5) Complete polish and wax job.
6) Install new scoop decal.
7) Remove visor decals and bubbling chrono pack vinyl.
8) Complete interior detail & leather treatment.
9) Check all fluids & lubes.
10) Polish e-brake handle and exhaust tips
11) Clean and re-treat convertible top

argh... and more...

 

Spacers have been ordered along with longer bolts. Hopefully will be here by the weekend so I can get it taken to all the shops on monday/Tuesday

Still no word from minspeed on my BC adusters

Can't work on it tonight. Wednesday I'll work on the coilovers and modify the towers. Going to take the front bumper off and align it right so I can cut for the driving lamps. maybe try my hand at that... i'm not sure though.

Our british car club is having a tech session on Saturday maybe I can talk them into coming over to help

edit: Spacers are backordered

 

I would have sprung for a keg from Bosco's!

After seeing what you guys are all dealing with, I really can't complain. I think I am going to take a vacation day on Friday to knock everything out. I am afraid if I wait until Sunday, it will rain. Then I will be screwed.

 

We took the full week so we would have the weekend and Monday and Tuesday to take care of everything. Good thing we did that, ha!

One of my friends is coming to our house on sunday night and we're installing his springs on Monday. All of us are leaving for the dragon wednesday morning. Talk about cutting it a little fine!

 

This is as about noon today, I'm supposed to leave Sat AM.

 

Gnat: EEK! Tell Will to get a move-on!

My new rotors are in town at TSW headquarters and the pads should be here tomorrow! Friday night brake job!

With a quick inspection this weekend (top up fluids, check pressures / torque), I'll be set!

 

My spacers are scheduled for delievery on Tuesday. If they don't make it I'm out.

 

My pads are supposed to join my rotors today at Grassroots Garage... trying to figure out when I can get over there (or who can bring them to me) so I can do a Saturday or Sunday install here... finished re-wiring my interior lights and GPS and re-installing my FE last night... still have a polish and full detail ahead of me...

 

I'm smelling coolant under the hood of mine all of a sudden, so it looks like the next few days will be an accelerated flog to get things right. My plugs were trashed, each one had become loose to the point where I took them out by spinning the socket extension by hand . Four new IK22s went in, a new belt, oil/fluids change and some adjustments here and there and hopefully nothing serious comes up regarding the coolant smell.

My tires will probably be completely toast after the event. I should get new ones prior.

 

READY!!

 

I've Planed old route 66 land mark stops along the way! This is like two trips in one for me.... The cross country drive and then the dragon!

I have a pile of things ready to pack siting in my living room. I have one more load of last min cloths to wash and i should have every thing pack up Friday morning... And i hit the road on Saturday!!!

I'm so uber excited!

 

Well, in typical fashion, I've gotten sick right before a big trip/event that I've been excited about forever Didn't do anything outside then. I did run to sears and lowes to get the T-handle hex wrench that I'll need to adjust the camber and more dremel bits becuase I trashed all the other ones earlier.

I did get some done last night, which consisted of lifting it up (again) and taking the front bumper off (again)



Going to grind down the bumper carrier some more so the bumper will fit right. I want to get that aligned since there won't be time to go to the body shop now. I might try my hand at wiring the lights if I feel up to it.

I also worked on the strut towers so the camber could be adjusted



Rather than cut the top up, I bent the edge of the tower opening up to gain access to the bolts. With the t-handle wrench it's possible to loosen and tighten them so the shop can align it. One can easily reach 3 of the 4 screws. Need to do a little more bending.

Good news is that I've been able to track down some spacers locally from a friend in the event mine don't show in time. Special thanks to Agranger who offered his to me so i wouldn't miss because of that. Very generous

Hopefully I'll feel well enough tomorrow to get the final details done. I don't think the BC adjusters are going to make it though so I'll have to put the rear interior back in and just take it apart again when they do get here.

 

ye gawds...like I said, good luck.

 

In need of a detail?? I still have some to do
I have to do:
Oil Change
Brakes (switch to the HPS's)
Power Steering Fluid
Bleed brakes Pack
Hit the bank
Get my camera and car mount setup


Definatly not trying to compete with Gnat, but I have enought to keep me steady, Gnat.. Good Luck! Home to see you there!

 

Once I get the car back still need to do a few things..

Swap out the track tires for something that can deal with rain
Swap out track pads
A wash might be nice, since it's been sitting in the shop for two weeks, we all know how dirty that makes the car.
Under hood could stand a detail.
Pack

If the car is ready on Friday I have a feeling its gonna be late, like 7pm or so...

Fingers crossed...

Nothing like a 900 mile test drive after opening the engine

 

Holy cow!

What happened? That sure doesn't look like the typical pre-dragon oil and filter change

I hope it all goes smoothly for you!

 

There are a few issues.

Rings lined up in #1, misfires and runs on 3 cyl.

Valve Guides worn. Was really bad in #3, cyl would fill with oil. Now before anyone starts thinking the guides are an issue in this head design let me slay that dragon. This was head #2 and the guides were OEM. There is also an 8k red line that I'm shy at bouncing off at the track. I've been know to track the car fairly often too.

Another issue was a bad MAP sensor, car would not idle well and would often stall when lifting off the throttle since there is a lightweight flywheel.

Of course a new mod is being added. Picked up an adapter for a spin on oil filter. With 28k miles and a fresh oil change from MINI I'm finished with the "free" services. Going to a spin on that uses a Honda sized filter makes it a lot easier to do routine changes.

 

 

The good news is that it sounds like you caught it all before it got really ugly. After seeing what you're having to do, my list seems sorta wimpy now

Good luck with the rest of the stuff!

 

Damn, Nate... compared to that, I could just smack my baby's azz and take him on to Fontana... may the force be with you on the rebuild...

 

Please give me the details on this. Everytime I change my oil I want to sell the car because of that damn filter placement. Oh, bmw... WHY COULDN'T YOU PUT IT ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE LIKE MY OLD 325I?!?!??!?1

 

C'mon - what's the issue with oil filter placement? A 36mm Craftsman socket and a few turns, wait a few minutes to let the oil drain out (go get the new oil, uncap it, take the $#%@ foil cap off the oil, replace the oil plug in the pan) then put a paper towel under the oil filter housing and pull the housing. Last time I didn't even get a drip on the paper towel. This is perhaps the easiest and most mess-free oil change I've had to do on any of the cars I've owned.