So we get the 06 mini we picked up on the lift and instantly find the reason it would not roll forward , there is a chunk out of the differential and pieces just running out . well this just got into more than a clutch job all of the sudden . so who here has done a 6 speed swap and how much more work are we talking , i got a guy that will sell me all the parts for 550 to do the swap and from what i have seen having done some research on it , it doesn't seem that bad to never have to mess with it again. any opinion's.

just got another offer 500 from another person for a 6 speed swap

 

so we just got back from getting the six speed parts now tommorow to clean and try and get some pics on this build thread.

 

Ok so far I have plans to change out the clutch, flywheel, input shaft seal , rear main seal and the control arm bushings.My question is does anyone have anymore "while you have it apart" items that may need addressed ...

 

Since you're dropping the front subframe to remove the trans you'll want to check your power steering pump (attached to the subframe) for leaks. That's a common problem with Gen1 MINI's. There was a factory recall on certain years/build months so if it's bad check with a dealer to see if yours might be covered by the recall. Check the PS hoses. You might want to go ahead and replace them while you have easy access. If you're replacing the control arm bushings you may also want to replace the ball joints. They're inexpensive and, again, you have easy access. Don't forget to have the front end aligned once everything is installed.

 

It’s good to see another Dad wrenching on a Mini with his daughter! In my case, she wrenches and I coach. That was the deal... she wanted a Mini, so she got everything that went with it.

I do stuff she can’t or could get hurt trying (removing serpentine belt, etc.) but other than that I sit there with the Bentley manual on my lap and show her procedures on how to do the stuff.

So far she’s replaced the water pump, radiator and some hoses, alternator, starter motor and driver’s side window regulator motor.

We’re waiting for some front suspension parts now, she hit a bump and damaged the passenger side A arm. Ball joints were bad when we got in there... she’s gonna have fun with that...

Edit: I ordered Moog ball joints and A arm from Amazon. I shopped NAPA and others, Amazon had the Moog parts for about 2/3 the cost of the NAPA brand.

Moog is one of the best, if not the best manufacturers of suspension parts there is.

 

Yeah , we are currently in mating season and I find that minis are like pandas when it comes to mating the transmission to the engine. its fun watching our daughters turn wrench's and and i have some fun pics with her looking up through the shifter hole in the car.

 

Please keep us posted with how the 6 speed swap goes.

The Midlands 5 speed in my daughter’s car is making noise, and it sounds like we need to rebuild it this summer. She’s actually looking forward to it, wanting to know when we can start!

 

from everything i have read and seen so far there is no reason to even consider rebuilding a midlands box , i have the getrag 5 speed out and the 6 speed is ready to go in unfortunately i cannot get them mated up at the moment due to my hands not working but, the operation is on the 9th so i will have to see if i can get it done without the use of my hands or it will have to wait until after i heal a week or so , definitely not how i wanted the project to go but we can only do so much with my daughters first time with a trans out and me working with half a hand at best , but we will get there in the mean time her driving since getting her permit on Tuesday is coming along.. had her out on the empty interstate last nite , i was hard for her to get up to speed , she had never driven over 35 mph before .

 

So yesterday was a good day , tranny mated up and bolted in and mounted new clutch slave lines attached , starter and starter heat shield installed as well as the shift cables , just waiting on the bushings to get pressed on the control arms and we will be hanging the sub frame , almost forgot the axles are in too. on a side note I went out and bought the 450 lb harbor freight trans jack and it was useless in this application and down right dangerous , it got returned this morning . I don't know if it was defective or just a bad design but with a 105 lb trans strapped to it , it would not lift evenly . i ended up using my neighbors motorcycle jack and 2 attempts it was in.

Question , if anyone knows i was bleeding the clutch slave with a 6 ft clear hose watching the bubbles and i seem to have gotten it working but it does not seem to have much throw on the fork , does anyone know how far the fork should swing?

 

Did you find the answer to how much movement you should have at the clutch?

If not, I’ll check the manuals and get back to you.

 

no word yet if you would not mind checking it would be good to know thank you .

 

The R53 clutch slave cylinder is notoriously tough to bleed properly. Instead of me explaining it, here's a good video on the subject. All of Mod MINI's stuff is good.