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Yes, I always paint bare aluminum parts. I don't like the white corrosion of untreated aluminum or how oil stains the cast pieces. I use VHT Cast Aluminum engine paint. Primarily because every parts store has it and it is chemical resistant and very durable.
Your GP is going to look awesome once you fix it up. I'd love to find one, but they aren't the easiest cars to find, nor are they usually affordable.
Thanks for the info! What do you do for prep before you spray on the paint? And thanks, it's a long term project. I may pull it apart this winter and redo all the aluminum parts like you did as that would really make the engine bay look a lot better.
For cast parts I generally degrease, remove corrosion scale with a wire wheel, prime with self etching primer, 2 coats of base paint and 2-3 clear coats. However, for a natural look you can pass on the clear coats. If I could find a satin clear engine paint I'd use it for 2 coats. If it is a smooth surface then I do more prep, more layers of sandable primer and then the base and clear coats. Here is an example of where I did my new to me CAI. It was red and wanted something else. Sanded to key the surface and degreased. Primed to ensure good paint adhesion. 2 coats of base color 2 coats of clear. I might add two more coats to these. I'm thinking I might wet sand them and the polish them to a high gloss finish.
I actually did get a new radiator, but only because I broke mine. I had installed the wrong bolt and it was about 5mm too long. It never leaked until I took the bolt out and then is rained coolant. The new one is in a box until I am ready to install it on the car. I've really slowed the progress down the last few weeks. I started a new job and it has eaten into my playtime.
Thanks! I was tinkering and doing everything but what I needed to do. I pulled the cam cover, as I was told the engine is new and the exterior of the blocks lead me to believe this, but the proof is in the pudding. I think I am in agreement that it is new. I've never seen an engine this clean.
Thanks! It's not a new supercharger. It is VHT Cast Aluminum ceramic engine paint. Unless you have access to a vapor blasting cabinet I don't know how else to get it as clean as that. I almost always paint cast aluminum parts due to the porosity of most castings. I like things to clean up easily and stay fresh in appearance. Even a well cleaned aluminum part is going to get dirty in short order when left alone to the elements.
honestly I could see you going “Heck with it, I’m anodizing it all!” Because it turns out to totally be the kind of thing you can do at home:
Does anyone know what material is smeared on the underside of the valve cover? I know that it comes that way from the factory but don't know what they use.
You see, that's the kind of thinking that gets me in trouble. I've thought about it and might do some anodizing at some point in the future. There are a few things I'd like to try it on. For example, I'd love to anodize a new GP style intercooler, but that will not happen this go around, but thanks for giving me access to a fresh razor to shave future yaks with. lol
I got to spend a little more time in the garage last night. I think I mentioned early on that I want nods to the original Mini when I can. I wanted to give a nod to the original via the engine. The original Morris engine was green, so I decided to paint my cam cover to match. I have to admit, it took awhile for my eyes to adjust, but I like it more and more. I used a plastic primer, three color coats and three clear coats. All were engine specific paint, so I feel confident it should last. I also cleaned and reconditioned the cover bolts as they were all rusty. I'm not sure why on such a young engine, but I used black oxide on them and they turned out great. Now on to the pictures - I caution you, wear sunglasses. lol
Yes, yes it is bright. The intercooler will definitely help tone it down just a bit.
Just a small update. I reassembled the front end somewhat. It the bumper cover is just staged as I still have to put in the bumper bar. I'm on hold for that until the clutch is bled and that is on hold until I can sort a leak at the brake master cylinder and let's not speak of the parts that went from arriving this week until May 2022. Yeah, that really sucks. I'll see if I can source something local as a temp fix to get it running until the new stuff goes on. Anyway, here are some pics of where it is now.
The car in the background is my summer money pit - other than my wife's boat. It is a 1999 BMW Z3 2.3 with a 5-speed manual. It is mainly stock and I plan on keeping it that way. We'll run it for a few more weeks and then it will be tucked in for the winter season as I refuse to drive a convertible with the top up unless it starts raining hard while I'm away from home. Here are a few pictures of it. I had it in the garage to reinstall my repaired ABS module. If you have an older BMW and need one repaired, I highly recommend Module Masters out of Moscow, Idaho. No more warning lights on the dash of a BMW, crazy concept AND it doesn't drip oil, and the turn signals even work!! Reupholstered seats. They were pretty ugly before.
Great job! I'll be getting back into the car soon. My FIL lost his battle with cancer last month and I just haven't felt like working on the cars. I think I have all the parts now. It's just a matter of motivating myself to finish.
Great job! I'll be getting back into the car soon. My FIL lost his battle with cancer last month and I just haven't felt like working on the cars. I think I have all the parts now. It's just a matter of motivating myself to finish.
Man I am very sorry to hear that. Know that some local strangers are praying for you and your family. God bless brother.
Have you restored the aluminum panel on the undercarriage below the battery? Mini calls it the main air duct/rear pan. If so, what did you do to it? What about the brake dust shields?
Huh, so it is 2023? Wow. I apologize for the delays, but life got in my way. I had to help my son finish a camper van build that took 4 months and then did a 7 month renovation of my MILs rental property to sell, all while working my 60 hours of work every week. At the end of all that, March 2023, I decided I just wanted a break from projects for awhile. So I guess that works for an excuse?
Anyway, last month I poked Nigel with a stick and he appears to still be alive. I decided I would pamper him with a bath to remove all the dust, bird poop, and sawdust that was covering him. It started getting me interested in starting again and I knew I just had to get an initial spark to get going. I will get this done. I'll post more later, but I will include some gratuitous up kilt shots to show what Nigel's undercarriage looks like. If I can get his upper body to look like this, I will be happy. Anyway, divert your eyes if you don't want to peak under Nigel's kilt. Nigel's a Scotsman, baby!
Monday is a slow work day and I work from home. I used the opportunity to work on a few items. I'd recently ordered a new LR speed sensor as mine was showing as failed and I was getting the holy trinity of low tire pressure, DSC and ABS lights. I also made the executive decision that I would buy new springs and 8mm spacers from ECS. I went with Tein S-Techs as I've used their springs on other cars and have liked them. Time will tell.
I've only done the rear today and will probably do the fronts on Thursday, if things keep going the way I think they will at work. I also ordered some no-name adjustable rear control arms to make any camber adjustments when I get it aligned probably next week. Everything is reset close to what it was before, but I know it is off and do not want to wear out my new tires.
Blue isn't going on Nigel. Repainting, but needed to etch prime first. After color and two coats of gloss clear. Out with the old spring. In with the new spring. So much shorter. No spring compressor needed for install. New one is in!
I had time today to work on Nigel and figured it was time to tackle the front springs. I don't know why, but I hate working on front struts. They always seem difficult for me to remove. I mean, it is just 4 nuts and one bolt and they are off... except for getting them out of the upright. I pushed on and completed the task and while I was at it, I installed longer studs. The new ones I installed are M8x35mm. I felt that I needed to because I have a strut brace and the stock studs don't leave any threads exposed and that's not acceptable. All bolts require a minimum of 2 thread exposed. I took Nigel for a quick run after finishing and he is very agile. I didn't stay out long as the air quality is absolutely terrible. I don't know what an air quality of index of 194 means to anyone, but for me it means it is tough to breath and you get a killer headache. I'm happy with the install and will plan on getting to the shop to get the alignment done and to get my state inspection soon.
So on with the picture show!
Time to get things assembled. This side is buttoned up! 23mm still showing on the nut without the brace. I could have left the stock one installed. About 17mm showing on the ones with the strut bar. I'm liking the lower stance! You can buy BMW fasteners for more, but I found these online. You can see the added length next to the stock studs I pressed out. Part number is in the picture, as is the website.
Well those parts sure look familiar 😂.
I personally love the Tein/Bilstein combo. Which rear sway bar do you have? I have the Eibach 19mm with Ireland Engineering fixed front camber plates. It makes for a very well balanced car.
Me too! I had that setup on my NA Miata and thought it rode very nicely. I have Whiteline sway bars with a 26mm front and a 20mm rear. I don't have strut reinforcement plates yet, but that was one of the reasons I installed the longer studs. Depending on what the alignment results show, I may have to look into the camber plates.
I was happy to read that you decided not to sell you car and that you have a much shorter commute. I remember seeing it listed on FB Marketplace and thinking that I should message you that one was for sale that was your color.
Yeah I was going to switch back to driving my truck but decided to sell the truck instead. Its a fantastic car and why drive something that gets 20 mpg when I can keep the mini and get 40 mpg?!
I have 2 full size trucks so Im keeping the nicer of the 2 and selling the other. I currently have 6 vehicles and need to downsize lol.
