A better engine bay photo. Took a little longer to do all the P.O.'s differed maintenance with wire brushing and clear coating all the various parts but I think it was worth the effort. It started out looking pretty crusty as cleaning was also something the P.O. "deferred".

Looks pretty decent for an '05 with 155,000 miles if I have to say so myself!

Next up; axles and suspension. Oh, and the belt, didn't get to that last night.

And a big thanks to this forum and to Pelican Parts for their 'How To's' . Both have been a great help!
robj


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Lookin very clean. Nice work!

 

Nicely done!

Were you able to seat the gray vent hose (from PCV to S/C) down onto the charger better? Looks like it is not quite all the way down. The pipe is supposed to bottom out on that ridge on the red connector.

 

Isn't that the way any MINI engine bay should look? Bravo Zulu! (that's Navy signals for 'Well Done!) Strut tower defender plates and a steel expansion tank are highly recommended.

 

Zsm,

I kept looking at that and fiddled with it a few times. I'm going to try fiddling some more. When pushing it in shoutld the red part be raised slightly? I know it [the red part ] needs to be pushed in when removing.

robj

 

Definitely do not pry up on the red plastic ring! You can break that fragile plastic ring if you lever on it.

There is a green o-ring below the red clip where the grey tube is supposed to bottom out and create a seal. You shouldn't need to push on the red clip, just need to find the right angle and it will slide in lower.

I agree, this could get a little out of hand if we keep describing how 'deep' this pipe should go...

Edit, pulled the old supercharger out and took a couple of pics. The tube just feeds into the lower intake where the green jam gasket and black plastic tube connect. Seems like the vacuum of the intake will suck whatever oil vapor is being evacuated out of the valvetrain via the pipe.

 

I pulled the hose out and from the marks it looks like thats all the further it previously went it. I tried it with the cap out and again, that's all the way it went in.
[I just know there's a joke there somewhere]
robj

 

I've been looking at various strut plates. I'm waiting until I can drive it farther than from my neighbors house to mine before deciding about struts. I'll probably do plates then.
rj

 

Nice job! i rebuilt mine after the supercharger maintenance and i must say it looks like i didn't clean mine compare to yours, damn lol. I did a few other things along the way, i guess i'm going to do some cleaning again soon!

 

Rah,
A lot of the polishing and cleaning was while waiting on parts. I got into mine not really sure what I was going to need [other than a tensioner /belt and pulley].

As I got everything torn apart for the S.C. service it was one of those, "well while I'm in this far I might as well..." , and considering how difficult it is to get to a lot of parts it does make sense to do all the deferred maintaince at once. So there was a bit of "waiting".

But, It's no longer a $500 "bargain Mini" thats for sure.
Next up, Axles and possibly ball joints, etc...
Getting things detailed under the hood is actually a disease. Case in point, painted axles...

robj

 

Looks very clean, well done.