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Well it's been a little while since I posted, have a jag project still taking up valuable mini time. But today I got a note from the salvage yard about a couple r50/r53 arriving and I ran out to check it out. I got a much needed hood although it's black instead of silver but I can deal with that, and I got four decent 17" wheels that look like factory two piece (?), factory floor mats, a nice 6spd shifter **** and a rear carpet that I've been wanting to replace, all for $300. I'm stoked about the wheels, that's why I went in the first place. The hood is great, couple dents that I can take care of but lots better than the one on the car. I really miss my mini, it's at home beside my 635csi just waiting for me but it's gonna need a lot. Head gasket and whatever else that brings, then paint, but that's what I do too so no biggie. Just got to get the XJC out of the way first, then I'll be working on the mini and an xke at the same time. I miss driving the mini as much as any of them. A few pics...
The XJC. I'm redoing the rear and front suspension, new 3:73 gears and LSx power. Had it since 1984. I just realized that's a damn 5spd shift ****! Anybody need one? I'll send it to you free...
If the wheels are in decent shape that is a steal.
Yes they are two piece but it's evidently a big undertaking to separate them.
Mini r98 made by Ronal
17x7 ET48 4x100
Offset 48mm
22.3 lbs (10.1kg)
Thank you much Bump! That''s good news, I could use a little win about now.
They are in pretty good shape, actually the centers are pretty nice, I don't want to separate them so I plan on carefully refurbing the outer rings and re-clearing them leaving the centers as they are. They should clean up really well. I suspect the two pieces are an interference fit, needing one side frozen the other heated and maybe even a press to put them together, never mind indexing the screw holes during the process. I don't need that project.
That's awesome!
$300 for all that; is indeed a great score - IM
These first gens are becoming increasingly rare to find...even at a salvage yard. If one does turn up; ' Better get out there quick before the butchers do and ruin all the good parts!
What yard did you go to (in Ga?)?
That's awesome!
$300 for all that; is indeed a great score - IM
These first gens are becoming increasingly rare to find...even at a salvage yard. If one does turn up; ' Better get out there quick before the butchers do and ruin all the good parts!
What yard did you go to (in Ga?)?
It's Fenix upullit in Moultrie h2g. Yellow one is a 5spd sunroof with hood still on and motor intact. Black one is auto, now without a hood and me wishing I could cover up the motor til someone gets it.
I refurb'd my R98's without taking them apart. I was hoping to remove the bolts to refinish separately but after snapping the head off the first bolt I tried to remove, I decided I'd leave them together. The centers were in great shape it was just the brushed clear coated rims that were beat up.
The process I used: After masking off the center, I used aircraft stripper to remove all the clear coat from the rim. Then I used fine grit wet/dry sandpaper to clean it up. I think I may have used 600 though it could have been 400 or 800. I can't remember. I tried to recreated the brushed look by carefully sanding in one direction around the circumference of the rim. Then I used 2K clear to clear coat the rim. I tried a standard (1k?) clear initially but it all chipped off with just a fingernail. The 2k clear has held up well for about 4 years of summer driving. The 2K clear is available in a spray can if you don't have spray equipment. Hope this helps, if you didn't already have a POA.
I refurb'd my R98's without taking them apart. I was hoping to remove the bolts to refinish separately but after snapping the head off the first bolt I tried to remove, I decided I'd leave them together. The centers were in great shape it was just the brushed clear coated rims that were beat up.
The process I used: After masking off the center, I used aircraft stripper to remove all the clear coat from the rim. Then I used fine grit wet/dry sandpaper to clean it up. I think I may have used 600 though it could have been 400 or 800. I can't remember. I tried to recreated the brushed look by carefully sanding in one direction around the circumference of the rim. Then I used 2K clear to clear coat the rim. I tried a standard (1k?) clear initially but it all chipped off with just a fingernail. The 2k clear has held up well for about 4 years of summer driving. The 2K clear is available in a spray can if you don't have spray equipment. Hope this helps, if you didn't already have a POA.
Thank you Joe, pretty much what I had in mind. Appreciate the info on the bolts, I'm sure they're glued in with high strength loctite so I won't touch them. The centers seem to be in pretty respectable shape, I have a paint shop so I can deal with that
Left behind a 3 spoke steering wheel that I couldn't get off. It has paddle shift, dimples at 10 and 2, didn't have a long screwdriver (damn!) Couple long 1/4 in ratchet extensions wouldn't get it, plus I wasn't sure if I could delete the paddle shifters and make it work on my r53. Can anyone advise? I can go back tomorrow.I'd like to have that wheel. It's an '05 r52 with a nice cloth top. Sure hate to see it parted out.
Anyone know if the paddles can be removed easily? Maybe @Here2Go ?
So I went back one more time today . Got a three spoke wheel and airbag off the yellow 5spd car, got a nice factory radiator support off the black S, also the (nice) glove box with a plastic valet key(?), the turn sig and wiper stalks and the clock spring, and a good horn. I needed the radiator support and the steering wheel is nice so another $200 but well spent.
The '05 S conv... it had not been hit! Nothing bent anywhere. I got the hood, and the bumper cover is still there, I can't figure out why it was salvaged, it doesn't look flooded, and it's from Tallahassee so no floods there. What a terrible shame. The top is great and the seats are pretty damn nice with the driver having rash in the usual lower bout. If I'd seen it the first day they brought it out I would have tried to buy the whole car.
I just realized that's a damn 5spd shift ****! Anybody need one? I'll send it to you free...
