Ok Phil,

By the time I got back from my typing (I type SLOOOOOOOOW, so don't read too fast

chef

 

>>BTW, whats that in the boot, a monster truck tire??

Hi - actually, I picked up a set of R-90's from a fellow MCO-er in Denver. I put them on last weekend, and they look great. $1200 for the four of them, with tires, which will be offset by whatever I can get for the S-lites with almost new Pirelli run-flats. I'll put a pic or 2 up of the R-90's on the car soon.

Now its really late.

Phil

 

Off for my 1 1/2 hr drive to pick up Motor'nMAX. Motoring soon

 

>> And I was surprised to find no hook insert on the front bumper, only on the rear?? seems odd to me.
>>>>RAT
>>
>>Actually, there is an insert in the front, although it is pretty hard to find. If you look in the black mesh air intake below the front bumper, near the left-hand side (facing the car) you will see a little circle in the mesh pattern. This is removable, and is hiding the threads for the towing hook.
>>
>>

 

I did have the tone low fuel activated, they had never heard of it. Makes the same tone as the 37 degree ice warning.


Ryan how do you like the green stuff pads???? are the white wheels staying clean?


Be careful with the oil filter canister. I beleive it is a very fine thread easy to cross thread. In the Cooper ours was cross threaded at the factory. Damn thing started leaking oil 2 day's old, I am thinking after market relocation kit and normal filter perhaps.


RAT

 

>>Rachel, 'dem stripes is bodacious!!
>>
>>I'm still torn whether I want stripes or not...I love the way they look, but I also love the "clean" look. I really want to wait and see the car, maybe get used to it for a couple months, then reconsider.
>>

Chef - yeah, I was a bit torn, too, when it came down to it. But I picked my color combo planning on getting stripes so I figured I'd give them a try. I really like the way they look. They look a lot better than that strange blue And, hey.. if I get bored with them, I can always take the stripes off. Heh. Heh. Heh.

I really wanted some changes that would make my car unique but still tasteful. The wheels were a bit more than I was expecting, but I'm pleasantly surprised with them and like them, too. They set the whole car off well. Someone beat me over the head for my insane urge to paint the calipers red. Please?

And I can't wait to see your car!

 

Great pics. Sock and t-bone congrats. I love black roofs. I was wondering if the blue/black combo would be too dark. but it looks great, espeically against the salt and snow backgrounds.

The stripes look great Rachel. Can't wait to see the complete product.

Chef, cookin is a great name for you, and a chef can always use great looking grilles on his car.

Ryan, I went to Sears last night and they didn't have the 36mm socket. I'll have to look at some other places.

I just got a mounting system for my PDA. I has promise, but will need some minor improvements. The "ears" that hold the device get in the way of the shift **** in first gear. I am going to trim the offending one taday and see if that works better. I will post a full report in a new thread later.



Happy weekend motoring and tinkering to all of you.

ANdy

 

>>
>>>>Ryan, oil canister=beeeeeitch frustrating <or> beeeeeitch difficult? I weant to do my oil changes to avoid long drives to San Antonio other than major scheduled maintenance so I'm curious how it went...who else to ask but the VMA!!
>>>>
>>
>>Chef, the oil canister was a bit frustrating, but not difficult, to get reinstalled. It was just a matter of blindly threading it back in, and it kept trying to cross its' threads. I was just about getting annoyed when it magically threaded itself perfectly, taa daa! It was a case of Mr. Motor knowing when I had enough horsing around That's what I was working on last night when I wasn't taking pics of my car.

Glad the Probe isn't sold yet; otherwise I'd have to donate my car to the SO for him to play with while his car is fixed. No! Miiiiiiiiiiiiine! ::third grade whine::

 

Andy said: >>Ryan, I went to Sears last night and they didn't have the 36mm socket. I'll have to look at some other places.
>>

That 36mm 1/2" drive socket was a P.I.T.A. to find! Of course nobody working there could find it, and it took me a solid 10 minutes of rummaging through the socket area to finally find.....ONE.....woohoo! So if you're going to the Twelve Oaks Sears in Novi, MI, you're outta luck, mwaah ha ha! :smile:

Cheers,
Ryan

 

Trying to figure out if I'm still in the April club or the May club. My EB/B MCS was dropped off in New Jersey on 4/22/03. No official word that it has made it to the distribution center yet, although I would hope it has. I'm in Chicago area, do you think it will make 4/30 or will I be a May Clubber?

 

Chef...grilles...hahahaha, I get it Andy!!!

4 / 5

chef

_________________



CR/B MCS - HK, premium & sport...Gandalf on dash...

born 3/20...sailed 4/1...docked 4/13... Paroled from VPC & truckin' 4/23...come on home, baby!

 

Congrats Sockdaddy! Can't wait to see the "down at the farm" MINI shots.

Sounds like a nice trip.

Red :smile:

 

Socks and T-Bone, your cars look great! :smile: I do not see either of those colors (or combos) around here. Best of luck!

Chef: If you can't come up with anything plate wise, how about "dachef"? They would get it here in NY, but Auatin............? "chefmini". "minichef"? I know, it's a reach.

Regards,
Red

 

>>
>>Chef: If you can't come up with anything plate wise, how about "dachef"? They would get it here in NY, but Auatin............? "chefmini". "minichef"? I know, it's a reach.
>>

Like those suggestions, but....TX only allows 6 letters spaces

Time to run errands now, later peeples!

4 / 2

chef

 

MOTORING KICKS ***!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will update later, must motor some more.

 

I went down to a nearby parts store to find a 36mm socket which I found right away. Then I was somehow compelled to take the loooooonnnnnnggggg way home.

Through vineyards and orchards to the coast.
:smile: :smile: :smile:

Happy motoring to all, and to those still waiting, It is worth every minute.

Andy


_________________


It's time to motor. MC CR/B

 

Par4, I think you said it all...concise and to the point like the best writers....

Andy, what beautiful pictures, I don't see how you ever get out of the car at all, do they have any jobs in your area for "professional motorers?"

Cheerio!

3 / 22

chef

 

>>---> So Rachel, did ya get the Audi repaired? Speaking of engines, my dad and I got the engine for our 1932 ford roadster highboy project fired up the other day. It's a 305 small block chevy, stock short block, with a TPI top end, and a huge cam. It was actually a donor engine, so we had to check for leaks and compression and general function. The engine sounds amazing, but a few plugs were fouled (it had been sitting around for about a year). It still started up immediately, so looks like it's one of those "never die" engines! The Next step is to tear down the engine and do all the aesthetic work (this is gonna be a show car, btw). I'm doing all the design and theme work for the project, and I still need to decide on colors! AAHHH! I have this fuzzy image in my head, and I can't seem to pinpoint the exact colors needed. I'll keep everyone updated, if interested :smile:
>>

Ryan, that sounds like one hella FUN project! Please keep me updated - I'd LOVE to see the progress on it!

The Audi, ahh... needs some work. With enough lock-tite the bolt isn't going to fall out, at least. Worse case, we tap and die to repair it if we can't find a bolt slightly longer that'll catch on the existing threads. Still have to shave off some of the material on the radiator fan blades since they're rubbing slightly too. Aftermarket parts are FUN.


But the car really needed the part replaced. The original OEM piece is made of rubber that's prone to tearing at the clamp-points and just plain leaking boost, even stock, on this particular car. Tried an oem piece wrapped in Kevlar and that worked for a fewmonths before it got worn out and started popping off under any sort of heavy boost. I'm not going to think about the oil spray inside.. just hope that things will remain a bit happier with this change.

On a happier note, we took the Mini out in an absolute deluge - flooding everywhere. The Yoko tires were GREAT. At (ahem) highway speeds with lots of water, the tires were SOLID and VERY hydroplane-resistant.

and I'm at 1100 miles in a week and a half!

 

Chef,

How about someting simple like "COOKIN"

 

>>Chef,
>>
>>How about someting simple like "COOKIN"
>>
That's one of the ones I'm considering. The current list:

1. COOKIN' (see earlier post)
2. DACHEF (thanks, Red)
3. BURNIE (good for red car, a little punny, might require a name change...)
4. SHADOW (probably better for a black car...also probably taken)

Par4...hello...par4...aren't you out of gas yet...your MA did tell you the break-in period doesn't have to be one continous drive, didn't he?

chef

 

Here's MAX

Picking up Motor'nMAX



Grrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Come on Dadddd, LET'S MOTOR!

 

253.2 smiles in one day.

For those April's that have not yet been lucky enough to pick up their MINI's, it is worth the wait. I just can not wait for the break in to be over. WOW! WOW! WOW! The handling is incredible. Both of my bimmers were amazing in that you felt like you could tell exactly where that fine line was between crazy and oh s#!t. Well, the MINI amazes me even more, I do not know if I will ever get all the way to that line.

The HK rocks. Crisp, clear and can really play. I will update after a week, but am pretty impressed with the run-flats so far. They surprised me after all the bad press they receive.

Heads turn, people comment, my boys love it, my wife loves it, what a day.

Most exciting car I have owned, period.

 

Hey Par4....
WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW


3 / 20

chef

 

Thanks chef. I will take some more pics tomorrow. Need to show off the anthracite and lapis. My wife was really disappointed that I was going with Lapis, ok disappointed is too subtle of a word for how she felt. But, now that she has seen it in the PS, she thinks it is perfect. The boys have told everybody, "and it has BLUE seats!"

Try to take her easy till Wed., you are going to have a blast.

Regards,

 

Actually I've found that the waiting has gotten a *little* easier since I have a definite pickup date/time. I guess it's just more "real" than --you'll be getting your car "someday soon!"

I would even say I'm relatively calm :smile:

SO GIMMEEE MY MINI ALREADY!!!!!!!!!

chef