|
|
Nov 25, 2016 16:33:41 GMT
|
Super quick update, with pictures! More chrome, to clean up the details, plus the grille and wing mirrors were rattling, so they had to go. Next on the list, black vinyl wrap for the roof.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 24, 2016 20:42:27 GMT
|
Looks nice,
Where are you in the country and did that leak from the spoiler cause any further damp issues?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hmm... Even though my show car is Vauxhall, I never considered Vauxhall as a retro commuter. I have a mk4 Astra 1.6 8v, drives really nice, low mileage, well looked after by previous owners etc... But it only does 38mpg if I'm lucky!! Will have a luck into the Isuzu powered Vauxhall shonk as an option, cheers! 38 mpg out of a 1.6 is really surprising, i get 44mpg out of my 2.5 petrol legacy on a run, and 36 mpg day to day. If you aren't too stuck on the mpg figure i'd suggest a subaru legacy or forester, you wont ever get stuck anywhere and they are well known to pull 250k miles if you changes fluids regularly. And you can get a gen 3 one in good nick for less than a grand easy
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 29, 2016 10:22:54 GMT
|
Progress!!! Be warned long post, it has pictures though The interior carpet was pretty worn and coming away so its been replaced by a black set with red piping to match my colour scheme, really cleans up the look of the interior: Also went for some nice new door furniture to match the steering wheel, needs black door cards and seats to match and the interior will be finished, not that it needed much work anyway, it was just an easy job. So I was pretty pleased with myself after this, though most work that was needed to enjoy it come the spring had been done, yeah right... So first went to start it up a couple of weeks ago and thought i'd better check the coolant as I hadn't for a month or so, so I popped the radiator cap off, hmmmm could have sworn there was some coolant in there, apparently not, great. After looking in there with my torch there was a load of orange rusty silt clogging up all of the tubes, don't we love iron engine blocks and heads, there was also a big crack in the underside of the inlet into the top of the radiator, it had been hiding under the top radiator hose, so it was time for a nice new shiny radiator: Why is everything so sharp and hard to reach, noodle arms required to get those rear radiator mount bolts off! Looks good, really makes me want to paint the head, block and get a chrome rocker cover though. Better start saving. Started it up and gave it a rev, looks good, no leaks, oh wait what's that: Thermostat seals have gone, another job for another day, its very slight and only when starting from cold. A little frustrated I then take the Legacy out of the way to go to the local Mini Spares for some seals, in doing so I scrape the side of my car along the front of my girlfriends. Why can't I stop making jobs for myself. Thankfully some polish of the Legacy took the paint off and buffed out the lacquer scratches, the aygo didn't fair so well, luckily Rover Flame Red isn't far off the toyota red but it will still need to be stripped back and repainted on a warmer day, morale of the story, stay calm. So the next morning I decide to take it for a drive, and it wont start, no problem, hasn't been for a run for a month or so, probably just dropped the charge out of the battery, got the booster out and jumped straight back to life, didn't think anything of it, got to where I was going, turned the car off, went for a cuppa, came back and low and behold, wouldn't start. Glad I brought the booster with me just in case! Turned out the alternator is fine, just needs a new battery, thankfully. Halfords and £40 later all sorted. For now. This is why we love Retro's.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A question for all who daily drive something that is prone to rust, what is the best way to rust proof and drive smart to reduce the risk? So I'm considering daily driving my Mini Sprite or 'Bernard' as he has been named, as a daily car for a while while I sort out my main car and swap to something more interesting/practical, so from a 63 plate Fabia hopefully to a 3.0R Legacy or 325 E30, fingers crossed So what do you guys do apart from underseal and avoid salty roads to stop your cars from developing the dreaded crispy scabs? Btw this is 'Bernard' looking sad in the rain:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 20, 2015 11:51:00 GMT
|
Sorry Guys no longer for sale, sorry to all those that messaged me
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 13, 2015 14:39:37 GMT
|
Hi All This is more to gauge interest at the moment as I'm not fully decided on selling, should really only go to a good home and for the right price, main reason for selling is that I bought this thinking that it would be a project for me but its too nice to do anything to, I cant bring myself to make any changes as it would just spoil it, needs to go to someone who will love it as it is! So headlines are: 12 months MOT 1275 Carb engine. the best in my opinion with a stage one kit - K&N filter, full maniflow exhaust system and carb needle Just ticked over 80k although you wouldn't know, I've had a good few runs in it and its never missed a beat Recently had new head gasket, clutch, crank-flywheel bushing, new spark plugs and a good service, will come with 8L of 20w-50 Very clean body with no rust and full underseal Will come with a cover should you want it 12" minilites with A539 Yoko's Needs to be seen to be appreciated, its an exceptionally clean example, couple of very minor paint imperfections but you have to be very close to see them Pics say some of the story, the car will say the rest, if you are interested drop me a message as if you want to view i'll need to collect it out of storage Pics: Build thread here should you be interested: retrorides.proboards.com/thread/181803/1993-mini-sprite-adventure-begins?page=1&scrollTo=2111736Not currently advertised anywhere else, you guy are getting the first look!
|
|
Last Edit: Dec 20, 2015 11:51:25 GMT by samgreen91
|
|
|
|
Sept 27, 2015 12:53:59 GMT
|
Thanks! Its a Maniflow system with an RC40 backbox, its improved responsiveness all over, engine spins up faster than before and it isn't restricted on the top end, it used to scream its head off from about mid way through the revs with little shove but now its much more even, it'll still potter around all day in 4th at 30, no problems, used to have a lumpy idle too like it just wasn't getting the air, no such issues any more After reading up on David Vizard and watching his videos I took his advice and went for intake and exhaust first, defintely gave me the confidence to go for a longer drive, managed a 80 mile drive this morning
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 26, 2015 20:22:53 GMT
|
Awesome choice of colour, now you have the exterior to match that beautiful subframe!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 26, 2015 17:18:25 GMT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 26, 2015 16:49:50 GMT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 6, 2015 17:35:14 GMT
|
Those door cards look the biz!
Did you remove the old material or just re-wrap what was already on there? The door cards on my mini are looking a little tired, and dull, this is a great idea to introduce some personality
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 6, 2015 15:14:28 GMT
|
He finally returns after 2 and a half weeks of waiting for the parts to arrive, be machined wrong, another part ordered and then actually machined correctly.... managed to get out for a decent run today, 50 mile round trip Couple of pics: New exhaust being ordered this week to replace the peashooter front half of the system, stage 1, air filter and new carb needle to bring it up to the cooper standard 60hp! He goes pretty well anyway, 50hp in such a small shell makes for good fun, that being said I was surprised what a huge difference a new clutch made, power goes down well but there is always room for a little more Tried to jack it up to have a good look at the current exhaust but was confused by where the axle stands would go as the front subframe when it has a jack underneath leaves no room to put the axle stand as the jack is in the way, what is the trick to it other than borrowing some ramps?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'm glad to see that it's well received, still in the garage at the moment sadly, had to order the crank bushing from somewhere in Cornwall and it seems to be being delivered by horseback its taking that long!
It's had 'light' restoration so its had a new floor pan on the drivers side and then full under seal treatment etc. along with a respray on the offside front quarter, as you can see from the pics they got some on the tyres, why they weren't removed I've no idea, but saves me a job I suppose
General consensus seems to be to stick with cones so I'll be doing just that, its already got 12's and yoko's so cant ask for much more there in terms of the handling, also found that one of the rear brakes was binding, which how now been sorted so should resolve the 'turning right' issue, hopefully
The alloys have screw in air valves that slowly leak air out, all of the time, good job i've got an air compressor!
Just need a time machine now to fast forward to getting it back on the road...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 20, 2015 11:48:56 GMT
|
Hi Everyone!
Its the usual story I suppose, long time lurker, first time getting involved, as my current daily is not retro by any means, I've owned some ropey retro-ish cars in the past but here is my first retro love affair that wont just be used and abused
Photos first:
This was an entirely impulse buy after I saw it on Ebay and had bought it within a couple of hours, love at first sight would be an apt description I think...
Checklist of what I was looking for: Sprite with a good 1275cc engine - Check Good body with no rust - Check (subframe in great condition, full underseal, no visible surface rust) Loud - Double Check (sports exhaust and decat pipe, hurrah) Makes people smile - Check
Unfortunately there was a catch, Clutch bearing between crank and flywheel has gone so the clutch was contaminated with engine oil, but on the bright side I knew a bloke who had a garage and the pulling tool so that's currently where it is, i'm eagerly awaiting its return so I can take it for a good run
Plans are currently to keep the looks as clean as possible for now on the exterior but to start work upgrading the interior, you don't notice what you use every day until it isn't there, radio for example, or even an aerial
I've a couple of questions for the Mini connoisseurs out there that i'm sure will start arguments so i'll post them with a cup of tea and wait for opinions; First question: Cones or springs? Second question: Turns left nice and easy, very heavy to turn right, and yes I've checked the tire pressures Third question: Lows? Last Question: Is there a good sports cat that wont take out the noise/extra couple of horses but still get me through the next MOT?
This little guy wont be used every day and will hopefully soon have some available dry storage for the winter months, quick obligatory pic of the daily, don't judge too harshly;
Progress to follow ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 20, 2015 11:16:35 GMT
|
Hi Guys
Mothers' Husband is currently selling this 1.0 12V Corsa that he has picked up and sorted out a 12 Month MOT on
No frills motoring, excellent runner, fairly tidy (ish) but the pictures show the story. Currently has 94,500 miles and is being kept off the road ready for a new buyer so wont increase, in the interest of honesty the car was picked up from auction and all the work carried out by him as he is a mechanic, justification being it was easily salvageable and a good option for someone as a first car/general run around
Added benefits of, and lets count them: Lexus 'style' rear lights New wheels trims CD Player
So, 12 Months MOT till august 2016 budget motoring at its finest
For any questions/viewings (although the whole story is here really) call Steve on 07711 026748
Actual location S64 8EB
Car is currently being listed on other sites but has the usual Retro Rides discount on here to make sure you mention Retro Rides
|
|
|
|