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Jul 18, 2023 19:50:35 GMT
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Well the Mini-based windscreen vent system can do one. It really will not fit in my car without an awful lot of chopping, bending, and re-organising. This is something that I am not prepared to do. They fitted fine behind the dashboard, but of course I hadn't put the speedo pod in place. Likelihood of fitting with it there? 0%. The original set-up was even worse - a tube of metal with holes in it, and pipe stubs for the vent tubes to attach to. Messing around with the Mini vents, or the original system, when there's actually a much simpler way of doing things with a smaller and tidier set-up, makes no sense. I will come to this later. So I unscrewed the Mini vents and put them into the naughty corner for being the wrong shape for what I wanted. I of course had some holes in the dash top, so out came the Jaffa Cake boxes, and the parcel tape. I cut them to shape, covered them with tape and used masking tape to secure them over the holes. I then mixed up the last of my resin, and fille din the holes with that and some chopped strand mat. Oh, and the lolly stick which I had used to mix the resin with the hardener, which just happened to be exactly the right size to plug the hole. Once dry, I cracked out the last of my filler to sort out the numerous lumps and bumps. The dash top will be covered with vinyl, but I would like to ensure it has a semblance of smoothness underneath, otherwise it will show through. My solution to the vent issue is a simple round directional vent, which can be connected directly to some convoluted tubing, as the Mini (and most other cars) would have. I've got some new stuff in stock so once the vents arrive, I will do some measuring and get the hole saws out. Mini Vents: Not much use if I want instruments. New fibreglass in place of holes. Dash top has a few holes and imperfections Filled in and ready for sanding (re-done after first pass, which is never right!!) And my solution to the vent issue is a pair of these directional vents - small, tidy and dead easy to fit. Hose attaches directly to the bottom of the vent.
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First car I ever drove was a Fiesta XR2, a 1986 D reg in Diamond White. Nippy little thing for a learner! It was 1991.
Would have hated to have had my driving instructor's insurance premium. It must have been huge!
I didn't get on with her though and changed to a different instructor who had a Mk2 Golf, swore like a navvie and smoked like a steam train. I passed first time - thank you Stephanie!
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I was selling a pair of good quality hi-fi speakers on Marketplace. One guy from Faceache seemed interested - asked if they were still available and could he come and have a look. I replied in the affirmative and to let me know what days were good for him.
It would appear that the question "What days are good for you?" is that very portal opener that sucks potential buyers out of existence. Should he ever reappear, he should know that I sold the speakers to my brother and he now has a cracking stereo set up in his shed.
I also agreed to buy some bigger hi-fi speakers from a lady on ebay who lived some 3 hours' drive away. in Lincoln. They were a good chunk of money (for me, anyway), and the deal was done via ebay's messaging service. I had asked for their best price without "officially" hitting the "Best Offer" button. Literally just as I was about to get into the car they advised that they were "not going to be in today". Strangely the speakers then disappeared from sale 3 days later. At least I hadn't started driving... 2 days later I bought a similar set for less than half the price via, of all places, Faceache Marketplace, so I guess the ebay seller (also sucked into the portal of missing buyers and sellers) had actually done me a favour, so thanks go to them.
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Jun 23, 2023 15:24:02 GMT
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One question I do have is what is the orange thing parked next to the military vehicle ?? Nigel I would guess a home-built special based on an LDV judging by the DVLA check on the plate. Reliant Kitten Van body and Morgan style front wing/headlights? @akku I hope your Mercury doesn't try too hard to break your bank balance - and thank you for sharing the trip!
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Last Edit: Jun 23, 2023 15:24:58 GMT by mrbounce
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Jun 21, 2023 21:50:19 GMT
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I am now hungry.
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Jun 18, 2023 19:07:03 GMT
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Thanks guys! A further tiny update for you: Classic Mini stuff was definitely built down to a price, especially by the late 1970s. Please see exhibit PZ/1 - the demister duct. This is fed by a pipe. Hot air comes from the heater. The duct itself is very cheaply made out of 2 pressed plastic pieces stapled - yes STAPLED - together. There are seams that don't meet up and effectively holes everywhere. These used to one piece items in metal, so it's no surprise where the money-saving in production went. My solution was to seal up the holes. In theory I could have used a soldering iron and melted it together, but a) I have not done this before, so I might not have done it well, and b) there is another way - it's called 2-part epoxy glue. I mixed it up, and using a cocktail stick, I gently smeared it over the seams and staples. We'll have another look in 24 hours. I know it's not going to be the biggest of differences, but every little bit helps, right? Exhibit PZ/1 - cheap, nasty and badly put together. Solution, smear a ton of glue over the holes.
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Jun 18, 2023 14:45:03 GMT
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Nice one, Bouncy. I can’t help thinking that you’ve aligned yourself with the wrong cola company. 😀 Maybe, but I always did like to be different!
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Jun 17, 2023 20:29:57 GMT
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Excellent work!
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Jun 17, 2023 20:23:47 GMT
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I'm still here. I've just been doing some other stuff. The dash top fitted fairly well, apart from the very front bit in front of the driver. This was VERY close to the windscreen - as it stood there would be no way to get the windscreen seal between the dash top and the bodywork - it simply would not go. I REALLY did not want to remake the whole thing - but then that's part of the fun with fibreglass - just cut off the offending part and re-do it. You're only a few pieces of chopped strand mat and some resin away from sorting it. So out came the Dremel and after some basic measurements I simply lopped off the bit that was "in the way". It was pretty easy to re-sculpt it to give me the clearance required. Once dried, I just needed to cut some clearance for the wiper wheelbox. Once done, I filled in some of the bigger imperfections. My initial intention was to coat the dash top in the same textured paint as the door panels and dash, but it would take forever to get right, so I will get some vinyl and cover it once it's done. Next it was time to add the windscreen demister vents. For simplicity I using standard Mini items as I happened to have the ones that came with the car. I may "adjust" these as they're shockingly put together - the 2 halves are simply stapled together, meaning that the air leaks out of the side, plus I may need to do a little bit of bending with the help of a heat gun. Anyway, 4 screw holes later, I was ready to cut. A 12mm drill bit at either end gave a nice rounded edge, then I used my newly acquired oscillating tool for the cutting. I love this thing. Why I've never had one before I have no idea- they're amazing! It's still a mock up at the moment but a bit of fettling will have it sorted. This bit doesn't fit. So there was a small incident involving the Dremel... ...before new fibreglass was introduced A bit of filler and some checking for fit. Yes, I like Pepsi Max... Initial markings before drilling and cutting started Oscillating tools rock! Some fettling required, but we're getting there. I now need to find some vinyl...
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Jun 17, 2023 18:57:23 GMT
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Superb. You sir can feel extremely proud of what you've achieved. Well done!
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Jun 14, 2023 15:31:38 GMT
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This is a wonderful thread - very therapeutic.
My problem has always been never thinking that I am good enough. I grew up with a very intelligent older brother, which of course led to an awful lot of expectation for me to achieve similarly high grades / exam results etc. This played havoc with my self-worth - I was NEVER as good in my parents' eyes, or my teachers'. It plagued me for most of my 51 years on this planet.
I have no issue talking to people, nor do I have problems in crowds - 60000 at Twickenham is no issue for me. My social skills are way better than my brother's, who has always been an introvert. I have done marvellous things in the past, being on the committee of the local Mini Club for several years in the 1990s. I have a project that I have done great things with over time (some good, some needing to be re-done) - and it's all done by me.
Yet somehow I still think, somewhat illogically, even when I have done something successfully, often in a way most people wouldn't have thought of, I think I haven't done it well enough. I am not too much of a perfectionist - that isn't the problem. It is my own self-doubt that's plagued me since the mid-70s. My main help for the project is a friend whose Mrs is very high risk to Covid, so he's not often out, which is awkward as he is my electrical guru - and I do not understand electrics at all. It's a sticking point for this project at the moment, and it's bugging me. Yet my self-doubt tells me that I will likely set the car on fire if I try to sort the wiring myself...
I will get there with the project. It's just going to take a bit of time and convincing myself.
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This is all kinds of cool.
I remember when I was about 3 my M|um used to take my brother and I on long walks and we'd often see the local Prinz 4 (which was blue) smoking around - I seem to recall that the owner drove it like a rally car. It was nothing like as well-looked after like your beauty though!
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The Fiat Vignale Samantha - apparently based on the 125. First time I saw one of these was in the latest copy of Practical Classics I saw yesterday. A gorgeous thing - looks a bit like the Bitter CD's cute little sister.
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Last Edit: Jun 6, 2023 13:16:43 GMT by mrbounce
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Lambo Silhouette, Unipower, Mini Sprint and Monteverdi please.
And not necessarily in that order!
What a cracking set of cars.
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May 30, 2023 22:21:55 GMT
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Blimey. I expect that has a bit of grunt...
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May 30, 2023 22:20:05 GMT
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Triumph Stag 5 spokes might work nicely.
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Last Edit: May 30, 2023 22:20:14 GMT by mrbounce
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May 29, 2023 14:15:59 GMT
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I love this van, but oh boy that's a lot of bran flakes and holes! Having seen what you've completed already I am sure that you'll happily crack on as usual and do an awesome job.
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May 29, 2023 11:33:24 GMT
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Couple of little things I've done: The Christijan Albers Monaco Menu is framed and up in the garage. I have also built a shelf to keep my car washing stuff out of the way. I was fed up with knocking over bottles etc. They're now over 6 feet in the air so properly out of the way. A bunch of screws, some shelf brackets and a piece of replacement floorboard I bought to replace a knackered one at Mum and Dad's old place. Total cost? Less than £3. That'll do! And I have recently bought a reciprocating saw. The blades I have were simply left on the bench or rattled around in the moulded case. I hate this. I need to figure out a way to easily store them - some sort of wallet or little box. I did consider building a small plywood box but my woodwork skills aren't that great, and I wanted something that wouldn't take me all day. So I went bin raiding. I rummaged in the recycling and found one of Mrs Bounce's empty shampoo bottles. A bit of work with a Stanley knife and a drill saw it mounted to the wall, as it was exactly the right size to hold the blades. Total cost: £0. It might look a bit of a bodge but it's functional and does the job. No sense in spending money if you don't have to. Christijan Albers in his allocated workshop space on the wall. Car cleaning shelf. I have also put up a towel rail for the drying towel I have but that's just a towel rail so no picture... Although in true RR fashion I had to modify it because the mounting points it had were stupid and badly made. And the shampoo bottle that became a holder for the reciprocating saw blades. Simple but effective!
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Last Edit: Nov 24, 2023 14:53:38 GMT by mrbounce
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May 25, 2023 17:40:45 GMT
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I absolutely love this car. So impractical and ridiculous for the UK's roads which makes it all the more desirable!
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