Passenger front door getting very stiff to shut

[Geoff1951]

Blimey, Jim, I bet that was interesting to drive! Probably like giving full throttle to a Scalextric car.

My mini couldn't take more than Stage 1, the three bearing crank wouldn't have lasted five minutes with anything better.


Mike, as our newish friend weetabixface says, lithium grease is the stuff. You can get it in a spray can (with a tube like WD40 for easy application), which'll last for ages. Just watch out for overspray when you use it, as the bishop said to the actress.

(The step up from bog standard 850 "power" to the stage one thrust was definitely noticeable. Well, it was starting from a pretty low base.)

 

[idlerider]

You can't beat the original Austin Cooper 'S' Geoff.........................especially when crafted like mine was with 1360 race tuned and jack Knight crash box + 2 huge twin choke webbers.......185 at wheels 

Yes, I had one of those - red with a white roof. Used regularly to melt pistons. 2K from a set of front boots. Every weekend spent taking the engine out for something or other - seem to remember getting it past the exhaust manifold was something of an art. Ended-up taking off from the lights a bit too quickly with a competition clutch and spin-welding the flywheel onto the crank. Ah, when we were young and foolish.....

[Geoff1951]

... and what about the little bypass hose just behind the head on the right hand side? A real beggar to replace. The gasket under the heater outlet valve was a five minute job though, IIRC.

I could change both UJs in an hour, start to finish.


Off topic !!

[idlerider]

... and what about the little bypass hose just behind the head on the right hand side?

Not so bad when they started making 'bellowed' aftermarket ones. Offside front engine mounting was the real pig. UJs were easy if you had a big enough hammer/friend to crack the ball joints!

[mikeloadsasaabs]

You're not getting old Mike are you???

Yes, 60 next week! 

Not seen Plusgas for years, used it many times when I was a lad. Gave it another good squirt of WD40 before we left home, seems to be easing. Been on the road since Monday lunchtime hence the belated reply, now safely bedded in to a pub in Northumbria, birthday treat!

[Geoff1951]

Look, let's not start an "I'm older than you" thread !

I invested in a splitter for the joints on my mini, sort of a cupped claw thingy.

[idlerider]

Look, let's not start an "I'm older than you" thread !

'nuff said.

[Norfolk Jim]

Scalextric it felt like Geoff - definately.

All the work had been done prior to my purchasing it in flame orange with cobra super slots, corbeau race seats and harness, webasto roof, 2 Cibie hella spotlamps and super exhaust - wow what a note at 8500 rpm. You know where heater switch/pull was on lower left panel. Mine worked a vacuum to bring second webbr in then whooooooosh....

You couldn't start off a lights very quick and had to slam quick into 2nd while wheels just started to get some grip then third and you were already well over 60!!!!! Twin tanks lasted about 150 miles under power....................

Was service every 3k by an old boy who used to work in the cooper factory. I gave him oil etc and he played with the engine to keep it on song - he never drove it though but I took him for a go-kart run in it and he just wouldn't stop laughing each time I hit the LOUD pedal. All I did was polish and drive it - like a loony sometimes

I have no idea what pistons were in it etc but the high lift cam allowed redline of 9k but never needed any more than 6 as more than enough power. Scared my dad sh*tless when he drove it.

Boy I miss that. Twas the only car I actually made money on when I sold it as moved to the smoke for work!!!