Dazecoop – Blog of David Cooper – Photography, Videography, Drifting & modifying cars

After a long awaited month-or-so, finally my new straight cut close ratio gearbox came. And, oh, its special.

Its an Mini A+ gearbox with Clubman Evolution straight cut close ratio gears, central oil pick-up and x-pin diff. John at GuessWorks has done a brilliant job in getting the gearbox built for me, for a very good price too. He came down himself to deliver it, he’s a really sound bloke.

Another photo, just because its so sexy

Other than that, in car news, I was hoping to get it started this weekend, but yet again, more unforeseen things happened which meant a delay again. I totally forgot about the heater hoses, and that it wasn’t going to fit without some modifications, some new pipes and new tube. The heater tap and take-off on my old head is mounted on the bottom left corner of the head, as per most pre-1985 Mini’s, however this head didn’t have the heater tap on there, but just the take-off itself.

I don’t care about controlling the "hotness" of my heater, so I’m not plumbing in a tap, but do need some way of attaching the heater hoses to the head itself. A trip down to the local DIY shop and a few purchases on eBay – again – should do the trick.

Other than that, I managed to do the horrible scary task of connecting the fuel tank to the new fuel line. I searched on the internet a lot to find any advise on how to do this and couldn’t find much. So, here’s the deal – my fuel line is through the car and waiting for the tank to be attached. The tank is full-up and I can’t empty it without spending half a day siphoning. And finally, at the moment the tank is happily connected to the old fuel line.

First, I disconnected the tank from its strap and swivelled it into the boot so I could gain access to the rear of the tank where the pipe connects. I grabbed myself a screwdriver, and the new rubber fuel hose (10mm) and unscrewed the old fuel hose. Fuel pored out pretty rapid, and I quickly connected the new fuel hose to the tank with a fuel clip already in place, and with a bolt through the other-end of the fuel hose to stop fuel coming out.

I tightened up the fuel clip, and pushed the fuel hose around the back of the tank in place ready to be connected to the fuel pump. I then put the tank then back into place, and then removed the bolt from the end of the hose and quickly, again, connected the hose to the fuel pump. Job done, and here’s a photo showing the hose from the tank to the pump

Many people might not have understood any of that, even if you are a Mini-nut. Hopefully someone will get some advise from it! Just work quickly and little fuel is lost. Oh, and disconnect the batter of course!!

Hopefully more updates later this week, regarding my Mini. Desperately awaiting the engines first run now.