Off with the burnt bits (MK1)

I managed to start the day by removing the battery to ensure there was no power left in the car as I plan to remove many parts, sensors and wires. While removing the battery I found 2 cans of WD40 in the boot which will save a few pounds and a nice extra.

With a bin by my side I set about removing any burnt or melted parts. I decided to keep all the brackets even though the surface is red rusty as I may sand blast and restore them, the price of the brackets could soon add up.

I started removing the bonnet which on my own was quite heavy and difficult to hold. It was soon out and as I got it out the scrap man turned up and I handed it over which helped with storage space.


With the bonnet off I turned my attention to getting the injectors out and seeing what condition they are in. I removed the half melted intercooler cover, then the intercooler, which reviled some black injectors, though they had been shielded from the heat and where only black from smoke.


With the intercooler off I proceeded to remove the air conditioning pump which with exception to the electronic clutch is still pumping so this may still be good after a rebuild (not that I want it). The air conditioning pump removal was made difficult by the melted bumper support so I took this off at the same time.
I then removed the alternator and found the shaft solid so this went directly into the bin along with the throttle.
The blower came off and after a quick clean is in perfect working order and not damaged.


With the front end off I wanted to remove the air box and other small melted bits of plastic. After prising off the air box and ECU I found that the the ECU looks untouched to the point that the wires entering the box are not melted and the wires and plug from the cabin fuse board is perfect.

I decided that since a lot of the sensors where close to the fire it would be beneficial to remove them, so out came the crank case sensor, water temperature, and the MAP sensor, I also thought to remove the thermostat as I do not know the condition.


Removal of the parts was difficult due to the melted plastic covering bolt and screw heads, also many of the bolts had been securely fixed thanks to the fire. However it was enjoyable to get blue to this point where it actually looks like there would only be another few days required to start the car or at least get the shopping list together.
Stripping the front I discovered that the suspension rubbers and brake lines have taken some of the heat too, they will need removing and changing too.

The next time I work on blue I will remove the A-panels, water bottles and remaining wires, I will then set about cleaning everything and removing the sump and cylinder head to check the engine over.

"To me" - "to you"

Off we went to collect blue from the salvage yard, it was a cold icy day with snow here and there and a typical Garmin not knowing where the destination is. Lucky we had Google with us on our mobile phones to pin point the destination.

On arrival we are told to put on our hi-vis jackets which we do not have... I would like to thank co-part for lending the jackets.
Having our paperwork from the co-part office we told to wave it at the bloke driving the fork lift truck. We then wait till I catch a glimpse of blue straddling the largest forklift I had seen. The driver proceeded to place blue on the back of the flat bed trailer. This gave Dave (thinkmini) and I a good chance to crawl over the car and see what I had purchased. We purchased it with no keys so we where prepared to snap the lock out and black box the column but I was happy to see there was a key.



I realise that this is a good spec mini with cruise control, climate control, chrome line interior, heated full leather interior, twin sunroof, DSC, a joke huge pencil in the boot and a umbrella in the boot.

After a 2 hour drive and a huge BK which was very nice as it usually is, we arrived back at my house Dave carefully reversed the trailer up to the garage which at this point is covered in sheet ice. We manage to roll blue off the trailer only to discover that with two flat tires and on sheet ice its incredibly difficult to push. Dave and I try and move the car to the garage which is also up a slope. At this point I am ready to give up and just leave it where it is, partly because its getting late and I am feeling quite guilty that I have kept Dave out for so long. To give it one more go I rope Jeff in (a local neighbour) who helped to get the car into the garage. when the car was almost in the garage I hit a physical wall and realise I have no energy, I feel sick and my head is spinning. Not a good feeling. After a short break we all give it one big push and manage to tuck blue away.

This was a terrible thing to experience and believe me a mini with flats, on ice, up a hill is a very heavy and difficult thing to move! I get the feeling that I will get lynched if Jeff or Dave ends up with a bad back "I hope they have a good Christmas"

I would like to thank Dave at thinkmini again for his time, efforts, and just for being a good honest person. Thanks to Jeff for the extra man power.

Well the next post will involve parts being removed from blue to get to the bottom of what parts are needed and parts ready for the scrap man

The welcome to blue

Hi

After one year of planning 2010 is going to be the year that my automotive dreams come true. I have recently purchased a mini cooper s nick named "blue"

I had been watching blue pass through auctions for four weeks, being determined on the price the reserve was not met until the fourth week where I did not meet the reserve but Dave at thinkmini managed to come to a solution with the auction house and owner of blue.

Blue comes with a raft of options including air conditioning, chrome line interior, full leather specification, parking sensors, panoramic sunroof and cruise control. Not to mention this is cooper S

I am looking forward to starting work on this project. My cutting disks and welder are ready to go... The engine for this car is currently awaiting parts and I will start the engine build early in 2010

Watch this space