Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 1/5/14 at 07:58 PM |
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New Project! - Autotune Gemini
I'm back baby!
Never been so sad as the day I said goodbye to my striker (Q609 ACF where are you?) so after the Mini Turbo, and a lovely (and still here) MX5, I
picked up my new project this evening:
Even Norfolkluegojnr jnr seems to like it. In fact he cried when I took him out to put it away!
Its currently running a 1600 Crossflow, with a stage 3 head & twin 40's. I'll upload some more pics when its light again, but suffice
to say I'm super chuffed!
It hasnt been on the road since 2008, so a few bits and pieces will need refreshing, but its in surprisingly good nick.
BUild/refresh thread to come. So please to be back in the fold!
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TheGiantTribble
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| posted on 1/5/14 at 08:20 PM |
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Thank goodness someone bought it, it was looking like I was going have to choose between biding on it
(at least I think it was the one on ebay) and sleeping in the shed. The Mrs very unhappy when she saw me looking at it.
It looks great and can't wait to see more pictures as you rebuild her.
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 1/5/14 at 08:24 PM |
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Yes, it was the one on ebay - hidden under a dirty tarp.
I was pleasantly surprised at whats left to do, and throughly looking forward to it!
Also of course pleased to keep you on SWMBO's good side......
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TimC
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| posted on 1/5/14 at 08:49 PM |
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Welcome to the club! Great to see another one getting some TLC.
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bob
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| posted on 1/5/14 at 09:13 PM |
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Great car, one of our regulars at Newlands has rebuilt one with a brand new blacktop Zetec on Jenvy's it absolutely flys and looks fantastic.
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sjmatthews
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| posted on 1/5/14 at 09:22 PM |
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Love it! 
I'll be in the garage dear!
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 2/5/14 at 06:31 AM |
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Thanks for the comments guys. More pics and details to come at the weekend.
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 4/5/14 at 09:27 PM |
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Got it running! sounds a bit agricultural on my phone, but you get thie idea....
Linky
Update on things to do:
New Battery
New thermostat, housing & gasket
Full Service
Pads, discs, caliper check etc
lots of rubbing down and painting of chassis members
Interior strip clean and refit
Biggest job on the list seems to be moving the brake master reservoir - the original builder seems not to have considered refilling or bleeding when
fitting it, as its touching the body of the car, and the cap cant be removed!
Any suggestions on how to move it without removing the body? Pics to follow....
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 8/5/14 at 09:53 PM |
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Bit more progress, and some pics for you.
Well, it was my birthday on tuesday, and the wife kindly bought be the following:
Which may well come in handy! Need to learn how to use it first though.
So, I havent had a huge amount of time, but I have started to make a list of what isnt working currently, and to do that, I've been poking about
a fair bit.
Firstly, wheels off to see whats hiding:
Not looking to bad. Correct me if I'm wrong, this is a Mk2 Escort hub? if so what is the caliper? Bottom ball joint is perished, so
that'll need replacing, other wise looking ok apart from some surface rust.
Drums on the rear, but i ran out of time to take them off for a look. That'll be tomorrow.
brake master cylinder and reservoir are touching the body, meaning the cap cant be removed. If I loosen it off, I can get the cap off, but not
exactly ideal. Should I replace with a remote option? if so what size/type am I looking at here?
Heater not currently working. ANy idea what this is?
Multimeter is shot, so could check if its getting power, but is it easier to replace it with an electric option?
Finally, a surprise in the boot!
Longer update to come when I've done a bit more.
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TimC
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| posted on 8/5/14 at 10:18 PM |
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Uprights and hub are Cortina 3/4/5. Caliper is M16.
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Ugg10
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| posted on 9/5/14 at 07:22 AM |
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Heater looks like it could be off a mini often used in kits of this age. Nice project all the best.
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Irony
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| posted on 9/5/14 at 08:31 AM |
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That looks like it could be a lovely car. Sort of project I am probably going to do next when garage space allows!
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 31/5/14 at 08:38 PM |
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Thought I'd put an update of progress....
Last few weeks have been slow going due to going on holiday and various work commitments, but I was given a hall pass for today, so got to work.
First up was trying to fix the heater which as far as I could see, was the only mechanical issue for the MOT:
First the switch was checked for power, and immediately highlighted the problem - it wasnt plugged in so plugging in and turning on revealed a
working heater!
Only issue was it was somewhat asthmatic. A bit of fiddling revealed it had two settings, and it was stuck between the two. A screw driver and a fine
adjustment tool (hammer) quickly solved that.
Job jobbed.
Onto the dodgy starting. New battery fitted and strapped down (located nicely behind the drivers footwell) the bad earth was chased and replaced, and
a security cut off fitted.
Engine now turns over beautifully and starts on the button. Managed to nearly asphyxiate in the garage as I was so please it was running beatifully.
Alternator also checked and kicking out a good 14v.
Next job was to break off the locking wheel nuts as the key was long lost. I went for the 'wrong size socket + big hammer' method which
worked really well along with my electric impact wrench. great bit of kit if you dont have air tools.
This gave me the opportunity to inspect all the brakes, which are is remarkable condition. Rear drums have been refurbed recently, just need a lick
off paint. Front calipers are refurb units, and the pads are new. Discs only suffering from surface rust meant there was little more to do here.
Onto the boot and bonnet fixings and stripping the audio out:
After removing the bizarre sub woofer and amp, I also removed the box that it was built in. Above was what was behind it - a respectable boot!
There is a handy hatch to access diff and handbrake adjuster, but this was as far as I got here. I'll remove the timber, and re carpet the boot
when I get time. There is plenty of space for tools etc, so very pleased with that.
A few more small jobs were completed - replacing a piece of fuel hose, refit carpet in the passengers footwell, refit dash, and give the interior a
hoover.
I also managed to bleed the brakes on the MX5 which is now ready for its MOT, and may well be up for sale soon.
So whats left to do?
New Wipers
4 x Wheel nuts to replace the shoddy locking nuts
full service
new thermostat
replace both steering gators as perished
replace ball joints - two showing wear
Otherwise, Gem (finally decided on the name) will be ready for MOT! Obligatory tidy and looking good pic:
[Edited on 31/5/14 by Norfolkluegojnr]
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Gemini
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| posted on 1/6/14 at 07:15 PM |
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You probably dont need to worry about a heater,my exhaust keeps me warm!!
How is your exhaust, mine gets very hot and i keep cutting additional cooling vents to try sort it.
With respect to the master cylinder,keep it as is or maybe change resivoir to remote ones. as long as the cap can come off and you can check levels it
would be fine as long as the body is not putting any pressure on it.
[Edited on 1/6/14 by Gemini]
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 1/6/14 at 08:45 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Gemini
You probably dont need to worry about a heater,my exhaust keeps me warm!!
How is your exhaust, mine gets very hot and i keep cutting additional cooling vents to try sort it.
With respect to the master cylinder,keep it as is or maybe change resivoir to remote ones. as long as the cap can come off and you can check levels it
would be fine as long as the body is not putting any pressure on it.
[Edited on 1/6/14 by Gemini]
More about passing MOT than actually heating! Demister needed I believe, so now repaired.
Exhaust wise I can't really comment yet as I haven't had it running for any length of time. Where is in better hot? In the side pod?
Master cylinder is a head scratcher. It's only fillable with the cylinder loosened, not exactly ideal. Once MOT is passed, I'll reassess
over winter I think.
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Gemini
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| posted on 3/6/14 at 09:27 AM |
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Let me know about demister as i haven't got fitted to mine, I still need to fit the windscreen washers as well before my first MOT.(3 years
since first registration) Didnt have windscreen previously.
I dont recall them testing demister on my eagle jeep. i have never tried it either but it went through MOT ok in April.
Hi yes in the pod is the issue. i am running two bike exhausts though so not sure if this is the issue.
[Edited on 3/6/14 by Gemini]
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 3/6/14 at 09:40 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Gemini
Let me know about demister as i haven't got fitted to mine, I still need to fit the windscreen washers as well before my first MOT.(3 years
since first registration) Didnt have windscreen previously.
I dont recall them testing demister on my eagle jeep. i have never tried it either but it went through MOT ok in April.
Hi yes in the pod is the issue. i am running two bike exhausts though so not sure if this is the issue.
[Edited on 3/6/14 by Gemini]
i could be wrong on the demister - its probably depends how friendly the tester is too. You can get simple plug in 12v ones - Car Builder Solutions do
one for about £20.
are you running two bike exhaust side by side? that'd be pretty tight I guess. is the exhaust wrapped?
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Gemini
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| posted on 3/6/14 at 11:32 AM |
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Hi
No both are in line to keep the noise down a bit. One is a very short stubby can about 1 foot long. the pipes are wrapped but not the boxes as they
are carbon fibre and dont seem to get hot.
It does produce a nice sound though!
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 23/6/14 at 08:49 PM |
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So managed to make a bit more progress over the last few days.
Ball joints and rod ends needed replacing on both sides, so I had fun with the ball joint separator:
Old and new ball joints show the extent of the issue.
shiny new joint in place.
Whilst the rod end is off, I replaced the steering gators for good measure.
Which was a good idea as it turned out
No pics of the rod ends, but managed to get some the same length so the tracking will be ok till i can get to the MOT centre.
I also changed the thermostat which was knackered, and started polishing up the brightwork. No pics, but
i'll do some before and after shots soon.
Ran out of time today - need to finish the other side tomorrow, then its just wipers and I should be ready for MOT!!
Bonus pic before I closed the door:
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Gemini
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| posted on 24/6/14 at 08:19 AM |
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Hi
Am not sure where you got your ball joints from but i had aproblem with one set i bought.
Check that the suspension travel is limited by the shock. i found that the ball joint was limiting travel on the first set i had,i was worried that
this could have been catestrophic as they not designed to take that sort of load.
Dave
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 24/6/14 at 08:41 AM |
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I picked them up from a local motor factors, quality seems good.
I'll keep an eye on it though, sounds like you could have had a nasty accident. How did you pick up on it in the end?
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Gemini
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| posted on 24/6/14 at 09:15 AM |
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it looked a bit odd when fitted and i had to take the shock off to paint the springs and noticed wish bone didnt drop lower when the shock was
removed(shock wasnt fully wxtended either). Luckily some one else i know was building one at the same time so asked what his looked like.
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 24/6/14 at 09:25 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Gemini
it looked a bit odd when fitted and i had to take the shock off to paint the springs and noticed wish bone didnt drop lower when the shock was
removed(shock wasnt fully wxtended either). Luckily some one else i know was building one at the same time so asked what his looked like.
Thanks. I'll keep my eyes peeled.
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 10/7/14 at 08:55 PM |
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So a quick update, I've been a bit lazy and havent got much done, but had a splurge tonight.
After finishing all four balljoints which wasn't as bad as expected, I replaced the thermostat and ran the car up to temp. Seems to be running
quite well, but getting very hot.
So, whipped off the hoses to flush the rad through - no issues there. Dirty, but free flowing. So I tried to run water through the block, but it
simply filled up. With the water pump still in place, should it flush through? or do I need to remove the water pump to do this?
I've going to replace the old rad with a Polo one, and fit a electric fan as currently it only has the old viscous fan (have a spare left over
from the mini) but should I change the water pump at the same time?
I ordered a replacement thermostat housing which is suitable shiny :
Kind of puts the rest off the engine bay to shame though.
SO! Car is now ready for MOT! Booked in for monday. Wish me luck, I'll report back onceive passed/failed.
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TimC
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| posted on 11/7/14 at 06:54 AM |
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Just a heads-up for anyone who might fancy joining our gang, there's a Gemini on eBay at the moment:
It's on eBay and is nothing to do with me!
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