cliff.b

Went to start our old Mini Clubman Diesel last week as I needed to be somewhere and my Wife was out in the newer car. Had been sitting outside covered in ice for over a week and was barely turning over then all the dashboard lights went out every time I tried. So put the battery on charge and had to get the trusty Spitfire out of the garage to get me where I needed to be (never driven it in such appalling weather) Next morning, Mini battery charged and turning over fine, but wouldn't fire up. Found no fuel getting to filter on engine and on further investigation, fuel pump not running. So rigged up an old electric pump with a separate diesel supply, but still nothing. Eventually got the AA to come out and fixed it in 20 mins without even getting his tools out. when the battery died it had reset the ecu which then was no longer communicating with the engine. He had to use software on his computer to reconfigure it and it then started fine. Guess that's progress 🙄

Will be giving the Spitty a service shortly and thought I might replace the plugs. Some time ago I read recommendations for Bosch W78 but then read they are now hard to find. So just wondered, can you still get then, if so where, and if not, are there any other recommendations?

Replace with LEDs if tou want them brighter. If the the voltage gauge is new it might already have an LED built in

Yes, I don't mind turning up to one of these meets where you stay for an hour or so and get to look at other people's cars, but generally, I prefer to drive it. I'm not really very interested in having to turn up somewhere early and commit to leaving the car there all day so the public can see it.

I would like an o/d but I'm sure I will get around to it eventually. Interesting the difference in fuel economy with EFI. What do you use and did it take much playing with to set up optimally?

Yes, I have been on some of these long drives out, although the chap that organizes them works out a circular route which limits the distance you get from home. Also heads off on different directions with no duplication of routes so far.

A shame you haven't been able to use it more but at least a goal to improve on that next year.

I would imagine a Spitfire with that much power feels fairly brisk at times 👍

114mph in a Spitfire 😱 I assume the engine is not as it was when the car left the factory 🤔

That's great. I have made a couple of trips to the recycling centre and always make it clear I'm not leaving the car there lol.

Don't think I will have an opportunity to take the Spitty out again this year so have drawn a line in the little notebook I keep in the car. It tells me I have covered 3050 miles over the last year and used just under 500 litres of fuel. So by my calculation about 32mpg average, which doesn't seem bad for a 1500 without overdrive. I can also see my highest mileage in one day was 160 miles but on one of several weekends away, covered 250 miles over 2 days. As for problems, nothing that stopped me going where I needed to go. Distributor & starter motor replaced last January as planned work and the only significant unexpected issue was replacing a drive shaft and bearings in June, but that didn't stop me getting home. Apart from that, just servicing and replacing oil in gearbox and diff as I didn't know what was in there. Car tucked away in garage now but hopefully not for long and hope to use it at least as much next year.

Anyway, part 2 of the plan is to monitor these over time and see how they perform. I will report back, eventually.

I found it pretty easy but I don't know if that is because it's a swing spring. Also, when I did the second side I found it easier to remove the old button from the location nearest the wheel which gave a little more clearance for the inner position. The outer one was easy to insert anyway

I did both sides together but after a test drive it does look higher, certainly half an inch, maybe more. Ride feels much better as well. Also I think less camber Before and after camber pics below.

Decided to carry out the plan to replace 2 buttons on each side this afternoon.

Thanks. I've got my key now but if I need anything else I go back to Swindon occasionally so could pay them a visit 👍

Obviously they have cut a new one to a pattern and comparing to my original shows how much that one has worn. So if I had found someone that could have copied that it might not have worked well anyway.

Replacement received from Keytrader and works ok 👍

Thanks. If the replacement sent to me still doesn't work I will give them a try 👍

They are sending me a new key so I will await it with anticipation 🙄

Hmm, new key arrived today and didn't work. When I compared to original it is completely different. I have advised Keytrader and awaiting a response.

The engine in my 1500 has a DM number so presume from Dolomite, but I believe it is supposed to be the same. I am currently running at 14deg BTDC and it starts on the button in warmer weather but needs a bit more cranking when it's cold out. But last year I was running it at the spec 10deg and it was exactly the same. It does crank slightly slower when cold, presumably due to thicker oil, so maybe that contributes. Or maybe it's the fuel not vaporising as much when it's cold but in my car, the timing doesn't seem to have much effect on this.

Many thanks 👍

I had forgotten about this issue and looked at it again this afternoon. I found that connecting the tail light side of the LED bulb to a 12v battery on the workbench it lit as expected, but if I touched the brake light connection to -ve it went out. So clearly the 2 parts of the bulb are not isolated and there must be some sort of electrical connection between them. Anyway, observing this everything fell into place. I had originally only changed one bulb as I wanted to compare brightness and as discussed previously that meant the brake light wire now had a path through the other filament bulb to ground. Removed the filament bulb, tried fitting LED again and all working, although not as bright as I hoped and disappointing difference in brightness between tail & brake lights. Should probably have bought better ones 🙄

That is good advice, and if I knew that the replacement pads are definitely up to the job I would probably take it 🙂