Hampton Roads Club Mini

I took the cap off and cleaned it.  Put is back on.  I sprayed some water on it with the engine running looking for sparks - didn't see any, but I wasn't up o grabbing it.
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I usually call my car "Turd"....You know, like:  "I'm going out to the garage to polish the turd"

T.J.

I took the pressure relief spring out today.  Cut off about a turn and a half and then heated the thing red hot with a torch then squished the end so it would be flat like the old end was.  Did a little work with the Dremel and a grinding wheel to make sure the spring would fit flush and put it all back together.  Now I get no higher than 55-60# ever.  It just sits at the same pressure from startup when cold, when driving...and once hot it will go down to 50# at idle.  I only got this brave because I found my old spring.  I did cut it twice with a check in between.  Also used two of the copper washers instead of one since it was a little over 60# with one washer.

Had a nice test drive and it all seems to work.

Now I guess someday I'll have to fix my turn signals and wipers!

T.J.

Castrol GTX 20W-50.

Those adjustable ones will only be able to lower the high reading.  Won't be able to raise it at idle when warm.  I think I will just take a little off my spring and see what happens.  Of course I'm gonna order another spring just in case.  I may have my old one, but I doubt it...I switched to the cooper S ball bearing from the normal slug doohickey a couple years ago.

T.J.

I've got too high oil pressure.  I have the cooper S ball and spring relief setup, but I'm going to take a little off the spring.

My oil pressure gauge (who knows how accurate it is?) goes up to 80# and it pegs it at idle until warm and at any sort of cruising RPM even when warm.  It shows aabout 45# when completely warm at idle.

I think that this high pressure does not help my oil leak situation.  My oil leak is from the the gasket between the block and the gearbox right under/behind the oil filter.  

What pressure do you guys see at idle when cold?

T.J.

Yeah, shocked from the cap....might have a hairline crack...I'll take it off and clean it up real good and see if that helps...unfortunately only one way to test it...ZAP! OW!

My plugs have always been a nice color when checked and it runs well...unless one is touching the cap!  It still runs well then too, it just hurts more.

T.J.

I've looked at the Pertronix setup as well...keeps the original look but no points to wear out.  I like the idea of adjusting the advance curve on the 123 setup.

B.J. - I have an alternator already..it's some Lucas piece with an external control box (also a Lucas deal).  The external control box is really just a relay..with another relay to make sure it doesn't drain the battery down when not running.  The setup works ok - I just think it's a weak point.  Still had good juice in the battery after Sunday...I even drove it last night in the dark and all is well.

How often have you had to replace points?  I haven't yet.  I also need to take a good look at my cap because if I touch it while running I can get a good shock from it...that's not supposed to happen.

T.J.

BJ and Shawn,

Are you running points in your dizzy or do you have some sort of electronic igintion?  

I've got an Aldon red now, but like the idea of something like this:
http://tdcperformance.ca/

T.J.

April,

I found this site from reading someone's post on the autocross.us forum....someone had a link to here in their signature.

I did about 80 miles yesterday with no ill effects.  Stopped by ABACUS Racing and talked to Chuck (they rebuilt my engine).  I think I will be ready for mini pride day.

T.J.

Hello,

I just found this board - looks great!  I have a 64 Austin Mini Cooper S that I have had in pieces in my garage for the last three years..it's been on the road for a month or so.  Most of the bugs are worked out (for now).  I will try to make out to the Mini Pride Run Sunday and meet some of you.

The minis on the ferry is a great idea.  Hope I can make it to that as well!

T.J.