Well happy new year to everyone
that may be reading this, if anyone at all is doing so, it’s late, but well you
get that don’t you.
Things are progressing slowly and
I have picked up the occasional part here and there for the car, so I should
have everything I need by the time that I bring the car down from Queensland to Melbourne UK
There are still lots of bits to
get though and the good news is that I am going to be at the Beaulieu Auto Jumble,
so hopefully I will be able to pick up a few items while there and hopefully I
will be able to pack them into my luggage to get them home again too. Never had
the opportunity to attend the Beaulieu meet before so really looking forward to
seeing what it’s all about and what bargains may be there to be had, hopefully
there will be heaps of bargains. Doesn’t hurt to hope does it?
I have been putting some time
into thinking about how to wire all the extra accessories into the car too. I’m
thinking that I may be able to route a relay into the start switch which will
power an auxiliary fuse box and then have everything, including the starter
will be powered through there. Well I am not an electronics whiz so not sure if
I am way off track here or not, though there is a bit of time to think it out
and get it right yet. Just happy that I have already converted it to an
alternator rather than the old generator, I think it is going to be necessary.
I have to locate another parcel
tray for the car to, in the move to get the car from Canberra to Queensland I
lost a few parts, they have just disappeared, which is a bit disappointing as
it includes the original parcel tray and the original steering wheel and
steering column. So I have a mini column in the car at the moment and have a
Mountney wood rimed wheel in it as well, as it just give so much extra space
and at 6’3” that is a reasonable consideration I think.
I have been toying with the idea
of replacing the gearbox with a 1000 one rather than the original Series II box
which The Count is still running with. The thinking goes that I have to have
the gearbox rebuilt or reconditioned anyway so for such a long trip why not get
a box that will give me a better and more relaxed cruising speed (well ok that
is the diff as well, but it has to be less noisy than the 803 box surely!).
Though I am not sure I am warming to this, I have considered it many times
before and have never acted on it as I just haven’t been able to get my head
around “changing” the car, which I guess is silly given that it already has a
984cc in it (it had one when I got it and I wasn’t going to change it back),
though other than poly suspension bushes and electronic ignition kit, Rover 1.3
Mini distributor, 74 Mini Clubman inlet manifold with associated carby and the
heater out of same Clubman, it is as I got it way back when, so it is mostly
original to me anyway, HA! Anyway changing the box would mean changing the
transmission cover panel to the later 1000 one and also changing the handbrake
lever over as well, and well that is the problem, I would actually see that
difference and so would everyone else and it would be glaringly obvious. Silly
I know, but there you go, I mean if its not broke then don’t fix it, perhaps.
This one will require lots more thought and to be honest I would be surprised
if I have come to a decision by the time I get back from the trip. Mind the
having to recondition the box will probably have some sway to deciding before I
go. Hmmm…….. watch this space!
