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Seicento My Sei Minion - The Story So Far...

Introduction

I've posted pics of my Sei Minion on FF before but thought it was about time I contribute a little bit more so this thread is about my car, hopefully I'm posting it in the right place but I'm sure I'll be set right sharpish if not (y)

Having recently read through Pirus's Shoe/Pawsbox and Todger182's Chalky epics with a mixture of lust, fear and cold, cold jealousy :worship: I must point out that those sort of operations will not (yet) be a feature of this thread...
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Sei Minion was bought as a cheap town runaround in order to avoid taxi/rental car costs as due to health issues in 2014 I was carless for a bit. Health returned and brought with it this...
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No, it did not come with a plastic minion bolted onto the badge backing. Yes, I did walk into toys r us and buy a minion. Yes, drilling a hole in a minion was fun. Dignity and I are not firm friends.
Anyway, this little car turned out to be the most fun drive I've had since (real) mini's and RWD Escorts many years back. A series of dull useful family cars had eroded my interest in oily things but this titchy yellow go-cart has been a bit of a revelation. Only problem being when I was learning the world ran on contact breakers n carbs, not ECU's and squirty plugs. Still bolts is bolts and the rest I'll learn the usual way, by screwing it up so badly I have to figure out how it works.

Current job list:
Fit crap hood ornament - tick
Build car port and pass it off as childrens undercover play area - tick - pics to come
Flush out liquid rust from coolant system and fill with lovely clean stuff - tick
New spark plugs - tick - plug 1 centre electrode was v v badly burned/melted??
Proper brave engine/bay degrease with gunk and pressure washer to find where oil is leaking
Clean possibly change sump pan
New oil n filter
Timing belt and (while I'm at it) water pump
Tracking
Possible top end column change (covered in previous posts, ta all)
Minor dents/scuffs to sort
Full detail

Current Dream list:
Slight height loss
Wheels, 14", lower profile boots, wider ffs, something interesting
Lights that provide illumination

OK enough listing. I have actually done something and have pics to prove it. Pics that are blurry, sorry. This will have been done many times before but...
This cannot be allowed to stay grubby scuffed 'orrible silver.
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Finally, a use for the 00000 grade steel wool lurking in the shed. Half n half shot...
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The wool did a good job, brought down the scratchy texture, cut out some minor scuffs.
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Providing a nice platform for primer...
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Then topcoat.
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Some drying time later, re-assembly began.
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Nice moment seeing the contrast between the new colour and the old (hang on, what the hell are they called :confused: ) control panel function indication labels? Not catchy is it.
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The result. It was dark by this time but I had to take this photo. The voices said so.
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Well there it is, documentary evidence that I did it. To anyone who is going to do it I'd say the only fly in the ointment is having to snap off the big white bit on the back of the panel. It needs to be either glued or melted with a soldering iron to get it back on, easy enough to do but worth planning for.
Oh yeah, the car came with a cracked o/s door mirror housing containing a cut-to-shape temporary mirror which had been cut to shape by someone who was clearly unfamiliar with using their hands. Or eyes. Or brain.
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Now replaced by this from jiminwatford's ebay shop (ta muchly for sending quickly).
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More updates will happen. Maybe nothing too exciting for a while. Thanks all...
Matt.
:slayer:
The update with the stickers in it.

So finally I have fitted a genuine performance part to Minion, good for 50 bhp at least...
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You can kinda feel the power just radiating from them...
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Then I went off to find my first victim. Here is a genuine picture of me racing (the wheels are blurry and everything) a focus ST and clearly winning...
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To make the loser focus ST owner feel better, cause I'm sure he tunes in to FF, here is something I photoshopped up that definitely did not happen.
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Thanks today go to blu73 for superquick sending of an alternator.

Matt.
:slayer:
 
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Jacks, volts and spanners.

There comes a time in every mans life when he must change his Sei's alternator, although blu73's parts bin may supply a replacement and B&Q still sell 16mm spanners, that man must stand alone and face the voltless truth.
The thing's knackered and you're gonna have to change it.

If I could visit myself this morning I would wish to impart the importance and relative ease of removing the o/s engine mount. Pay heed should your journey follow a route as mine.

Here follows a pictorial experience displaying some aspects of the days endeavors...
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There was an "oh ****" moment when I started the car. Alt light stayed on, turned out one of the staff members here had not tightened up the connectors enough.

It's a very easy job. When you've done it once.
Matt.
:slayer:
 
Ukmh did you check the mount. Im going to replace all of my bushings tomorow my gbox mount is terrible gona get some polyflex in there blue ones :p i get a slight bang when rallying into second down the twisty roads lol the sei is invincible on twisty roads !
 
Ukmh did you check the mount. Im going to replace all of my bushings tomorow my gbox mount is terrible gona get some polyflex in there blue ones :p i get a slight bang when rallying into second down the twisty roads lol the sei is invincible on twisty roads !

The mount is still doing it's job but it has gone on the replace list. It's far from perfect, I suspect it would benefit the car to change every mount/bush etc but my pockets say no for now.
Sei + twisty roads = :D:D:D
 
Shiney new rad

Dealt with a few little jobs today. Replaced rad (cheers to henseyseries3 for tip) 12.50 for a new rad?! Oil and filter. Rocker cover gasket with a quick clean and paint. Bits of bodywork.

Forgot to take any pics :bang:

Matt.
:slayer:
 
Confession - Why I need a slap.

I shall post this in order to help with the cleansing of my soul.

I have long believed that the best way to improve a car is by taking away not adding.
Although changing engines, suspension, brakes, etc are honest upgrades, simplicity and lightness are the true gods.
Halfords et al, with their shiney, shiney consumer bolt on upgrades may be considered the enemy of that belief.

I have sinned. For some hours my Sei Minion wore solid copper tyre valve dust caps.
As heavy as they were in my hand they weighed heavier in my heart once applied to the car.

They are now gone, cast to the dustbin of past error, but I carry the print of their pointless excess and it pains me.

This is why I need a slap.

Matt.
:p
 
Brake pipe (o/s/f) went pop. In the drive fortunately.
So up went the car onto axle stands and off I went to the only place in wakefield stocking a flaring tool - Halfrauds.
Everything to motoring that McDonalds is to fine dining.
So with all requirements in place I thought I'd spent a late night changing all the pipes for shiney new. First pipe came off the car really easy after looking rusty and corroded at both ends. This was going really well. Off to the shed to make up pipe 1 and the flaring tool is drilled wrong. The 3/16th's guide hole is oversized and the flare seat was created by having an angry, titanium-toothed tiger take random chunks of material away.
Fur cue Halfords.
:bang:
 
Brakes unbroken...

Took delivery today of a draper 23313 flaring tool. Both front lines now replaced. Rears looked quite good after a spot of crud removal with a wire brush so they have stayed as is.
No rounded nuts or seized nipples and the new tool worked very nicely.
Nice new dot 4 has replaced the black crap the lines had running through them.
Pedal does it's job better now. Next step will be pulling the calipers and drums for the usual shenanigans.
Think a bit of handbrake adjustment might happen too. It does function but it feels high and stretchy, from what I've read so far I might not be able to do much to change the feel of it.
New toy...
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You too had fun with nipples. Got to love nipples, nearly as much as flange.

You can change the feel feel of the handbrake to low and stretchy. All you have to do is crawl about under the car in the muck swearing for an hour, getting dirt in you're eyes and bingo. One lever in the car, that is as useless as before. But you don't need to pull it as far up.

I always thought Italy and Poland had hills. Clearly I and Judith chalmers were wrong and they are as flat as a witches t!ts. That is the only explanation for such an awful handbrake.
 
You too had fun with nipples. Got to love nipples, nearly as much as flange.

You can change the feel feel of the handbrake to low and stretchy. All you have to do is crawl about under the car in the muck swearing for an hour, getting dirt in you're eyes and bingo. One lever in the car, that is as useless as before. But you don't need to pull it as far up.

I always thought Italy and Poland had hills. Clearly I and Judith chalmers were wrong and they are as flat as a witches t!ts. That is the only explanation for such an awful handbrake.

:ROFLMAO:
Sounds like a wonderful way to waste my time, I'll start at once.
On the subject of flange, should I use copper slip or another lubricant?
:slayer:
 
These things happen.

Thought I'd sort out the condensation in the rear lamps today. When I had the light clusters popped out I noticed the bolts for the rear bumper.
I had been meaning to take it off, it needs a little work here and there. I had a little time spare, once it was off it revealed an accident damaged panel.
Then I smelt petrol.
On inspection the tank is absolutely rotten. :eek: Just filled it too. :bang:

Had meant to take pics but been too busy. Minion is now sans exhaust, tank, rear bumper, rear lamps and various little bits.

My bank account hurts.
 
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