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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.
mir1_001.jpg
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:
Update 1

As I said earlier, pics of carport/kids swing frame. Built on a value fishfingers type budget and it shows. Keeps the rain off though :D
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And this just because.
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Matt.
:slayer:

Edit coz I woz showin me numbers.
 
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Update 2 - Evil clips, oily fun and sexy pictures.

OK let's start this one with the sexy pictures...
minioninsun.jpg
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I spent some time yesterday with a litre of Gunk, some brushes and a pressure washer in order to provide some clarity on where oil is leaking from. The result to me suggests I'll be needing the engine out at some point soonish...
sump.jpg
Crankshaft seal then?

Took out the front fogs and attached panels, the lamps need some serious attention, or replacing...
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I also tried to take out the centre panel in the front bumper. I have encountered a minor problem with the clips the bolts rust into. I managed to maintain a cheery demeanor throughout and bear said clips no ill will as this picture illustrates...
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Tw@tting m________k__g worm infested buckets of rotten etc etc clips.

In other news...
What is the purpose of this plastic plate?
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I assume this is the ECU, or at least one of 'em? What's the thing in the top left with cable going to it? Found the OBD port in the car, that's going to need a cable with a usb connector at the other end and lappy's going to need some new software. Just no idea what yet, starting to look into it.
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Finally, just a pic from my point of view in the car. I'm sure there was a reason for this shot that made wonderful sense at the time.
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Happy Tuesday all,
Matt
:slayer:
 
I think that will house a couple of relays. Pop the cover off and have a butchers.
Nice car you have there sir.
I did the same with the dash trim on my alfa, sprayed it red. But I put the green opaque plastic the wrong side of the clock LCD, now you can only read it in the dark.

Love the carport swing area thing. Next door would call the white coats in if I did that. They already think I'm nuts.
 
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...

Thanks :)
We all start somewhere though and your collection of tools / knowledge / spare bedrooms and any other available storage space slowly takes over. Well it has for me.

Like the car, very err... yellow.

Like the carport / swingset. Good bit of man-genuity. Be glad you're not on Pistonheads though or you'd seemingly have half the world in uproar over it. - http://bit.ly/1LkiUqf$

I assume this is the ECU, or at least one of 'em? What's the thing in the top left with cable going to it? Found the OBD port in the car, that's going to need a cable with a usb connector at the other end and lappy's going to need some new software. Just no idea what yet, starting to look into it.
That is the ECU commonly reffered to as a 'mirco ecu' (as you can see why).
Yeh some fuses / relays. Take the cover off and have a look, wont do any harm.

As for the OBD port. Under the steering column. Instead of laptops/cables. Go on ebay and search for OBDII reader. If you have an IOS phone get the wifi version, if android get the bluetooth one. Then on app store search for 'Engine Link' or if Google Play 'Torque'. Both are free. Cheap and easy way to read and cancel any codes, plus can also display a digital dash on the phone giving you coolant temp and a few other variables.

I spent some time yesterday with a litre of Gunk, some brushes and a pressure washer in order to provide some clarity on where oil is leaking from. The result to me suggests I'll be needing the engine out at some point soonish...
From that picture it might not be the crank seal. Would need pictures further up the block and a couple at the front. Is there also oil around the front of the block. Im thinking rocker gasket, which is a common leakage point on centos.


What is the purpose of this plastic plate?
Standard on all Sei's. Guessing is to prevent spray. I originally used it as a mounting for a cold air feed.

So what are your future plans or ideas? Or are you just enjoying your cento and having a cheap runaround? :)

Pirus
 
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I think that will house a couple of relays. Pop the cover off and have a butchers.
Nice car you have there sir.
I did the same with the dash trim on my alfa, sprayed it red. But I put the green opaque plastic the wrong side of the clock LCD, now you can only read it in the dark.

Love the carport swing area thing. Next door would call the white coats in if I did that. They already think I'm nuts.

Hmm, well the whole truth is that the playframe/carport shown is version 3. After I built and scrapped versions 1 and 2 inside of a week the entire street doubt my sanity (family included). I suspect they may have a point :)
Thanks,
Matt.
 
Thanks :)
We all start somewhere though and your collection of tools / knowledge / spare bedrooms and any other available storage space slowly takes over. Well it has for me.

Like the car, very err... yellow.

Like the carport / swingset. Good bit of man-genuity. Be glad you're not on Pistonheads though or you'd seemingly have half the world in uproar over it. - http://bit.ly/1LkiUqf$


That is the ECU commonly reffered to as a 'mirco ecu' (as you can see why).
Yeh some fuses / relays. Take the cover off and have a look, wont do any harm.

As for the OBD port. Under the steering column. Instead of laptops/cables. Go on ebay and search for OBDII reader. If you have an IOS phone get the wifi version, if android get the bluetooth one. Then on app store search for 'Engine Link' or if Google Play 'Torque'. Both are free. Cheap and easy way to read and cancel any codes, plus can also display a digital dash on the phone giving you coolant temp and a few other variables.


From that picture it might not be the crank seal. Would need pictures further up the block and a couple at the front. Is there also oil around the front of the block. Im thinking rocker gasket, which is a common leakage point on centos.



Standard on all Sei's. Guessing is to prevent spray. I originally used it as a mounting for a cold air feed.

So what are your future plans or ideas? Or are you just enjoying your cento and having a cheap runaround? :)

Pirus

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Blimey, I hope the carport killjoys don't turn up here. It's not attached to anything and it was built to be temporary and can be taken down but :bang: I don't wanna!

I'm on 'droid so a bluetooth reader and torque sounds like the way to go, got to learn the ways of the codes. The temp readout sounds useful too.

Can't find any oily wetness above sump level since the gunking is what makes me think csos.

Future plans... a bit fluid at the moment. I'm too excited about having cars as toys again to settle on a direction. Minion needs to be kept reasonably standard as it is a family ferry. Other half will hopefully pass her test this year and minion will be her daily and family car so the aim will probably be just make it 100% clean and functional.
Of course then I'll need a new Sei for me. I'm thinking purple (mad minion). Stripped, dropped, minimalist and something very, very naughty to keep the pistons in.

Thanks,
Matt.
:slayer:
 
Update 3 - Paint pampering products and vapers only.

Deliveries have been er... delivered. DA MOP and a bit of Farecla goodness.
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Also a bunch of sanding discs from 120 through to 1500. P38 is already on the shelf. Some minor bodywork is about to get a bloody good seeing to.
Sadly I have no compressor or squirty guns so I'm gonna be rattling tins.
Get it all sorted as far as I can and then maybe find someone good to do a resquirt in the summer.

VAPERS ONLY: The long awaited solution is finally here...
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I know, I know. My genius combined with a cheap sponge and some even cheaper scissors continues to amaze us all.

Matt.
:slayer:
 
Update 4 - Front bumper and stuff.

Today has been bumper removal day.
seinobump.jpg
Took off the arch liners, they were then cleaned and stored.
Bumper top bolts came out easily, bolts on n/s came out not so easily, all three bolts on o/s sheared.
Bugger.
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It's off at least. Which of course revealed THINGS. Like the not so great state of the rad...
rad.jpg
or far more worryingly this brake line...
brakeline.jpg
which went through the MOT less than 3 months ago without even an advisory :eek:
Do I buy some pipe, joints and the tool or do I just take it to a garage to get a new one made up? Hmm. Have to price it up.
Anyway, this bit is now recycling...
plate.jpg
Much scrubbing and pressure washing was then done, resulting in this state of affairs...
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Bits...
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Some repair work has been started here. Always takes longer than you think doesn't it? I thought this would be back on by now.
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Will be needing this soon. Old stuff was very sorry for itself.
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Matt.
:slayer:
 
Re: Update 4 - Front bumper and stuff.

Not the worst rad I have seen

But seen as new ones arn't that dear. I'd replace it anyways.
 

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Update 5 - Rust in pieces

When your project car is your only car interruptions are a guarantee. You still need to get around so everything is done in fits and spurts.
After bumper removal day I was tired and went for some sofa time, car still sans bumper. Nearly 1am I get a call from my little'un who was on a sleep over.
Yup, back outside to re-attach the bumper with the three bolts that were not fd during removal and a bungee cord for the drivers side.
Happy days.

So today has seen the bumper off again, along with the drivers side wing (ta very much to henseyseries3 for tips), to deal with the no-bolty situation.
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Which has revealed more rust than I'd have liked. There will have to be a wire wheel and some rust treatment added to the shopping basket (and schutz).
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So Minion is mostly in one piece again for now. Gotta love that work-in-progress look.
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Matt.
:slayer:
 
Re: The not-an-update update.

My battery was so bad at one Point I had the battery from my tractor in the boot and jump started off it daily, Now I just run off a truck battery.
 
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