Rambling Words, Rambling Wheels

Iowa’s long, hot, wet Summer of 2010 is coming to a close. The Iowa State Fair is history. The kids are back in school. And the garden is slowly fading to dried shoots from the abused ground.

This was to be the Summer of Mini for me. I had Grand Plans for the Morris, between my ambition and weeks of available PTO. A quick look back channels my Fatalist side, declaring the Summer a Failure, Lost to schedules, conflicts and weather.

The next target for my work on the engine compartment was the windscreen washer motor. I was a little hesitant, as it requires the removal of part of the interior trim. I really needed the motor out, though, to be able to adequately clean and paint the engine area. I finally started peeling back the panel above the “parcel shelf.” This uniquely Mini feature runs across the entire front of the car under the dashboard, broken only by the unique instrument cluster in the center.