1998 Nissan Micra 1.3 - Project Heartstring
Discussion
You know when you should have no interest in a car, or even the car type, colour or value, but you just have to buy it? That just happened to me with a Nissan Micra, which I am due to pick up tomorrow. Go easy on me, I know it's not really PH (unless it is doing the Mongol rally!) but I have my reasons.
I never thought I would own a Nissan unless it had RWD and BHP in the hundreds, and even then I would always convince myself there were more brittle, Italian equivalents, so why have I just bought a Micra?
Well, to tenuously link to the thread of 'have you ever bought back your old car?', this was my grandma's car, which I remember bouncing around in way before I passed my test. She was the petrolhead with leather driving gloves, driving sunglasses and a history of Mini Coopers stretching through the decades. She bought this as an alternative to a Mini in 1998 and unfortunately passed away a few years later. A family friend then took it on, and when I heard he was looking to trade it in (whereupon it would descend into the seedy world of auctions and/or scrappers), I'm afraid my icy persona upped a degree or two.
The good news? About 42k from new, FSH, everything seems to work, and it has a rear spoiler plus the 1.3 engine. Lairy. No timing chain rattle either, thank goodness.
The bad news? It has several plants growing on it:
It is also seems to have been buried in a field at some point, as every nook and cranny is full of mud/soil:
Plus the standard K11 crossmember rot:
I wonder what else lurks beneath on a car this unloved but with an MOT running out next week. Good timing eh?
The project is really going to be getting it roadworthy, sorted and into a loving home. Before I move house. And before my P5B and Alfa 164 start need attention.
Still, is has the original Nissan headlight protectors.
Wish me luck for the pickup from Somerset tomorrow...
I never thought I would own a Nissan unless it had RWD and BHP in the hundreds, and even then I would always convince myself there were more brittle, Italian equivalents, so why have I just bought a Micra?
Well, to tenuously link to the thread of 'have you ever bought back your old car?', this was my grandma's car, which I remember bouncing around in way before I passed my test. She was the petrolhead with leather driving gloves, driving sunglasses and a history of Mini Coopers stretching through the decades. She bought this as an alternative to a Mini in 1998 and unfortunately passed away a few years later. A family friend then took it on, and when I heard he was looking to trade it in (whereupon it would descend into the seedy world of auctions and/or scrappers), I'm afraid my icy persona upped a degree or two.
The good news? About 42k from new, FSH, everything seems to work, and it has a rear spoiler plus the 1.3 engine. Lairy. No timing chain rattle either, thank goodness.
The bad news? It has several plants growing on it:
It is also seems to have been buried in a field at some point, as every nook and cranny is full of mud/soil:
Plus the standard K11 crossmember rot:
I wonder what else lurks beneath on a car this unloved but with an MOT running out next week. Good timing eh?
The project is really going to be getting it roadworthy, sorted and into a loving home. Before I move house. And before my P5B and Alfa 164 start need attention.
Still, is has the original Nissan headlight protectors.
Wish me luck for the pickup from Somerset tomorrow...
Caution: many photos of iron oxide cornflakes ahead.
Saturday morning I packed up some tools, overalls and for the pickup. Little did I know what the next 24 hours would bring...
The train to Yeovil Junction was uneventful and scenic, and luckily a lift from the station to the car's resting place awaited. In my parent's drive I had a cup of tea and warmed the engine up. Neglected but fine, and the service history was complete with the requisite oil changes plus sundries.
Sunny afternoon, birds singing in the Somerset idyll - all was calm, so I doused the front of the car in penetrating fluid. As a Londoner the passing sociable pedestrians were unnerving, so it was time to remove that crossmember.
Headlights had two nuts, and a top bolt:
A firm pull:
Then disconnect all plugs by hand:
This reveals the main large nuts and a bolt attached to the crossmember:
Lots of push/screw clips underneath:
Unscrew front wheel arch liners, and some bolts in the corners behind them:
And.. off:
Imperator Furiosa look:
Lovely:
Now for the crossmember itself. Some screws and bolts securing further undertrim, and the radiator/fans are easy to get to:
Central bolts secure the engine to the member and the central pillar. Luckily my dad had a great stock of interesting vintage tools passed down the generations, including this excellent jack to support the central member/mount:
It was here that the enormity of the task hit me. 'Drill the spot welds' I had read, and purchased a cobalt drill bit especially. Well, Nissan were, shall we say, thorough with spot welds. My dad fortunately came to check it, sipped his tea and said 'Do you need a hand?'. Much easier contemplating drill angles and feed the drill oil with two!
One:
20 later:
Taking off the 'ears' to get to the rear welds:
Other side:
And the side sides:
Underneath the washer bottle:
Stubborn doesn't cover it, over an hour of filing as the welds had spread:
After tea, success! With the air con radiator on this example it is tricky to yank out without damage, the best advice I can give is down and out, evenly on both sides.
Crossmember is a relatively cheap part, that I had shipped ahead. Old and new:
Later, we bent back metal we had hurt on the removal, and made a trip to purchase many, many bolts than I had brought:
New member drilled:
Then it was definitely time for a beer, burger and bed.
Next morning, the transfer of the side fastening panels again required filing and modification to the pattern part, and temp bolts in existing hold ensured it was kept straight. The air con rad and other bolts/threads need to all fit in one motion:
Washer bottle back (after replacing some dodgy wiring and refitting leaking/split pipes:
And quickly all back together for a short 2.5 hour journey back to the capital:
Breakfast, tax and insurance and off I went. The journey home revealed the engine to be willing and frugal, the gearbox smooth with a long throw and every single item was working except the air conditioning. The highlight was actually driving the final stretch through narrow London streets - what a revelation driving something so small and parking between two brand new shiny behemoths.
Work to be done:
MOT this week.
2 front tyres (not worn but old), plus balancing/alignment.
Oil filter/change.
Fuel filter.
Spark plugs.
Kwik Fit air con recharge - let's see if it holds anything after 18 years...
Heat shield to be removed (endless rattling).
Also noticed a fuel smell, and upon refueling a loose aftermarket cap with the integrity of a milk bottle top.
Probably plenty more - definitely plenty more.
Saturday morning I packed up some tools, overalls and for the pickup. Little did I know what the next 24 hours would bring...
The train to Yeovil Junction was uneventful and scenic, and luckily a lift from the station to the car's resting place awaited. In my parent's drive I had a cup of tea and warmed the engine up. Neglected but fine, and the service history was complete with the requisite oil changes plus sundries.
Sunny afternoon, birds singing in the Somerset idyll - all was calm, so I doused the front of the car in penetrating fluid. As a Londoner the passing sociable pedestrians were unnerving, so it was time to remove that crossmember.
Headlights had two nuts, and a top bolt:
A firm pull:
Then disconnect all plugs by hand:
This reveals the main large nuts and a bolt attached to the crossmember:
Lots of push/screw clips underneath:
Unscrew front wheel arch liners, and some bolts in the corners behind them:
And.. off:
Imperator Furiosa look:
Lovely:
Now for the crossmember itself. Some screws and bolts securing further undertrim, and the radiator/fans are easy to get to:
Central bolts secure the engine to the member and the central pillar. Luckily my dad had a great stock of interesting vintage tools passed down the generations, including this excellent jack to support the central member/mount:
It was here that the enormity of the task hit me. 'Drill the spot welds' I had read, and purchased a cobalt drill bit especially. Well, Nissan were, shall we say, thorough with spot welds. My dad fortunately came to check it, sipped his tea and said 'Do you need a hand?'. Much easier contemplating drill angles and feed the drill oil with two!
One:
20 later:
Taking off the 'ears' to get to the rear welds:
Other side:
And the side sides:
Underneath the washer bottle:
Stubborn doesn't cover it, over an hour of filing as the welds had spread:
After tea, success! With the air con radiator on this example it is tricky to yank out without damage, the best advice I can give is down and out, evenly on both sides.
Crossmember is a relatively cheap part, that I had shipped ahead. Old and new:
Later, we bent back metal we had hurt on the removal, and made a trip to purchase many, many bolts than I had brought:
New member drilled:
Then it was definitely time for a beer, burger and bed.
Next morning, the transfer of the side fastening panels again required filing and modification to the pattern part, and temp bolts in existing hold ensured it was kept straight. The air con rad and other bolts/threads need to all fit in one motion:
Washer bottle back (after replacing some dodgy wiring and refitting leaking/split pipes:
And quickly all back together for a short 2.5 hour journey back to the capital:
Breakfast, tax and insurance and off I went. The journey home revealed the engine to be willing and frugal, the gearbox smooth with a long throw and every single item was working except the air conditioning. The highlight was actually driving the final stretch through narrow London streets - what a revelation driving something so small and parking between two brand new shiny behemoths.
Work to be done:
MOT this week.
2 front tyres (not worn but old), plus balancing/alignment.
Oil filter/change.
Fuel filter.
Spark plugs.
Kwik Fit air con recharge - let's see if it holds anything after 18 years...
Heat shield to be removed (endless rattling).
Also noticed a fuel smell, and upon refueling a loose aftermarket cap with the integrity of a milk bottle top.
Probably plenty more - definitely plenty more.
Thanks for the kind words - I can now report that it has an MOT, but it originally failed on a split CV gaitor:
Luckily this was a quick job - hubcap off, loosen main 27mm nut, jack up and support with stands, take out split pin:
With the wheel off, with plenty of penetrating spray and leverage the two 17mm bolts come out:
Then the 27mm nut can be unscrewed. While at the end, tap the nut gently to split the hub from the driveshaft. With a lot of persuasion, the driveshaft can be moved completely out of the way:
The old CV clips had degenerated and required cutting:
After cutting away the old gaitor and removing the grease, the end of the driveshaft will also tap off:
The new gaitor slips on easily, clipped at the shorter end and then the driveshaft and can be tapped back on (put the nut on the end to as not to damage the splines). Then fill the new boot with grease and fit with the large clip.
Everything goes back together with a little gentle force, and of course a new split pin.
The only other item the tester made a comment on was the number plates, and uneven idle and the general crustiness of the car.
After changing the plugs (they were fine, so kept as spares);
...and shaking a few dozen insect carcasses from the air filter I think the actual culprits were the blocked crankcase breathers/valves. Again, many insects carefully exhumed:
That sorted it out, with no further expense.
A thorough power wash (after some weedkiller), a pint of bug/tar remover, plenty of Gunk and new numberplates ensured a solid MOT. Phew!
I don't think he would have failed the plates, but it nicely lifts the look of the car in any case.
Of course, insurance cost more than the car as my NCB is all on the Alfa Romeo. Oh well, better enjoy it!
Luckily this was a quick job - hubcap off, loosen main 27mm nut, jack up and support with stands, take out split pin:
With the wheel off, with plenty of penetrating spray and leverage the two 17mm bolts come out:
Then the 27mm nut can be unscrewed. While at the end, tap the nut gently to split the hub from the driveshaft. With a lot of persuasion, the driveshaft can be moved completely out of the way:
The old CV clips had degenerated and required cutting:
After cutting away the old gaitor and removing the grease, the end of the driveshaft will also tap off:
The new gaitor slips on easily, clipped at the shorter end and then the driveshaft and can be tapped back on (put the nut on the end to as not to damage the splines). Then fill the new boot with grease and fit with the large clip.
Everything goes back together with a little gentle force, and of course a new split pin.
The only other item the tester made a comment on was the number plates, and uneven idle and the general crustiness of the car.
After changing the plugs (they were fine, so kept as spares);
...and shaking a few dozen insect carcasses from the air filter I think the actual culprits were the blocked crankcase breathers/valves. Again, many insects carefully exhumed:
That sorted it out, with no further expense.
A thorough power wash (after some weedkiller), a pint of bug/tar remover, plenty of Gunk and new numberplates ensured a solid MOT. Phew!
I don't think he would have failed the plates, but it nicely lifts the look of the car in any case.
Of course, insurance cost more than the car as my NCB is all on the Alfa Romeo. Oh well, better enjoy it!
Edited by Spinakerr on Saturday 4th June 13:47
Great job, nice to see someone putting some TLC into a Micra. Its rare that you get to drive a car weighing as little as ~850kg nowadays.
Enjoyed driving my mum's when I was 17, there was no revcounter but I found out where the limiter cut in in 2nd and 3rd, that way I could keep the twin-cam on the boil
Good work OP, K11s are cracking little things. My daughters W reg needs a crossmember and have been debating whether or not to fire up the welder.
If anything it's probably worse than yours, the rot has spread up the central bonnet lock support which I "repaired" with some angle iron and a few nuts and bolts
Trouble is the damn thing keeps passing MOTs.
If anything it's probably worse than yours, the rot has spread up the central bonnet lock support which I "repaired" with some angle iron and a few nuts and bolts
Trouble is the damn thing keeps passing MOTs.
A garage I used to go to had a couple of these as courtesy cars, all of which were completely ruined. But they were hilarious fun to drive, both in terms of the really rev happy engine, and the chassis which is really quite chuckable. I had my first experience of intentional lift-off oversteer in one of those courtesy cars. 
Thanks for all your replies and encouragement, I can report the Micra has taken to daily duties with aplomb, and is responding well to some maintenance. I definitely need it in top order for the upcoming house move. It is proving to be an agile, eminently parkable London town car.
We are moving house shortly and my girlfriend will use it for a London commuter instead of her Rover 75 estate. Once we've got it in tip top order and the house is settled it will likely move on.
Now, in terms of update:
My girlfriend treated the Micra to Kumho's and a full balance and alignment, vastly improving grip.
Then I discovered how cheap and available spares are. Fantastic. Air filter is a little lurid in colour but seems to work:
I actually had 3 litres of 10w40 in various containers so I thought an oil change would be a quick job today. Cue three hours of various jobs, including a recalcitrant rusted-on old filter, definitely not change on the last service:
That was painful - no room for an oil filter wrench so had to go the screwdriver route, with bad access on the drive. Never again!
The on to a standard K11 job - curing rattles from the exhaust and manifold. Most of the exhaust is covered in a heatshield that develops holes, rattles and all sorts of medieval noises while driving. Most of mine were in the high rev range.
After checking safety reports and various forums, I decided to remove the whole lot while the oil drained. I was luck - most bolts came out, with only one needing encouragement with a Dremel:
Weight reduction program completed, I took it for a spin and ... silence! Just the steady thrum of the willing 1.3 - phew!
I treated it to the first fill-up since purchase (350 miles on a 42 litre tank? Is that possible?)
Next on the list - fuel filter, engine bay clean and probably the belts, which look a little cracked. Onwards!
t400ble said:
Great work
Sills all good?
Welded a few of these over the years
Not a disaster zone but will definitely need some tidying in the future.Sills all good?
Welded a few of these over the years
Hammer67 said:
Good work OP, K11s are cracking little things. My daughters W reg needs a crossmember and have been debating whether or not to fire up the welder.
If anything it's probably worse than yours, the rot has spread up the central bonnet lock support which I "repaired" with some angle iron and a few nuts and bolts
Trouble is the damn thing keeps passing MOTs.
Oh it's a (long) day with the right prep - as above it was great fun working with my Dad, and definitely much easier with two people! I would recommend replacement as you may end up chasing rust and the part is very cheap.If anything it's probably worse than yours, the rot has spread up the central bonnet lock support which I "repaired" with some angle iron and a few nuts and bolts
Trouble is the damn thing keeps passing MOTs.
E36Ross said:
These type of threads are my favourite.
Taking a car that just needs a little TLC and giving it a new lease of life.
Are you planning to sell it again or going to use as a commuter yourself?
Your Grandma would be proud to see her little Micra getting some love!
We took it on just to ensure it didn't disappear into the quagmire of breakers/auctions, but we have, somewhat inevitably, taken a shine to it (even if I can't get it to actually shine). I can't let cars waste away - it's like Battersea Car's Home outside.Taking a car that just needs a little TLC and giving it a new lease of life.
Are you planning to sell it again or going to use as a commuter yourself?
Your Grandma would be proud to see her little Micra getting some love!
We are moving house shortly and my girlfriend will use it for a London commuter instead of her Rover 75 estate. Once we've got it in tip top order and the house is settled it will likely move on.
davepoth said:
A garage I used to go to had a couple of these as courtesy cars, all of which were completely ruined. But they were hilarious fun to drive, both in terms of the really rev happy engine, and the chassis which is really quite chuckable. I had my first experience of intentional lift-off oversteer in one of those courtesy cars.
Exactly! It's great to have a car that is so enjoyable at low speeds.Now, in terms of update:
My girlfriend treated the Micra to Kumho's and a full balance and alignment, vastly improving grip.
Then I discovered how cheap and available spares are. Fantastic. Air filter is a little lurid in colour but seems to work:
I actually had 3 litres of 10w40 in various containers so I thought an oil change would be a quick job today. Cue three hours of various jobs, including a recalcitrant rusted-on old filter, definitely not change on the last service:
That was painful - no room for an oil filter wrench so had to go the screwdriver route, with bad access on the drive. Never again!
The on to a standard K11 job - curing rattles from the exhaust and manifold. Most of the exhaust is covered in a heatshield that develops holes, rattles and all sorts of medieval noises while driving. Most of mine were in the high rev range.
After checking safety reports and various forums, I decided to remove the whole lot while the oil drained. I was luck - most bolts came out, with only one needing encouragement with a Dremel:
Weight reduction program completed, I took it for a spin and ... silence! Just the steady thrum of the willing 1.3 - phew!
I treated it to the first fill-up since purchase (350 miles on a 42 litre tank? Is that possible?)
Next on the list - fuel filter, engine bay clean and probably the belts, which look a little cracked. Onwards!
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