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Some interesting Japanese Mini parts here, including Maintenance free ball joint kits and BMC Rubber Floor Mats.....
http://classicminisjapan.com/

Maintenance Free Ball Joints

"Developed and tested over a period of three years, the original concept was to manufacture a high quality product - similar to those used on modern vehicles, that doesn't require periodic adjustments of the shim. As the ball joints are pre-loaded, simply attach and tighten to the correct torque. Other than for exceptional circumstances, does not require additional grease-up once fitted. Includes a single lock tab. Developed and made in Japan."
http://classicminisjapan.com/new-parts/ ... joint-kit/

BMC Rubber Floor Mats
"Light weight and durable, these high quality reversible floor mats fit snugly into the footwell of - saloon Minis, Vans and/or Pick-ups. Made from PVC and part of the Valtain family brand. Developed and made in Japan."
http://classicminisjapan.com/new-parts/ ... loor-mats/

The engine on the home page with the split webers looks like a nice bit of kit, but! I couldn’t live with those hose clips..
D

I ordered a pair of engine mounts from David on Wednesday, and they arrived today! Tokyo is half a planet away from me in Boston...

Proper quality they look too, hopefully better than the made in China (rubber falls apart after a year) or made in India (so firm, they may as well be solid mounts) that others are selling.

They also do baulk rings.

http://classicminisjapan.com/new-parts/baulk-rings/

I chatted with David about the baulk rings. Apparently they are available milled with with two different depths of the friction grooves. Shallower to go with new gear sets, and deeper to go with old gear sets where the friction coating is worn down, usually 3rd and 4th.

“It was found that - in rare circumstances, additional wear was found on the 3rd and 4th gear synchro's and so as a precaution, my supplier recommends combining the two for longevity. When I speak to him next, it may be I go for 1/2 of the normal HQ synchro, and 3/4 for the more refined type.”

Image of the ball joints fitted...

How did you torque them up accurately ?

I'm sat here staring at mine, and thinking that after being bent over for them (plus import & VAT) I'm going to have to get a crowsfoot spanner to install them...

surfblue63 wrote: ↑Sat May 02, 2020 1:07 am They also do baulk rings.

http://classicminisjapan.com/new-parts/baulk-rings/

I see Minisport are now selling the baulk rings that, up to now, have only been available ‘under the counter’ or certainly to us Minisport Cup competitors anyway.

https://www.minisport.com/22g2033-compe ... -ring.html

Yes, I know it’s Minisport but these are made by Quaife.
Similar price to the Japanese ones.

I must be hard on my gearboxes in the rally car, so much so that I’ve smashed Minispares competition ones into pieces.
My two concerns with them are that the oil grooves are cut too deep so they are weaker and also the ring and ear edges are left very sharp. Compare that with the Quaife ones below.

These Quaife ones have so far stood up well but I’ve not been able to get out as much as I’d planned this year!

At least they’ve dropped the price and now only make one eye water

As well as the Maintenance Free Ball Joints, also from Japan, they have available 'Traditional' Ball Joints, which appear at least equal to or better quality than the Originals that were made by TRW for BMC and Leyland, they are streets ahead of any joint I've looked at in recent years from the UK. Quite hard, ground finish - perfect. Off hand, they were about 2/3s the price of the Maintenance Free joints. I think I have some photos somewhere.

GraemeC wrote: ↑Sun Sep 13, 2020 8:05 pm At least they’ve dropped the price and now only make one eye water

Web site is impressive, but why no prices in Sterling £££

so you dont get scared off as easy!

Rolandino wrote: ↑Sun Sep 13, 2020 8:37 pm Web site is impressive, but why no prices in Sterling £££

Nothing to worry about, we now have a trade deal with Japan

The Japanese made CV boots are said to be very good, though not cheap.

NIck at MIni Bitz had some at one time.

Great quality no doubt. But EYE WATERINGLY EXPENSIVE!

Remember that there is duty & VAT to go in the initial price as well.

Its a shame there aren't a few more pics showing some of these gadgets installed.... before age got the better of me i used to be able to open the rear quarter lights... one of the the very few advantages of being 6 foot plus in a mini!

edit: just seen the youtube video of the rear light opener...OMG!

If the prices were direct comparisons to what they would be in the UK (ie without extortionate shipping, duties etc...) then I think there would be a market for some of the items - gaiters, grease tubes, ball joints, steering rack components etc. Other stuff, not so much.
Now Minis are more of a second car hobby than a fix-it-cheap mode of transport I do think some owners are willing to spend more for quality. I'm sure MiniSpares etc have the data to prove this 'some' is actually a relatively small percentage though as they will watch the market from a suppliers perspective.

That website looks to be aimed at export and presumably the vendor isn't the manufacturer - the heater valve for instance that says it is a Denso part. I wonder how much this stuff costs from the manufacturer?

Maybe it needs someone to have the balls to invest in agreeing better prices for a quantity of the Jap parts and get them over here, then see how they sell. But that'd see investing a good few £'000s which no individual wold take on.

If these Japanese parts are as good as claimed, and I have no reason to doubt that, it does prove that it can be done. We just need UK manufacturing to return to what it once was!

Somerford now sell a range of Valtain Japanese Mini parts:-
(Type 'valtain' in the search box)
https://www.somerfordmini.co.uk/catalog ... ds=valtain





VALTAIN J.A.P MAGNA MK2 ALLOY WHEEL
Part Number: JMSA003
6x10 SET OF 4
£788.50 Ex VAT
£946.20 Inc VAT
Somerford Mini:-
http://www.somerfordmini.co.uk/eshop/in ... s_id=16978

At the IMM in Bristol I asked the Somerford guys if they had some of the parts with them.
Totally unbelieveable at least for me they hadn't but were willing to get them if would order... which I didn't do then.

So I ordered later the year from David directly in Japan.
The quality of all parts I got was superb. Both types of ball joints are of great quality.
All the rubber parts really feel like rubber and don't get cracks within a few months.

So I fitted the CV boots, engine steady and engine mounts, ball joints and went for a 1300km road trip through the south of Germany.
In the past I could change ball joints after such a torture over back country or alpine roads - sure it's not rallying but not slow either (with some serious machinery to tackle (not Mini)...

So I can recommend the stuff - although it's expensive and quite a deal to get it through customs and so on...

Guessworks is now stocking the ball joints under his ‘Bottletop Racing’ banner, so should alleviate the customs problems.

But £225 for a set of four in your hand