Jump to content

Classic Mini. Alright now ain’t it


nacho man

Recommended Posts

So we went to see it this morning. 
 

909FAC96-A47E-4313-834F-DD1F4C5A2305.thumb.jpeg.8a255fef720f639532a97e9cc8bb53cc.jpeg

62EABD60-7BDC-47FB-9238-C90318610A5E.thumb.jpeg.eef0a3ef46b4559504bba2ac4ff86967.jpeg

1BB0F271-440A-4093-B196-88D528B15BD4.thumb.jpeg.48f485709ed201f5f62350104a98505d.jpeg

58995803-9FB9-4737-90D4-80D649F70AAF.thumb.jpeg.c0391c9af90faf51a3a2ac120eee14c4.jpeg

16922C5B-2AB7-4E35-BEA5-3E592FA0B9C2.thumb.jpeg.248ea1f4b4369f7379bd91c993db434f.jpeg

They let me get it up on the ramps to have a prod.  Seemed solid to my untrained, not much mini knowledge eyes. 
 

In 2017 someone spent a fortune having it restored at a mini place. Masses of other paperwork for bits at the same time. 25k on the odo, nothing before 2016/17 to back the mileage up. 
 

It ran ace, everything worked etc. Well, you know the lights and heater, not much more in there. 
 

I think it’s boggo standard apart from a bigger rad, and a stage 1 kit for the 998cc engine? God knows what that consists off??? maybe also an exhaust? 
 

737CF387-413A-44CC-AC5A-302C6BABDB4F.thumb.jpeg.343e118a24a610297fc77646645cdc01.jpeg

F431DE7D-37BE-46A2-96F9-69147F5269D8.thumb.jpeg.80b365e2501073a4e7ad65fd4b25d68c.jpeg

It’s on a nice new set of Yokohama’s, and all the suspension is new. Subframe has been blasted and power coated.  
 

There was a funny dyno print out for 41 bhp. So might take it Vmax next year. 

Its a lot of money. 

But Mrs T was laughing as we was driving along in it. 

So left a deposit. 
 

 


 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Stage 1 kit for the 998 is a more free flowing inlet & exhaust manifold, exhaust and different needle in the carb. Not a massive difference in bhp but noticeable as there isn't much to start with. Should also give you a nice exhaust note and does away with that bloody clamp on the old iron manifold that is always blowing....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Danterzza said:

So we went to see it this morning. 
 

909FAC96-A47E-4313-834F-DD1F4C5A2305.thumb.jpeg.8a255fef720f639532a97e9cc8bb53cc.jpeg

62EABD60-7BDC-47FB-9238-C90318610A5E.thumb.jpeg.eef0a3ef46b4559504bba2ac4ff86967.jpeg

1BB0F271-440A-4093-B196-88D528B15BD4.thumb.jpeg.48f485709ed201f5f62350104a98505d.jpeg

58995803-9FB9-4737-90D4-80D649F70AAF.thumb.jpeg.c0391c9af90faf51a3a2ac120eee14c4.jpeg

16922C5B-2AB7-4E35-BEA5-3E592FA0B9C2.thumb.jpeg.248ea1f4b4369f7379bd91c993db434f.jpeg

They let me get it up on the ramps to have a prod.  Seemed solid to my untrained, not much mini knowledge eyes. 
 

In 2017 someone spent a fortune having it restored at a mini place. Masses of other paperwork for bits at the same time. 25k on the odo, nothing before 2016/17 to back the mileage up. 
 

It ran ace, everything worked etc. Well, you know the lights and heater, not much more in there. 
 

I think it’s boggo standard apart from a bigger rad, and a stage 1 kit for the 998cc engine? God knows what that consists off??? maybe also an exhaust? 
 

737CF387-413A-44CC-AC5A-302C6BABDB4F.thumb.jpeg.343e118a24a610297fc77646645cdc01.jpeg

F431DE7D-37BE-46A2-96F9-69147F5269D8.thumb.jpeg.80b365e2501073a4e7ad65fd4b25d68c.jpeg

It’s on a nice new set of Yokohama’s, and all the suspension is new. Subframe has been blasted and power coated.  
 

There was a funny dyno print out for 41 bhp. So might take it Vmax next year. 

Its a lot of money. 

But Mrs T was laughing as we was driving along in it. 

So left a deposit. 
 

 


 

 

Beautiful. It brings me unbridled joy to see people buying lovely examples of cars on here, rather than snotty - shitty old nails. (ie Me)

Well in!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, MrBiscuits said:

Stage 1 kit for the 998 is a more free flowing inlet & exhaust manifold, exhaust and different needle in the carb. Not a massive difference in bhp but noticeable as there isn't much to start with. Should also give you a nice exhaust note and does away with that bloody clamp on the old iron manifold that is always blowing....

I fitted one purely to be rid of that mother. fucking. exhaust. clamp.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 hours ago, MrBiscuits said:

 that bloody clamp on the old iron manifold that is always blowing....

My orange car still has the standard exhaust.  After I've cleaned both sections, I applied some exhaust paste, lightly jacked the pipe up and fitted the gearbox/downpipe clamp (most important).

Then I wrapped the  joint with some of that manifold heat wrap stuff and fitted a twin-bolt (Metro) clamp.  It's been ok for a year now; I know it will start leaking again at some point but it's lasting ok.

Later 80s cars had the extra gearbox stabiliser bar on the rh front of the subframe- less stress on the exhaust joint.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mini 30 cool, looks a nice one. I remember looking at those in the dealerships when new (not that i could afford a new car).

Waxoyl it (or use something similar). At least try & protect it from rot if using it regularly. Also get a fuck off big steering lock.

Slow, cramped, not oil tight, will leak, not especially safe in a crash, old fashioned, few features, no tech, questionably built, will probably need fixing regularly, rots as soon as you look at it.

You will however probably fall in love with it, forgive it anything & smile every time you see it & drive it.

A bona fide icon.

I hope you're all very happy together :)

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So this has been paid for this morning, being delivered for free end of this week, early next week as needs an mot.

They are servicing it but I never trust people. so bought some Valvoline 20w-50 and a filter,  as spent the night researching the hell of it. Probably wrong like.

Also bought a grease gun and some grease as lost mine somehow.

Had a good chat with Mrs T last night, and she agreed with me that possibly getting a mk1 freelander/early Legacy over the winter might be good idea, to save this little thing from dissolving.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That 30 looks lovely and I look forward to seeing more pictures once you have it home. It really makes me want another one having not had one since the early 90s.

A quick response to a couple of points raised earlier ;

Comfort, I know I was young, but we did high miles in one day quite often. Drove from London to about half way down France (via Dover-Calais) in both Mini 1000 and 1275GT several times all in one day without a problem (I am 6' tall). Also drove from London to Mousehole in Cornwall several times with my 6' 3" mate and both our girlfriends, one time he had a broken leg in a full length cast and his guitar with him!

As regards the exhaust, I found with the 1275GTs I had to change the stabiiser bar bushes fairly often to stop the engine moving around and breaking the exhaust. The older Mini 1000 was betterin this respect not only as it had less power, but also it had the remote gear linkage in a big casting rather than the later spindly exposed type.

Personally I'd use it all year round with an underbody clean each Spring, if you don't you'd miss out on the way they are so much fun in poor conditions snow etc and pretty much never get stuck.

Anyway whatever you decide to do I'm sure you & Mrs T will love it and have lots of fun with it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wish mine looked that nice.

It would have cost 27 zillion pounds though instead of 15 squilion. 

Changing the oil is a sensible precaution. As is buying a disposable car to use in the salty months.

Reach up the wheel arch and keep the seam under the headlamp clear of crud as they like to rot here from behind.

Keep everything greased. Keep oil in the dash pot. A lot of hesitancy issues stem from lack of dash pot oil.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So it got delivered this morning.

6D5B8073-E494-4356-AA79-0ADA0AFA591A.thumb.jpeg.2d890745ce01d2d626f9d299f381fc56.jpeg

Mrs T was well excited so we set of on a bimble about. 

It ran perfect for 45 mins, then just died. But started back up. Ran for a minute or two and died again.

We had left the house on a drive to nowhere and had no masks or tools or anything, luckily I had my phone.

I had a look, but couldn’t see anything obvious. Tank was full. But pulled a plug and turned it over with Mrs T’s help and the spark looked weak.  Couldn’t really do much else as had nothing. 

The AA were brill and turned up within 30 mins and he started checking, reset the points but they was pretty much bang on. After 30 mins or so he diagnosed the coil. He towed it to my work and that’s where it will stay till I can get one.

6E397FDB-9519-40EB-B214-A09EB59D7C9D.thumb.jpeg.39554bfe9fa0c83b0151738952cb587e.jpeg
 

Start as we mean to go on.

Mrs T is still mega happy though, so we will take that as a result. 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm surprised the previous owners have spent so much and not sacked off the points & condenser for electronic ignition. It will run so much better. This was always one of the first jobs on mine - in those days £20 for a scrap dizzy and coil from a 1275 maestro.

Now you can buy a new electronic distributor for £70

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LUCAS-59D4-STYLE-ELECTRONIC-DISTRIBUTOR-A-engine-From-AccuSpark-/180673283496

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Matty said:

Bloody hell, I'd be getting the supplying dealer to put a coil in it. Its not like its a £500 car!

Yes, this!  Typical of a car that a dealer has polished and not actually driven anywhere 😒

This beauty deserves a proper 123 ignition distributor and coil though- pricey but you'll never have to touch the ignition system again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i'm thinking of buying some electric magic for the mini 1000 which is currently in the garage ,in disgrace.

but been a 1973 model year car, it has the lucas 25D distributor which limits mychoices some what.

but Minispares do offer one for i think £88 inc the drat, and a suitable  coil for £22.

and with their york shop been close-ish to home so if there is a problem with it then its not too far to take it back!

that is tomorrows job, look at the mini, i know there is petrol (cos it stank of it when we got it back to the garage) and there wasn't much of a spark there ,though the plugs were black. so we are going to whip the grille off and have a look at the insides of  the distributor and see what is going on with it.

so i'm glad to see i am not the onlyone with mini-problems.

thing is, when its working (which is most of the time) i love it bits!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...