The Mini Restoration Discussion Thread.

Thread for discussing my Mini Resto project.

thats annoying about that carb! maybe its time for a upgrade

i have been offered a mini for 400 quid with tax and test, running and roadworthy but needs cosmetic attention and a respray to look nice

i have been considering it but the driving position kills me

Is the drving position really that bad? Must admit, I have never driven a mini before (bit of an oversight given my very very bad back!) but have sat in it and it feels quite roomy. Am also going to invest in some good bucket seats.

The driving position feels a bit like you're sitting in a bathtub while steering a bus, but you get used to it after a while

ill describe the issue i had

for a start you sit in a offset position, you sit slightly squewd to the left and the steering wheel slightly to the right

the door handles or winders are in the exact position were your elbos want to be wile steering the wheel to go around a corner

i also had very little space to put my feet wile driving, this caused to to have to keep my feet floating above the pedals, cauing great pain in my ass and shins after anything more than a 30 min drive

i was also a lot smaller phisicaly back then as well

only other issues is the complete lack of suspension

other than that it was a good car, keep it away from water as the electrics were all mounted at the front of my gt, when these got wet it was good by distributer

i only had two issues with that car, 1 wheel bearing clasped with out warning and the above wet issues

some other tips, i had to plan any long trips via petrol stations, the tank is in the boot and holds about 12 quid of fuel...so you dont get very far

and more than any things else, have a sense of humer

Great choice of car to restore Mrs L!

I love Minis, have been hankering after one for years. Always on the look out for a perfect one though, and have been put off slightly by the rust issues suffered on some of my older cars.

Best of luck, can't wait to see what it looks like when it's done - anything like your Coupe and it'll be lovely

The Mini brings back memories of my mis-spent youth.

Passed my driving test in a Driving School Morris 850 (sliding windows and starter button on the floor).

A number of my mates had Minis and suffered the water problem as mentioned. Spray on electrical sealant and a plastic bag over the distributor certainly helped. The "Brick" was certainly a fun car, especially with a 1275 up front.

Good luck with the resto.

Sam is spot on - to drive a mini it helps if you have

1. Removeable feet. They wont fit otherwise
2. Offset legs, to match the offset pedals
3. Knees with no nerves in them
4. Very elastic joints

In about 15k in mine, ignoring consumables, the only mechanical work I did was to replace the starter motor - the inertia bit was just knackered - the radiator, which rotted out, and the wiper motor, which somehow died twice. All from the scrapper apart from the starter motor, which was cheaper on a exchange from Rover (!).

It also rotted at a phenomenal rate, but you clearly know about that!

Oh yes. Yesterday I think the a panels actually corroded away to dust as I watched it
I don't care though as I've always wanted one!

Getting slightly concerned now about the driving experience as I've not heard one single good thing!! I guess I'll have to see if I can get used to it though!

I never found minis a problem to drive. At 5 11 I'd no issues with comfort on an average trip. Been 20 years since I last drove one and cant recall the off set pedals so I'm assuming that wasn't an issue either.

The one I drove (on loan for a few weeks) was very unreliable but was fitted with a 1340 tuned engine and went like stink.

I'd a mate back then who had a number of them...one for stock car racing. One that he had deseamed and tuned and another that came out of the factory with both lowered doors and roof. He found it rotting away in a garden and bought it for buttons. Spent alot of time and effort restoring it. Unfortunately I never seen it finished before life took us our seperate ways. Last I saw it, it really just needed to be put back together. The body looked amazing though.

Think you got a cool project with the mini, I love reading about projects know matter what car it is. Thibnk it might be my desire to learn as much as I can.

My friend owned a mini mayfair and in the front it was surpriosing how much room there is, im six fot four[lol]. It was his first car and there was a lot of places to store things to, the back did look small but after all it is a mini. Coupe back seats arn't the biggist in the world , infact i'v never had anyone in the back of my coupe and never will. If I had a mini I would do the same with that.

As for the engine, even tho it was missin it still sounded ok. Have you found out about all the mods on it yet?

Will keep my eye on this project, great stuff.

Not checked this thread for a little while - so sorry for the delay.

Don't let any of this put you off - the Mini is a fab little car, and handles like a roller skate. I'm 6'4", so a lot of cars are just out of the question, but the Mini was fine - the offset pedals were only a real issue on longer journeys. Also I was younger then, and more willing to comprimise...

I can however recommend the kits to move the drivers seat further back (2 bits of drilled plate!) and, if you will still have enough room, the kit to drop the steering column to a slightly less bus-like angle.

Nice one Mansilla - cheers for the advice. I must admit I was a little put off by reading about people's Mini experiences but having sat in it - it actually feels quite roomy. Just need to get it to start now . . .

Well congratulations on making it work!

Now all you need to do is make it drive.....

Just don't have a hifh impact front end crash!

If you can stick to that you won't die.

Apart from that worry the mini is a great car, and the projrct we be even better when its done.

Don't worry - I'm going to put a full roll cage in and of course there's always my knees to use as a crumple zone!!

The great, roll cage with give you piece of mind as well as safty. Nothing to say you will need it tho, if you are sensible and only drive fast in appropeat places then you should never need it.

Sometimes your car can be write off in a bad smash in a blink of a eye, and it not even be your fault. The roads are full of eleagal drivers and just stupid abnd reckless ones too. Good to have some safty and piece of mind.

Anyway I will be keeping a eye on this mini, cool stuff.

you have a p.m