Ciao,
Just bought a mini - already learning a lot :D
Picked up a mini in Dark Green and It's pretty fun!
A little bit about it:
- 1991 Mini Cooper
- Carb'd Engine. It's interesting owning a carb'd vehicle with a choke - a big change from the modern german fuel injected sedans.
- No rust :) I was surprised when I first looked at it. Apparently always garage kept.
- 25,000k on the odometer. Might be 125,000 since there is no room for 100,000's.
- Leaked water second day I owned it into passenger side. The front and rear floor got wet so I pulled all the carpet, rubber mats, and felt pad out of the whole cab. I'm gonna ride on green metal until I find the leak.
- Thought I was leaking brake fluid but a plug on the water pump split and was leaking light rust colored fluid. I think there use to be hose going from from the pump in older models that is now plugged.
- The brakes are squeezing LOUD when slowly stopping. I had someone put copper grease and they said give it a day to work :/ The pads are new.
- Had a couple oil leaks fixed by the area where the shifter enters the engine, and where the fuel pump enters.
- Fixed the windshield washer jet on the right side.
- Fixed and pointed headlights
It's really fun to drive and took me time to get use to no power steering, the slightly slower startup (crank for 2 to 3 seconds with light gas pedal pumps), and the braking.
I've already got some projects in mind like a dash remodel although I love the light wood color. I pulled out an old wood center console that had a locked out radio in it with a few cables leading to small speakers behind the rear seat.
Project Ideas:
- Find water leak!!!
- Heavy soundproofing
- Install radio under rear seat
- Leather seat swap or reupholster
- Add grill lights
- Improve shocks?
- Air filter swap
- Learn to clean, work on, tune an SU carb.
- If the engine ever gives out I've heard good things about VTEC swaps - I wonder if the Hayabusa engine fits would work.
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