Mini 35. Questions

Hi. Just acquired a mini which is badges as a mini 35. It’s the blue one with purple trim and 35 decals and nose badge. Not an import as far as I can tell. Running su carb. 

 

however it has a charcoal canister and spi relays on the front bulkhead passenger side so I’m confused

 

any ideas appreciated 

 

thanks

The 35 was one of the last carburettor models and there's quite a lot of parts similarities between the injection models and this. As far as I can tell without seeing any pictures, what you have is normal for a UK-sold 35.

That's correct for the car, it'll be an HIF carburettor, with 4 fuse box on the bulkhead and 3 relays in the bay. It should also have an auxiliary fan on the NS inner wing.

That's correct for the car, it'll be an HIF carburettor, with 4 fuse box on the bulkhead and 3 relays in the bay. It should also have an auxiliary fan on the NS inner wing.

yes it’s got the extra fan, electric. Well done!

 

the charcoal canister isn’t connected to anything just now. It’s also got what looks like a stage 1 kit fitted. Lcb, heated inlet (not connected). And a cat? It’s had some problems with mot and emissions in the past. 
 

new territory for me. 
 

cheers

My mini 35 also has the canister disconnected and a stage 1 kit with the cat removed

My mini 35 also has the canister disconnected and a stage 1 kit with the cat removed

 

any mot issues?

 

cheers

Not really,I took it to a garage a friend reccomend as my mechanic retired but he couldn't do the emissions so took it elsewhere and it went straight through with no issues

Cheers!

No problem

My 1993 sprite has the same features of your 35. (stage 1 kit, LCB manifold (no Cat though on my car, was like that when I bought it...)

You ideally need to set the emissions to be within the limits of the test.

What I usually do is give the car a good 20 mile Italian tune up drive to get it nice and hot. You want the CAT up to temperature too. Ideally you want to finish the 20 miles drive at the MOT station where the tester has the emissions machine set up and ready for your arrival.

Edited by cal844, 13 January 2021 - 10:22 PM.

As far as I am aware, a CAT is not needed on a carburettor'd car for the UK's MOT test regardless of age. 

My understanding is that the PO fitted the cat to get the emissions down

 

my plan is to have it set upon a rolling road when I’m ready to drive it. Can’t decide whether to remove the cat or leave it on. 
 

cheers

As far as I am aware, a CAT is not needed on a carburettor'd car for the UK's MOT test regardless of age.

That's correct even though they are fitted from 1990 onwards carb cars

I also have a Mini 35 that I'm restoring with my son.  It's a one owner car with 42k miles, but has some rust (don't they all) - rear arches, drivers side floor, o/s/f headlamp & indicator - usual places really.  Mine is completely standard though it needs an exhaust to will likely fit a single box RC40 with pipe to the Cat.

Any tips on removing the cones from rear struts   ?

oh I nearly forgot the bu$$er needs a rear subframe!

I also have a Mini 35 that I'm restoring with my son.  It's a one owner car with 42k miles, but has some rust (don't they all) - rear arches, drivers side floor, o/s/f headlamp & indicator - usual places really.  Mine is completely standard though it needs an exhaust to will likely fit a single box RC40 with pipe to the Cat.

Any tips on removing the cones from rear struts   ?

oh I nearly forgot the bu$$er needs a rear subframe!

 

Hi Conradski, Heswall on the Wirral I presume, I'm close to Chester, under normal circumstances we could compare builds! 

 

Mine has HiLos so the rear comes apart very easily but from experience the trumpets corrode onto the ring of the rubber cones and are a bugger to shift. If it definitely needs a new subframe I'd be tempted to remove the frame with the arms and suspension still attached and the cut the subframe to get the arms off.