Jump to content


Photo

Member +1


  • Please log in to reply
15 replies to this topic

#1 FerritZA

FerritZA

    On The Road

  • Noobies
  • PipPip
  • 35 posts
  • Location: Cape Town
  • Local Club: MOCKZN

Posted 05 August 2012 - 02:03 PM

Salut!

Always had a soft spot for the old mini, (other spots for other things, but those are for other forums :P). So got myself one a few months ago. I'm down in sunny South Africa - Cape Town. Joined the local mini club, MOCKZN, but you can never have too much info :D Our minis down here are a little different to the uk ones, but not by too much. New mini parts are almost non-existent locally so MiniSpares it is. Pity about the bl**dy import costs. :goaway:

Here is my mini, late "69 to "75 SA model with a 1275 under the hood and obligatory stripes.
Posted Image

Posted Image

Got 10" OZ's with yoki A008's.
Posted Image

Added front arches recently.Posted Image

DCD weber gives me some nice oomf
Posted Image

I was lucky to find it with 7.5" disc brakes, which are a god-send and very rare down here. Most disc conversions require the use of bigger wheels.

That's my mini, I have the interior partially stripped getting rid of some floor rust and sorting some electrical gremlins. I hope to pull info from the members here and my local club to sort out any issues. I love the engine rebuild sections and especially the s/c motors! :nuke:

Hug-a-woozel!

Edited by FerritZA, 05 August 2012 - 02:04 PM.


#2 Noah

Noah

    Up Into Fourth

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 4,136 posts
  • Location: NE London/Essex
  • Local Club: Essex Mini Club

Posted 05 August 2012 - 02:07 PM

Welcome to TMF! Nice car, love the wing mirrors!

#3 Sam14

Sam14

    TMF Mug

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,221 posts
  • Location: Mark, Somerset

Posted 05 August 2012 - 02:11 PM

Beautiful car

but thats a different engine block? Look at the oil filter :S

#4 stretch tech

stretch tech

    One Carb Or Two?

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,363 posts
  • Location: Tamwoth
  • Local Club: A5 & Mini Mainiacs

Posted 05 August 2012 - 02:20 PM

welcome to the forum pal, that's one nice mini you got there but as said above that is a different block to what we have here O_O

how much clearance is there on the weber from the bulkhead and the bonnet ? i'm thinking of getting a down draft 28/36 dcd too but worried about clearance

#5 Tommyboy12

Tommyboy12

    Up Into Fourth

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,254 posts
  • Location: Peterborough

Posted 05 August 2012 - 04:23 PM

I think I know whats happened with that engine block. Its the block off a Maestro converted to the underslung gearbox.

#6 mk1leg

mk1leg

    Crazy About Mini's

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 9,343 posts
  • Location: Jersey
  • Local Club: Mini Club Jersey, MCR

Posted 05 August 2012 - 04:47 PM

Hi..and welcome to TMF and enjoy your mini.............. :proud:

#7 FerritZA

FerritZA

    On The Road

  • Noobies
  • PipPip
  • 35 posts
  • Location: Cape Town
  • Local Club: MOCKZN

Posted 05 August 2012 - 05:00 PM

Welcome to TMF! Nice car, love the wing mirrors!

Thanks, the passenger one just shows me what paint I've got on the door, but I'm digging the blue with white theme.

but thats a different engine block? Look at the oil filter :S

Yeah, like I said, ours are a little bit different. Essentially the same. I stand corrected but I think all our mini blocks have the oil filter like that. There are a few little differences, like our subframe mounts are all the non-rubber type. Definitely a mini block though. Old cars in SA have a very scetchy paper trail. My engine number tag is missing but at some point an engine number was stamped where the tag used to be. So no one is 100% sure what it is :lol: . The local mini fundis recon it's possible a SA gts unit (the head is at least).

how much clearance is there on the weber from the bulkhead and the bonnet ? i'm thinking of getting a down draft 28/36 dcd too but worried about clearance

This might help :D
Posted Image

Ignore the wire and tape mess (busy sorting that out) and the DIY accelerator spindle. I think it will depend on your inlet manifold, mine has a very low lip that the carb sits on. Bulkhead clearance is ok, but you'll need short screwdrivers for air and idle tuning. Bonnet clearance is very close, my filter is a short one and the two nuts on top that hold it had to be cut a bit as they had a domed shaped top. If you get a low manifold and use regular flat nuts it will clear... just. Or go the bonnet air scoop route. ^_^
Note with the dcd, it always needs the choke until the engine gets warm, you can drive perfectly without it, but it won't idle at the lights when cold with no choke, also the choke is not progressive (mine isn't at least, maybe newer ones are), it's either on or off. So when the engine is only slightly warm it will idle high, but if you put the choke in again it will stall. So cold mornings with immediate traffic are not fun. I reckon a good 10 min to properly warm up. A cold engine with the choke out with a dcd has a nice slow racing car chug, sounds like it has a heavy cam :mrcool: Really light on petrol on partial throttle, but when you floor it and open up both barrels you can actually see the fuel needle dropping. Sweet sound though. And when it eventually warms you can really feel the step when both barrels open. Vizard's yellow bible has a nice guide on getting the right tubes.

Edited by FerritZA, 05 August 2012 - 08:43 PM.


#8 FerritZA

FerritZA

    On The Road

  • Noobies
  • PipPip
  • 35 posts
  • Location: Cape Town
  • Local Club: MOCKZN

Posted 05 August 2012 - 05:11 PM

Here's another SA mini block Posted Image

If you like some reading, this site (where I got the pic from) explains the history and reason for the differences, especially the bottom half of the article: http://bmcexperience...26/1275gt.html
Here's an extract:

"A major part of this was a new engine block, which was cast in South Africa by Gearings Foundary, at Epping, Cape Town. Based on the UK 1275cc Cooper S engine block, the South African engines featured integral side covers and an internal oil filter gallery, which allowed the filter to be placed high on the block, above the starter motor."

More local part usage meant more rebates.

Edited by FerritZA, 05 August 2012 - 05:23 PM.


#9 cliche

cliche

    One Carb Or Two?

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 896 posts
  • Location: Manchester

Posted 05 August 2012 - 05:51 PM

hi!

#10 stretch tech

stretch tech

    One Carb Or Two?

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,363 posts
  • Location: Tamwoth
  • Local Club: A5 & Mini Mainiacs

Posted 05 August 2012 - 06:42 PM

cheers for that mate, i was after a dcd but was put off when i heard that they foul the bonnet and are thirsty carbs, i might have to go and find one now though >_< :lol:

Rhys

#11 FerritZA

FerritZA

    On The Road

  • Noobies
  • PipPip
  • 35 posts
  • Location: Cape Town
  • Local Club: MOCKZN

Posted 05 August 2012 - 08:39 PM

cheers for that mate, i was after a dcd but was put off when i heard that they foul the bonnet and are thirsty carbs, i might have to go and find one now though >_< :lol:

Rhys


It's not the carb, it's your right foot! I blame the induction noise ;D

But measure up with your manifold and test before you put your hard earned cash down. I have no idea what my manifold is but Vizard reckons Derrington - T.W.M. manifolds for a DCD is the way to go. We don't have them down here so I wouldn't know much more about them >_<

Jethro

Edited by FerritZA, 05 August 2012 - 08:45 PM.


#12 scotty_1987

scotty_1987

    One Carb Or Two?

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 874 posts
  • Location: Dublin, Ireland
  • Local Club: MiniBallers

Posted 05 August 2012 - 10:28 PM

Your wheels be awesome :P!!!!

#13 FerritZA

FerritZA

    On The Road

  • Noobies
  • PipPip
  • 35 posts
  • Location: Cape Town
  • Local Club: MOCKZN

Posted 05 August 2012 - 10:39 PM

They need a little refurb, but thanks :D

Hey Rhys, I found my old Haynes carb manual, use it for your weber, but it's also got everything you need on SU's, Zenith's and Strombergs.

http://www.filefacto...etor_Manual.pdf

#14 scotty_1987

scotty_1987

    One Carb Or Two?

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 874 posts
  • Location: Dublin, Ireland
  • Local Club: MiniBallers

Posted 05 August 2012 - 11:54 PM

Wouldn't have noticed really if you'd not said!! They are very cool though..never seen them before,good job sir!!:D

#15 TheLarky

TheLarky

    Learner Driver

  • Noobies
  • PipPip
  • 18 posts

Posted 16 December 2012 - 09:05 PM

Hi,I don't suppose you know the number on the oil filter because I recently brought a 1275 and discovered its a south African block and I cant find an oil filter to fit anywhere! Thanks Toby




1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users