69 replies to this topic

[ribz0]

Hi all..

 

Well, we have just got ourselves a mini.. it was someone else's project that has been sitting in a container for 10 odd years!!

 

Its a 1975 Sth African import and the guy before us did allot of work on it. It has had a fresh coat of paint, a rebuilt 1275 engine that was not even started, minilite wheels, twin fuel tanks, new brakes, suspension and the list goes on. The car is about 80% done and it comes with a box of stuff to go back on it...

 

The last few weeks have been a steep learning curve as this is our first mini. As usual, its not until you start putting it back together that you find out how much is actually missing. Oh well, that's the fun of it right?...

 

Anyway, the first thing was to get the motor running so on went the sports exhaust and the twin SU's. Put the L/H fuel tank in after checking the sender and giving it a coat of paint and new fuel lines. I had all the vitals... fuel, spark, oil pressure and with baited breath we turned the key and blow me!! IT LIVES!!! Ok, tick that off the list..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm going through and checking the cooling system now... radiator is out and looks U/S, time to clean, sand and paint all the small bits before the new radiator goes back in.. looking forward to getting some water in it so I can give the engine a good run...

 

Started to put the front lights back in after re-doing the wiring... the light bowls were missing so sourced a pair and did the clean, sand paint trick on them also.. chased all the wires that were just sitting there, new indicator stalk, starter motor and got all the front light's on and working...

 

So many questions to ask that I don't know which one to ask first... lol... I have got enough to keep going with at the moment but be sure... the questions will come... The good thing was it all came with a box of reading material.. manuals, parts list, tuning books and so much more!! I even got hold of the South African book "Thanks for the Mini Memories" which is a great book all about Mini production there...

 

One thing I am missing and having probs finding.... (hint hint) I need the rear quarter glass if anyone knows where to get them from....

 

 

 

Exhaust looks good and just some bits floating in "the box"

 

Cheers..

 

 

 

[John H]

Are those head bolts instead of studs and nuts?

 

Nice project by the way!

[mad mk1]

Looks that way john.

[John H]

Unusual. I would imagine with the different thread pitch that the torque values will be different to using studs/nuts.

[[email protected]]

lovely build mate

[ribz0]

Hi all..

 

Thanks for the comments... ok.. here comes the first question... is it unusual that they are head bolts and not stud and nut? should I be worried!! lol.. from what I worked out, the motor is from a Morris 1100S... engine number is 12YD Ta H***

 

I found some rear quarter windows today! WooHoo!! They are on the other side of the country so hope they get here in one piece... still sanding, cleaning and painting.... 

 

I have looked through some threads here and boy... you guys know your mini's!!!

 

Thanks again and will keep you posted..

 

Cheers

[ribz0]

Hi all..

 

Well, its starting to come together... I have put the radiator and bits back in and all looking good... I have a problem though... the radiator seems to be leaning in at the top. Im not sure if the brackets on it are correct.

 

 

Also. what do you do here at the water outlet on the bottom hose? I am putting a heater in but is there metal pipework or do I just use heater hose? I have ordered a heater tap for the other side also.

 

 

I have pulled the rear hubs off to have a look at them and the bearings are very average... I have read here that you replace the bearings with tampered roller bearings, is it just a straight swap/fit?

 

Cheers

[Miniac86]

Your car looks really neat. what master cylinders are you using? Those aren't standard S.A. spec.

[ribz0]

Cheers Miniac86...

I cant really tell you what type they are... they were already fitted when I got it... Im in the process of getting the booster on and fluid into the clutch and brakes and have already found that the clutch slave is stuffed and I gotta replace the rear wheel bearings... slowly slowly...

I know the guy I bought it from has spent lots of $$$$ on it but it has sat in a container for over 10 years...

[tb205gti]

Hi all..

 

 from what I worked out, the motor is from a Morris 1100S... engine number is 12YD Ta H***

 

 

Isn't a 12H a 1275cc? The heatertap on the head is also angled like on a 1275.. Unless it's one of those SA 1100cc with the 1275 bore?

[ribz0]

hey 205gti...

 

Yep.. it is a 1275... not the original engine as we have worked out that they did come out with the Sth African made 1098cc (I think it was) engine.... Still, happy with the 1275.... I have got a heater tap coming as Im fitting a heater in it...

[ribz0]

Hi all..

 

I did say it was a slow project... Bit of an update thus far..

 

Well, everything that could break has... so far, I have replaced the starter motor, fuel pump, water pump, radiator and thats so I can run it for a bit and have a play... I seem to have a problem though... it starts fine and idles ok but when I try to feed it fuel, it backfires and pops out of the exhaust. I have checked the valve timing and have turned the dizzy while running but cant get it to run nice... seems like it's retarded but make little diff when I play with the timing.. (turn dizzy)

 

I have never had SU's yet alone twins so I can say I have no knowledge about them. When I got the car, it was all in bits so I cleaned the carbs as best I could and wacked them on using the manifold he had. I just wanted to try get the motor running as he told me it was re-built. The intake manifold has 850 and 1100 on it so I gather it's not suited to a 1275 but should it run? Also, I dont know what size carbs I have. Doesn't seem to have a vacuum leak as it idles nice.

 

If the carbs are in need of a freshen up, will they cause this to happen? Also, it has a points dizzy fitted but there is an electronic system in the parts bin. Is there anything I can try or any suggestions to see if I can get this thing running better?

 

While I was waiting for bits, I started to strip down the interior. The first job I had to do was replace the roof lining. Not my most fav job but no one was going to do it for me... and because Im on a budget.. There was all sorts of things up there... remembering this thing was in storage for over 10 years..... yuck!!

 

 

 

After I got it all off and gave it a clean, I put on some sound/heat protection..

 

 

The roof lining that was with the car was a mess... god knows where he got this from but was a bad fit... it took me ages to get it looking ok but it will do...

 

 

 

Any info on the the engine issues would be great..

 

Cheers

 

 

 

[ribz0]

Hi all...

 

Making some progress and getting through the job list...

 

I got into the seats and door trims and happy how things turned out.... I took the seats down and re-did the foam and fixed some of the springs. The cover was still good so just gave them a clean and all went back together good...

 

I made some new door cards and again. put the original cover back on...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Got the brakes working and just working on the interior. I just found a rust hole down on the left side floor near the firewall so gotta sort that out. 

 

I have the engine running but its blowing smoke. I gave it a compression test and found the readings to be a flat 180 on all cylinders. On a wet test, they only went up 10-15 psi. Would I be right in saying the head will need to come off for a freshen up?

 

Hope to get the front and rear screens in next. Slowly coming together.

 

Cheers

 

 

[ribz0]

HI all...

 

Getting through some of the jobs...  after finding some rust while replacing the carpet, I replaced the passenger side floor and all is looking good.

 

 

 

The front and rear screens are in... I had a crack at it myself and it wasn't that difficult so glad I did... 

 

Just replacing the front bushes and giving the front and rear suspension a freshen up...

 

 

Waiting on more parts but things are getting there slowly...

 

Cheers

 

 

[ribz0]

Hi all..

 

Just a bit of an update... progress has been slow but you get that...

 

Well... I have finally fitted the heater as it took a while to get all the bits... its all in and plumbed...

 

 

 

 

 

All the suspension is done with new bushes, bump stops, shockies, steering rack boots and anything else I could change... gave it all a good spray with body deadener...

 

 

Got the fuel tanks in after making some straps and a new tank support bracket... 

 

 

 

Fitted a windscreen washer kit.. boy.. that was a pain... not 100% happy with it but will tweak a bit..

 

 

I re-foamed my other seats also so fresh foam all round with the original covers which are in ok shaps...

 

Just waiting for an order to come with all the goodies I need to finish...

 

Cheers