54 replies to this topic

[gaspen]

Well, I bought the second one : a 1971 850 

 

She is a little bad here and there but pretty original and not molested - probably because of her age 

 

I showed and asked some info about her in the chat area 850 - Mini Chat - The Mini Forum

 

Here you can follow the "update" if you interested.

 

 

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[DeadSquare]

The late 60s / early 70s were not good years for Minis.

 

The accountants were economising on paint, bolstered by the notion that if the car rusted away quickly, drivers would have to buy another one.

 

It worked brilliantly ......................... for Honda.

[johnR]

What's your plan for it?

 

[gaspen]

What's your plan for it?

I will restore it to original.

[gaspen]

I think it will be a lot's of fun 

 

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It's stamped at the corner of the rubber mat. Do you recognize this supplier ? May I found another one ?

 

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Maybe they fixed that piece with that tape on the assembly line ?

 

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[Gilles1000]

Ouch, the rear subby looks nuts... Will you try to repair it ?

How is the body looking around this area ?

 

Good luck with the project, the car looks nice !

[gaspen]

Ouch, the rear subby looks nuts... Will you try to repair it ?

How is the body looking around this area ?

 

Good luck with the project, the car looks nice !

 

Oh it is not so bad, some surface rust...

 

Did you notice the watershed mountains ?  

 

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[gaspen]

Ouch, the rear subby looks nuts... Will you try to repair it ?

 

 

Ouch I don't think so    If the front and rear crossmembers could be saved I'll go for it but....

[bpirie1000]

Rust is lighter than carbon fibre..

Your sitting on a race car there...

But seriously strip it down and give it some time it will return the favour and give you many happy miles.

Sometimes it pays to walk away from the car and put fresh set of eyes on things....

[gaspen]

Rust is lighter than carbon fibre..

Your sitting on a race car there...

But seriously strip it down and give it some time it will return the favour and give you many happy miles.

Sometimes it pays to walk away from the car and put fresh set of eyes on things....

 

For me it is a fun, indeed. But I have to learn when to take a rest 

[Viktor]

Looks like you are going to have a lot of fun! Good luck with the project, I will be following! :)

[gaspen]

Looks like you are going to have a lot of fun! Good luck with the project, I will be following! :)

 

I can start the work on the body in next spring because I don't have a garage 

[gaspen]

Striptease continued 

 

It looks like the engine was in a machine shop in the past : the cylinders are sleeved and it has 3 camshaft bearings. Until now I thought that a 850 engine has only one bearing on the chain side.

 

From this point of view the engine is in good shape, but it showed very poor compression when I tested it. See my 1st post. 

 

Any suggestion ?

 

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[KTS]

low compression could be piston rings not sealing (worn rings, worn bores or both !), inlet valves not sealing, head gasket failure or a combination of all of them !

[gaspen]

low compression could be piston rings not sealing (worn rings, worn bores or both !), inlet valves not sealing, head gasket failure or a combination of all of them !

 

I will measure and inspect the cylinders later, also the head. The head gasket wast not damaged at all.