16 replies to this topic

[dpoints]

Hello all,

 

I just joined the forum as support because I just purchased my first mini. A 1987 Mini City.

Its in a real mess - the sills are rotten, the heel board, the footwell, the area under the rear seat bins (I guess I need to remove the bins to repair the floor) and below the windscreen has more holes than Swiss cheese.

I'm in the process of removing the engine. The carburettor is missing, so I'd like to hear what the most suitable is. Weber? It has a 4 bolt fixing to the manifold.

 

Looking forward to some advice.

Thanks 

[Ethel]

Welcome,

 

Sounds like you  won't have to worry about the carb for a while! What suits depends on the engine, no carb can supply more fuel 'n air than the engine demands, which isn't really much for even the most wild A Series. An SU does seem to suit them well, the siamese inlet ports have quirks that work against too perfect atomisation & distribution of the juice.

 

It's unlikely it'll be more rotten than what somebody on here has already seen & you can get some huge sections of Mini pre assembled, just try & leave something to weld them to!

[mab01uk]

You may find the following links useful....

 

Mini Machine:-

http://preview.m-machine.co.uk/

 

Mini Machine Panels Catalogue:-

https://www.m-machin...s Catalogue.pdf

 

 

 

[dpoints]

Thanks everyone - much appreciated........this weekend is continuing with the engine extraction.

[stuart bowes]

sounds like job number 1 is full strip down, clean up, bag and label, etc.  order in a load of varied sized ziplock bags and a box of sharpies.. take your time on that, you'll thank yourself later!

 

then a full set of pictures from all angles and start up a thread in the build section, I use https://imgbb.com/ to host the pictures (no payment or account just use it free)

 

that way as well as answering questions people will probably also spot other things and help out with them

 

good luck with it!

Edited by stuart bowes, 20 March 2026 - 04:44 PM.

[dpoints]

Oh no, the rot is much much worse than I expected. I honestly don’t know where to start.

[sonscar]

Do you have skills,space,time,budget and most important,the will?Start with a new floor.Steve..

[dpoints]

Ok, I will start with the floor - will the A-pillar survive? How do I tackle the inner wing? I have a flitch panel, but I'm wondering if I should bite the bullet and get the complete panel (flitch and wing in one piece).

What are your thoughts? cheers

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[dpoints]

here is another image

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[Ethel]

It looks bad, but  it doesn't really make any difference if you're replacing the whole panel. Just be careful to leave yourself some reference points to put the new bits in the right place. I'd be tempted to refit the door so you create a jig, or at least take some measurements.

[bpirie1000]

Don't panic......

Take a billion pictures for reference...


Make a billion and 1 measurements.

Get the bank account ready...

Buy 2 bottles of gas....

Many many many reels of welding wire.....

Trust you have had a mini before......

If not... Haynes manual is your friend.....

Oh and tea bags.. plenty tea bags.................... garage kettle,( or beer fridge) .

[dpoints]

Haha, I'm chuckling to myself with your post.......

I've traded across the door and taken measurements. 

I'm in no hurry to get it done, just a garage project.

I've never done a Mini before, but have restored a VW Beetle and Baywindow........just fancied a change. I've got the Haynes manual and a restoration manual, but wasn't expecting quite as much rot. 

I've take the advice from on here and I am starting with the right side floor.

I need to repair the end of the crossmember.

One the floor is repaired, I'll move forward - Think I'll take a one piece flitch / inner wing panel. I'll try and get a heritage panel as I understand they are a far better fit than others like the magnum.

I'm just a bit unsure of the rot where the A pillar meets the bulkhead (roughly in line with the door hinge). I'll check the other side to see what it looks like.

Time to get a tea on!

Thanks

[Designer]

Hi,

 

Welcome to the forum.

Don't forget the big oil drum in the corner of the  garage, that should be a big enough swear box.

Oh and also plenty of plasters and Savalon.

May I suggest you become a TMF+ member for the vast amount of £5 a year as it will get you a 71/2% discount at Minispares once you have registered your TMF+ membership with them.

 

 

Paddy

[dpoints]

Hi Paddy - subscription complete!

Thanks for the headsup

[coopertaz]

before you start chopping too much brace the shell loads of info on here to do that and, as Ethel says, dont remove too much at once as you lose you referance points. for panels use heritage or m-machine they both fit well with minimal tweaking (no mini is totally straight) use magnum only if necessary then tend to be thinner gauge. happy welding

Edited by coopertaz, 31 March 2026 - 10:23 AM.