Classic Mini

[Chris_edeson]

Hi all

 

Not lotus related but asking for some advice.

 

Anybody owned a classic mini? Been looking on classifieds for a little weekend toy and there seems to be some really good examples around 3-5k

 

Very simple little things they seem and really fancy one! Any thoughts greatly received

 

Chris

[Alex B]

no personal experience however you should buy a honda'd one as honda makes everything better

[Chris_edeson]

no personal experience however you should buy a honda'd one as honda makes everything better

Lol there was a honda'd one I saw on a car group last night! I tagged scatty in it! He said he knows of a place up Notts way that puts bike engines in them!

[scatty]

Gotta be a bike engined mini, il try and find the place...

 

Am I making this up (I know I'm not) but a few years back we had a trip to a pub by the river in Nottingham (can't remember where) and there was a chap there in this modded old school mini and he had a Volvo lump in the back... It was absolutely mint....

The pub was in Gunthorpe.... Lol....

 

I think the company is called Zcars....

 

What's not to like..... :-)

 

[John FISH Curtis]

Scatty, that Mini could have been my mates. We fitted a Volvo T4 turbo lump in the rear using Z cars kit. Took us a year to build and was featured in Mini World Magazine.

 

I have owned several Minis, 1275GT, Limited Edition Racing Green, 998 Cooper and a van (should have kept it). Always wanted a pickup. Done a Z Cars conversation with my mate and fitted a 1700cc Allegro engine in a Clubman, plus other mods too.

 

If I had the room, id restore a 998 Cooper.

 

Pick one that has sound body work. A Series engines are a doddle to work on and sound great with a single Peco upswept or Rc40 exhaust. Newer ones had fuel injection. Check the hydroelastic suspension is sound.

[DeanB]

Z cars also do a bike engined elise which I like a lot.

There is a nice van for sale at Sherwood Restorations in Southwell.

[scatty]

Fish, it must have been your mate. You were there as well....

 

It really was a cracking bit of kit....

 

I think there's a vid of that Elise Dean on here, I think Russ posted it, I've seen it recently....

[kieranexige]

Fish, it must have been your mate. You were there as well....

 

It really was a cracking bit of kit....

 

I think there's a vid of that Elise Dean on here, I think Russ posted it, I've seen it recently....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNCq7DN2eks

Love this but that shifter would annoy the hell out of me..... Can only imagine a 13k upshift, pulling back and seeing a rod exit the side of the clam.

[scatty]

Ha ha ha ha, your right, I think I'd be wanting to pull back as well....

 

I suppose you'd get used to it. And then you'd let Paul have a go round Flux bend and it'd be game over..... ;-)

[quantum2000]

A friend had a limited edition mini flame. It came with a 998cc engine but was quickly swapped for an MG metro 1.3, gas flowed head, twin SU carbs, kent cam. Its was pretty quick and handled like a go cart, he eventually blew it up. 

Swapped the engine for an MG Metro turbo unit, changed the cam, pistons, turbo, head gas flowed and fitted a sierra cosworth intercooler and dump valve. Made about 130bhp, now that felt rapid! unfortunately he crashed it.

[scatty]

Ha ha ha ha, your not really selling it...... :-)

[winthattt]

Old Mini's, had loads.  They handle and steer like nothing much else but in a good way. Ride quality is horrible. Driving position is like a small bus.  Safety does not exist. Very simple to work on for the mechanics and a MG Metro engine is a useful boost in power. If they have discs and a servo they can stop as well.  Biggest problem is rust, they rust everywhere.  You can go in for a cup of tea and come out and find new rust spots.  I would like one again but I do not fancy the continued maintenance.

 

Places that rust: wings, subframes, sills, doors, windscreen surround, floor, boot, roof seams, external seams, bumpers, rear panels, front 1/4 panels..............lots more............ash tray, boot floor.  Never had the roof itself or the ignition key go rusty.

[DeanB]

Note to self - don't buy a fast mini....remember you can't be trusted.... :-)

[stockhome]

Dan Webster is your man if you want to know about minis

[Chris_edeson]

Old Mini's, had loads. They handle and steer like nothing much else but in a good way. Ride quality is horrible. Driving position is like a small bus. Safety does not exist. Very simple to work on for the mechanics and a MG Metro engine is a useful boost in power. If they have discs and a servo they can stop as well. Biggest problem is rust, they rust everywhere. You can go in for a cup of tea and come out and find new rust spots. I would like one again but I do not fancy the continued maintenance.

 

Places that rust: wings, subframes, sills, doors, windscreen surround, floor, boot, roof seams, external seams, bumpers, rear panels, front 1/4 panels..............lots more............ash tray, boot floor. Never had the roof itself or the ignition key go rusty.

Thanks for the info mate :-)

Dan Webster is your man if you want to know about minis

Thanks Sheldon I will drop him a line.