It's been years since I've been able to make one of the events... but they're lots of fun!    I'll see if we can make it this year, if not best of luck to all who attend!


Cheers,

Jim, Diana and Jimmy
former SCCA Solo master.. and a few other things too

Hi John,

Looks good so far.   I was having a bit of a senior moment then I realized I was reading your update on the Mini list, not here.   

Speedometer- I'm guessing it's still cable driven, so... is the cable driving?   One idea is to remove the speedo cable from the back of the speedo and see if the cable spins freely in the housing or seems locked in.   If it spins, it's either broken somewhere along it's length or not connected at the trans end.  For the speedo if you have an extra cable around hook it to the speedo and spin it with a drill to see if the gauge moves.   

For the wipers... round body motor?    Go through the normal troubleshooting for power to the motor, and if it's not working let me know, I suspect that it's basically the same motor that the Spitfires used.. I have a shelf of them if you need bits/pieces/???


Cheers,

Jim
McKinney

Hi Paul,

Low compression is either blown/failing head gasket, valve sticking open slightly or worn rings, or a combination of those things.  Pulling the head for a head rebuild (or getting a new/rebuilt replacement head) will hopefully cover gasket and valve issues, and you can look at the pistons/cylinder bores while you're there.   The hardest part on the older Minis is getting the intake/exhaust disconnected, not sure how much extra hoses/piping you have on your vintage.


Cheers,

Jim

There are some shops in the Dallas area that can work on Minis, my first suggestion would be British Auto Specialists in Haltom City as their mechanic Lloyd was using a Mk 1 848 Mini for a daily driver.    I haven't talked to him in a while though.

If you need help moving the car from Houston north I can probably lend a hand,  I have a small trailer for an open tow and I built a box on my good car hauler when I was moving my wife north from south of Laredo.


Cheers,

Jim
McKinney

Cool, let us know how it goes.   I'd looked at the seller after you posted the link to your auction, he had a 998 for sale at about the same price.

Cheers,

Jim, Diana and Jimmy

Congrats John!   

I'm looking forward to seeing your new toy.


Cheers,

Jim, Diana and Jimmy

Just a belated New Years wish to MOT.     I hope all are doing well, and let's have a brunch meet sometime soon!


Cheers,

Jim, Diana and Jimmy
Too many LBCs, not enough winning lottery tickets

It went for $21k.   Wow!   The argument was the rust repair and paint were done, so forget the wacky title.

Cheers,

Jim

I first saw them in the summer of '92, split between 2 of the "antique" shops in 80.  I went back in the spring of '93 and looked over the one pair, including getting VINs and engine #s to try to figure just what they were.  They were rough but I figured the engine/trans might be useful for my Cooper.

After making the intial deal of $425 for a pair the guy I was talking to had the other pair brought to his store and would only sell them as a package.   I wasn't able to at the time, but I went back the next year to make the deal.   The cars were there but the owner wasn't, and I didn't think to leave a message saying I'd take them.   When I came back a week later they were gone, supposedly to a scrap yard in 175.   I went to about 20 asking if they had the cars.   No luck. 

J, D & J

True, if you're trying for true authenticity.   I haven't looked lately, used to be the red upper sections weren't available new from the usual suspects, so I was pumped when I found a set at a swap meet in Dallas 20 years ago from a guy who'd been a BMC dealer back in the day.

I'm looking more at the car titled on the FE number over the radiator (no VIN tag), it's titled as a Morris with Austin badging, Cooper lower window trim without the upper piece.   Then there's the block with the oil filter that's a direct screw on, like my Triumph Spitfire.

Now I wish I was still in Abilene to eyeball the car, not that I miss working there except for the paycheck.   

Cheers,

Jim, Diana and Jimmy

John,

Cool, I've ridden in a RHD Moke over the mountains in Colorado, but never driven a RHD on the road.   

Right after I bought my Cooper in 1992 I learned of 4 parts cars, 2 pickups and 2 vans east of Dallas off of 80.   I had a deal going for 2 of them when the owner insisted I take all 4.   I was in a rental house in Plano with no tow vehicle or trailer at the time.   It would have been 3 998s and 1 850 RHD mechanical setups in 4 rusty/crusty cars.

Oh well.

Hence the country property with barn. 


Cheers,

Jim, Diana and Jimmy
Too many projects and not enough space... really???   

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1967-austin-mini-cooper-mk1/

I'm getting a bit disappointed with BAT when it comes to correctly listing classic Minis, this is obviously not a Cooper and I'm more inclined to think it's a 64, not a 67 body shell based on the wiper motor, it's always a pain to pull them from a shell.   Then again it looks like they painted behind it, so maybe not?


Cheers,

Jim, Diana and Jimmy
Bitsas Aren't Us

John, it looks really nice!    Just curious, did you leave it RHD or have the seller change it to LHD?

If you were a little closer I'd rent out my garage to store it.   Just don't tell my Cooper I said that.

My brother found a Clubman with 1275 near him for a donor engine.. but the seller thinks it's worth $5k+ as a rust bucket.   


Cheers,

Jim, Diana and Jimmy
Will work for Mini parts!

Congrats John!    Let me know if you need a hand shuffling it from TX to LA.

And... could the seller toss a spare 1275 or 3 in the trunk?      Ok, wishful thinking.


Cheers,

Jim, Diana and Jimmy
Too many copperheads, not enough working car batteries

There is a 64 Cooper S on Bring A Trailer (https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1964-austin-cooper-s-2/) from the good people at Mini City in Rochester NY that says it has a matching key for both doors and ignition.   It made me curious, although I only have one car to judge things by.

I suspect they're closing shop, sad for me to see as when I bought my '63 Cooper in 1992 it came with a Mini City catalog.   2 months later I was in the USVI and was outside the shop in Christenstead where Laurie was checking out swimsuits chatting with her father in law about Minis as he was wearing a Mini City t-shirt.   Laurie sent Grover Mauer to me when he was building his car in 1996 as a local Mini owner to help with his build.

It's a small world.

Cheers,

Jim, Diana and Jimmy
Too many toys, not enough room.... soon