John and Michael, thanks for the info.   I'm looking for street tires for a stock looking Mini on 10" rims.    I know I can find some 10" tires on ebay, just not happy with the source, if there's something wrong or the tires are ancient I'd be stuck.   When I bought the P3s from Pep Boys they had to replace one they destroyed during installation, and there was another tire that they probably had damaged but I put up with it.   It's on one of the projects so I can roll it around and it's 25+ years old so I won't use it on the street.

One of the Mini parts suppliers had Yoko A509s which were close to the AVSi tires, but allowed a bit more slip.   Back in the late 90s I managed to sneak into a Discount tires "ride and drive" on all the Yokohama tires at the time.   The A008s were trashed before I got a chance, but I found the AVSi tires that I normally ran on my daily driver were a bit more sticky than the A509s, so I could hustle the Mustang convertible around a bit better with the A509s on their short slalom course.

Then again the ones I've seen have been 50% more than A008s... guess I know what I'm going to buy for the next street car.

In 1995 I put Yoko A008G tires on the 13" Revolutions on the race Mini.   They are a street compound, 4 autocross weekends, 1 Solo divisional and 2 vintage weekends plus day to day driving on the street barely put wear on them.  Really fun through the infield at Texas World Speedway.  If I win the lottery I'll commission a custom run from Yokohama.

Cheers,

Jim, Diana and Jimmy
Too Many Minis, not enough tires!

Thanks John,

I've seen A008s for about $109 (yeah, slightly crazy) from one of the major discounters.   I need to put something newer on the '63 Cooper, it's still sitting on the A008s I bought in 1993.   The fronts are down below the wear bars...

I probably should stick with the A008s, I had Pirelli P3s on an Opel in college in the mid 80s and they were way cool... and on the Mini it felt like I was on 4 marshmallows.  That was when Pep Boys still sold P3s in 10" size.   

Cheers,

Jim

On BAT patina over looks has gone over the top on some of the recent auctions for classic Minis.   Another car had the paint worn down to almost bare metal in spots, the owner clear coated it to protect it but left it as is.

Not my preference, but if presented with a box stock original car warts and all I might consider leaving it that way.  Most of my cars have come to me well modified.   My '60 Morris has a Grant steering wheel direct welded to the steering column, not going to leave it that way.

Cheers,

Jim

Wow, that's a great price.   I looked at one of the big suppliers, one front shock is $151.   Ouch!

For grins I looked at Rock Auto.   They actually do have some bits and pieces for the classic Mini, sometimes they have closeouts that are deals.   The Bilstein B8 (shortened suspension) is $73 ea for the fronts.

I'm just curious if anyone has found any 10" tires other than the Yoko A008 or A032 available here in the US?


Cheers,

Jim, Diana and Jimmy
Almost Oklahoma!

Hi Sasha,

Unfortunately I don't have any of the toys running that can legally hold 3 people.   It'd be one of the daily drivers.

I'm not sure we can make this rally, maybe one later in the year?


Thanks,

Jim, Diana and Mini Me

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