Our 95 Tartan came exactly that way....couple of hundred dollars to have the paint buffed and cut polished, about $25 to replace the black windshield and rear window chrome strip and we have a winner....PLUS our AC works just fine...as we found in the 35C temps at MMW this july.

If I ever need to do this to my engine, I know where I'm heading! Thanks for those pictures...

Thanks. I think the key is treating each part with the same care that you want for the overall car. A low of people put a huge amount of money into the bodywork, but only superficially clean the underside, engine, interior, etc. Then either sell at a loss or show it and people notice.

My cars aren't for sale, but I like to completely strip them and restore/refinish/upgrade piece by piece.

This shield does not get a lot of exposure, but $10 for chrome instead of the rusty galvanized original adds a little to the whole comparment.

And I leared a while back that PU paint is the best for the engine, as it will resist all the fuel and grease you will get on it, pluss resist chips from wrenches while assembing.

 

Amazing! Hard to believe it is the same engine!

Yep, replaced rings, bearings. Added double timing chain and a few other things.

That engine even looks sad! Did you get her running well again? If so, great job!

I don't think there is a 50,000 mile limit in Japan, but I know there are strict limits where cars end up super cheap on the used market. 15 to 20 years ago Bolivia was getting swamped with the used Japanese cars. I went to the port in Chile and Corollas were selling for $300 US. Usual mileage was around 150,000 km. The Bolivian gov't first started requiring them to be converted to LHD (but people usually didn't convert the dash, leaving the gauges on the right). Then limited to 10 years, then to 5 years. Now used cars can't come in over 2 or 3 years old.

But many engines come in. Locals don't maintain their cars. They run them with cheap oil and buy used engines from Japan each year or two.

My replacement engine came from Japan, an SPI that had 50 to 70 psi compression from stuck rings, a missing rubber diaphragm in the thermostat, badly adjusted valves, and other things. I have no idea how many km as it was from a different car from the rest of the front clip.

I was not able to figure out how to salvage the AC, although it was missing the compressor anyway.

The brakes are easy to move over to the booster with a connecting bar that can be made easily (see my answer on converting RHD to LHD).

Thanks Malsal and Polo! That '4' must be an A...it would make a lot more sense decoding. So it is a late 80's Japanese spec...I am still confused as to whether it was RHD originally...

+1

herman

Ok thanks Pologround my guess now would be a late 80's Jap spec car that has had a full repaint in and out in Surf blue fitted with a 1275 engine. There should be another 4 digit date code on the wiper motor.

check if the third digit is A

 

124907AA007162

12A

Correct! Sorry if this confusing, but I'll attach a picture of my engine bay and a couple of exterior shots here. I found this VIN stamped on the engine block just behind the alternator if it is of any help:

124907AA007162

 

You can see the engine bay in my profile pic as well...

The only number I can find in the boot is stamped on the stainless steel plate and that is 47-8, so I am confused; the 47th week of what year? Unsure about the fuses, but I will check on that.

Please note that the mini veggivet was referencing in the thread below is NOT his mini. I believe the photo was copied from this AD:   //www.minimania.com/cars4sale/13226/1999_Rover_Mini_Cooper_1300_Injection_Sedan_1275cc

//www.minimania.com/msgThread/118420/1/1/Surf_Blue_matching_seatswhere_to_get__em

See the following:

• Steering wheel (airbag versus alloy steering wheel/rhd/lhd)
• Carburetor versus injectors
• dash
  

 

With the air bag steering wheel and column it certainly looks like a 96> Mini. That seat and colour combination was late 90's also. It could be a miss match of different parts to suit the po taste, shoot some interior pictures and under the bonnet we should be able to tell you the year or close to it. Also check the boot latch there should be a four digit code ie: 18 97 which would be the 18th week of 1997 for assembly. Does it have a blade fuse box inside the car or glass fuses under the bonnet ?

Thanks! Not injected. Yes, the only reason I want to know the year is when it comes to obtaining parts. I love the way the car is specced out...it was done by a long term forum member. What was the last year Mini manufactured models for Japan?

Minis weren't fitted with 1275s in '87, so yours is either not an '87, or not original, or both.

Looking at the photo you appear to have early 90s seats (certainly the back one) and an aftermarket dashboard. 
Surf Blue wasn't offered until the very late 90s, and AFAIK not in the shade your car is.

I'd suspect that you have something that someone has lovingly assembled to a spec that you obviously appreciate, so I'd leave it at that and only worry about the age if you need spares.
Is it injected ?

If you really want one, I beleive I have one soemwhere. No idea what condition it is in. Cross country shipping would be expensive.

My email is in my profile.

Terry

You're absolutely correct, BIG AL, in the larger scheme of things, what I decide to do or not do with respect to a cat for this one car have no measureable impact on the planet, but I probably will sleep better than those VW execs...

Your opinion is highly valued on this forum, for good reason...would you say the pictured car is late 80s, early 90s, or later than that?

" I just want to do the right thing for the environment,"

Veggi: After what we just found about VW diesels does it really make any difference-??

I just had a 1996 JapSpec Mini with a cat pass an emmissions test here in Ontario-

BIG AL