× 1-800-946-2642 Home My Account Social / Forum Articles Contact My Cart
Shop Now
Select Your Car Type Sale Items Clearance Items New Items
   Forum Width:     Forum Type: 

Found 56 Messages

Previous Set of Pages 1 | 2 | 3

 Posted: Aug 22, 2014 08:12AM
Total posts: 635
Last post: Dec 17, 2023
Member since:Aug 29, 2010
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 157
WorkBench Posts: 0
US

another option is to drop a 1380 in it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4JQgE5xVrA

 

 Posted: Aug 22, 2014 08:00AM
 Edited:  Aug 22, 2014 09:33AM
Total posts: 416
Last post: Mar 14, 2023
Member since:Dec 30, 2009
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0

I dont work for the DMV. No need to edit your post and link to your pictures. I have it already. Not all minis are crushed, except the ten I have to crush next week from the court order.

//flic.kr/p/oz6GDD

//flic.kr/p/oz6GmV

George

 

 Posted: Aug 22, 2014 07:42AM
 Edited:  Aug 22, 2014 07:44AM
Total posts: 8382
Last post: Jan 13, 2022
Member since:Feb 7, 2006
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Mini
Quote:
Originally Posted by racingflea

we have a board member here that works for the dmw in california that talks about crushing minis. since yours does not have external door hinges and you are in cali and you have your name on your photobucket account, you need to be careful and remove the photobucket link before you get a visitor with a tow truck

From the photos his car appears to be pre-76, which means it would be street legal in Calif.  I think the California Minis that are the most likely to get seized and crushed are those 1963 MPI Sportspack cars, WINK WINK.  Anyway, back to some other comments.  What Red Riley says is good if you are considering a Vtec.  Go ahead and spend the bucks to have a professional build it for you.  You'll come out ahead in the long run by having it DONE, and done right.  But, if you are "cheap" like you mentioned, then I would suggest staying as far away from Vtec-ing your car.  Putting a Honda engine in a Mini is not cheap by anyone's definition.  Now, as to putting it back together with an A series engine, that I would suggest you do the work yourself.  It has been my experience that very few garages know anything about Minis.  Oh, the typical all British shop might be able to tune one up, clean & rebuild carbs, or do some light mechanical stuff to it, but dare them to do a clutch job on your little beast.  Good luck with that, and hope they have a flat rate book that has classic Minis in it.  If not, then you will be paying alot of $$$ to have someone learn on your car.  Minis are not complicated, but they are unlike other cars in the way they were built.  Running the same oil for the differential, gearbox, and engine alone is enough to make most mechanics scratch their heads.  There are all kinds of little things we owner/builder guys have learned over the years.  Most of us would gladly answer a question to help diagnose a problem or a solution to a problem.  Anyway, hang in there and good luck with the Mini. 

Also as it is a pre 76 as stated by a few of us it will not have the secondary vin number stamped anywhere on it which afaik is the only 100% definite way to determine a re vin.

I have wondered what the authorities would do with a new Heritage shell with no vin numbers on it, i guess you had better have paperwork with it.

If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.

Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.

 Posted: Aug 22, 2014 07:21AM
Total posts: 7048
Last post: Jan 29, 2024
Member since:May 23, 2002
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0
Quote:
Originally Posted by racingflea

we have a board member here that works for the dmw in california that talks about crushing minis. since yours does not have external door hinges and you are in cali and you have your name on your photobucket account, you need to be careful and remove the photobucket link before you get a visitor with a tow truck

From the photos his car appears to be pre-76, which means it would be street legal in Calif.  I think the California Minis that are the most likely to get seized and crushed are those 1963 MPI Sportspack cars, WINK WINK.  Anyway, back to some other comments.  What Red Riley says is good if you are considering a Vtec.  Go ahead and spend the bucks to have a professional build it for you.  You'll come out ahead in the long run by having it DONE, and done right.  But, if you are "cheap" like you mentioned, then I would suggest staying as far away from Vtec-ing your car.  Putting a Honda engine in a Mini is not cheap by anyone's definition.  Now, as to putting it back together with an A series engine, that I would suggest you do the work yourself.  It has been my experience that very few garages know anything about Minis.  Oh, the typical all British shop might be able to tune one up, clean & rebuild carbs, or do some light mechanical stuff to it, but dare them to do a clutch job on your little beast.  Good luck with that, and hope they have a flat rate book that has classic Minis in it.  If not, then you will be paying alot of $$$ to have someone learn on your car.  Minis are not complicated, but they are unlike other cars in the way they were built.  Running the same oil for the differential, gearbox, and engine alone is enough to make most mechanics scratch their heads.  There are all kinds of little things we owner/builder guys have learned over the years.  Most of us would gladly answer a question to help diagnose a problem or a solution to a problem.  Anyway, hang in there and good luck with the Mini. 

"Retired:  No Job, No Money, Wife and I!  Will travel anywhere for Minis"

[email protected]

 Posted: Aug 22, 2014 07:07AM
Total posts: 678
Last post: Sep 29, 2022
Member since:Apr 26, 2011
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0
Thanks for the concern

 

 Posted: Aug 22, 2014 06:34AM
Total posts: 635
Last post: Dec 17, 2023
Member since:Aug 29, 2010
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 157
WorkBench Posts: 0
US

we have a board member here that works for the dmw in california that talks about crushing minis. since yours does not have external door hinges and you are in cali and you have your name on your photobucket account, you need to be careful and remove the photobucket link before you get a visitor with a tow truck

 Posted: Aug 22, 2014 05:41AM
Total posts: 10335
Last post: Aug 19, 2016
Member since:May 13, 2001
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0

I'm in the leave it the way it is corner. If you insist on a VTEC conversion buy an existing one for a fraction of the cost to build one.

The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it. G.B.S. Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. Oscar Wilde

//www.cupcakecooper.ca/

 Posted: Aug 22, 2014 04:34AM
 Edited:  Aug 22, 2014 04:36AM
Total posts: 678
Last post: Sep 29, 2022
Member since:Apr 26, 2011
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0
Pinesol roger that. As long as it won't hurt the surface. I'll try that. Thanks

 

 Posted: Aug 22, 2014 04:24AM
Total posts: 2100
Last post: Oct 22, 2023
Member since:May 1, 2007
Cars in Garage: 1
Photos: 220
WorkBench Posts: 0
US
Quote:
Originally Posted by Air2air

Do NOT take it to a shop. 

I respectfully call BS. I know that there are people who swear that if you didn't build it, it's not really your car. But I think that's not fair to those of us who would love to build something from scratch and lock ourselves in the garage when something breaks, refusing food, beer (well maybe not beer) and sex unitl we emerge victorious, that's just not an option given limited time, skills, tools, and patience. I love my car, and if push comes to shove, I can do most anything mechanical, and in my youth would have happily done so. But when I decided I wanted a car, and I knew how I would do it if I had time, and etc., (see above) I also knew that I wanted to be able to drive it while I still drew breath, and that wasn't going to happen if I did everything myself. Car lovers come in many shapes and sizes, not just grease up the wazoo gearheads. If you can find a good shop or a skilled mechanic who will let you work with them to build your dream machine, then why the hell not? I have a car that I can hop in and drive the s**t out of, and yes, I can fix it and upgrade it and have done and continue to do on good days, but I know when to go it alone and when to ask for help from an expert.

 Posted: Aug 22, 2014 03:49AM
Total posts: 1723
Last post: Oct 20, 2020
Member since:Jun 18, 1999
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0
US


my favorite soap happens to be pinesol. Cleaning is very critical in restoration and maintenance. Paint will not stick to greasey dirty parts. There are shops in Germany where they don't allow dirty cars into their garages. Cleaning helps you to get to know your mini intimately and you can't hurt yourself. You and no one else wants to pick up and touch dirty, filthy parts. That would be my first step. Second step would be to buy yourself a manual and start by looking at each page. You are no different than others before you who got bitten by the car bug. The mini is a very basic car only cuter than most. If you want it done and done right You are going have to step up and learn about your project. It's a big mini responsibility.

 Posted: Aug 21, 2014 10:35PM
Total posts: 678
Last post: Sep 29, 2022
Member since:Apr 26, 2011
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0
Yep that is the plan sir. Turn my little mini into a strong and reliable daily driver. My F150 eats so much gas everyday and that's enough motivation to get this little one running.

 

 Posted: Aug 21, 2014 09:28PM
 Edited:  Aug 21, 2014 09:34PM
Total posts: 1557
Last post: Sep 26, 2016
Member since:Nov 24, 2012
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0

Armycook DON'T give up and sell it!

All of us here were in your spot one day.  Fortunately you have the internet, a 7/16", 1/2" and 9/16" - and this forum, the best in the country.  

You could post a few questions here every single day, the gurus here would give you expert advice and you'll be on your way.  You don't have to worry about quality on this forum.  A few of the guys posting on this thread have built several if not dozens over the decades.  They could build your car blindfolded, Spank for sure.

Do NOT take it to a shop.  Owning these cars means knowing how to fix these cars, and you can do it.  If you can fix a frigging Blackhawk you'll be expert on these soon enough.  Mine is a rock-solid daily driver that I pound the absolute piss out of almost every day, and having had everything happen to me already I can fix it before it breaks.

Great, I just jinxed myself.

 Posted: Aug 21, 2014 09:24PM
Total posts: 678
Last post: Sep 29, 2022
Member since:Apr 26, 2011
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0
Almost gave me a heart attack haha alright I won't but I wanna see pros and cons from the guys like you who eat breathe and poop classic minis. I am not a car mechanic but I worked on SH60 helicopters and it is my current day job as a contractor for the military. I have a decent knowledge about mechanical stuff especially when it comes to critically inspecting components. I know I'm not a f%*@& grasshopper when it comes to that. I am easy to be taught and I'm excited to learn or else I won't be seeking help here. But anyway, if Id want or need something like fab work I am sure I can figure out who and where to get it. But like I said me and my network never worked on cars and I know it's a different animal but the things I do greatly exceed tinkering with cars.

With research I found out a lot about engine swapping using honda engines and structure wise I'm scared it's gonna rip the car apart like Spank mentioned on the phone. I'd like a decent weight distribution to the front also but I'm still learning and I'll get better more everyday thanks to you guys. Can't believe one day made a lot of difference just by posting help on the forums. There are a few D***heads here but I'm also a webdeveloper and I worked on a lot of online forums and I know free online forums will always have assorted types of people.

The day the parts start arriving will be the day I'll start documenting my build and I'll post it here

 

 Posted: Aug 21, 2014 08:39PM
Total posts: 
Last post: Mar 25, 2022
Member since:Sep 4, 2000
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 3
WorkBench Posts: 0
US

DO NOT DO A HONDA CONVERSION CONSIDERING YOUR SITUATION!!!!!!!!

 

 

 Posted: Aug 21, 2014 05:17PM
Total posts: 327
Last post: Jan 20, 2017
Member since:Feb 14, 2010
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0
US

If as you say you are cheap and don't want to much work then trust someone that has gone the full blown VTEC route in saying "don't even think about a VTEC". 

Just putting back together a car that you didn't tear apart will be plenty of work for you.  By putting it together yourself you will end up with a car that you will know most everything about.  Plus by going the British route all the parts are fairly interchangeable and will bolt in.  Going the VTEC route is a long involved process where you pretty much start from scratch and includes cutting/welding and an almost endless amount of sorting ($$$$).  Unless you are a gearhead and have built cars before then a VTEC conversion will be a major headache that in most cases never gets completed.

You've got a good looking Mini there, get her on the road!

 Posted: Aug 21, 2014 02:55PM
Total posts: 678
Last post: Sep 29, 2022
Member since:Apr 26, 2011
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0
I actually spoke on the phone with Mr Spank here and he invited me to attend meetings and I'm excited about that. I'm open to anything really, and as of now I'm 50/50 with the honda route. I'm in the military, cheap and don't want too much work that I don't need on top of the stuff I got on my shoulders. I believe in the saying if it ain't broke I ain't fixing it so I am considering not throwing away parts I can use to maybe just upgrade to a 1275. But I'm excited and wanted to get this on the road soon. Thanks!

 

 Posted: Aug 21, 2014 02:50PM
Total posts: 2510
Last post: Sep 5, 2015
Member since:Jul 15, 2010
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0
US

Me? I would get the thing running with whatever the least expensive drive train I could find..... Spank or other members in the area should be able to point you in the right direction.

Going the V-tec or whatever the Honda conversions are called these days, most likely would be throwing good money after bad.... Just look at the ones for sale for less than the investment.

Remember, what you have now is a parts car. It's virtually worthless until you can get it to drive down the road.

 Posted: Aug 21, 2014 02:32PM
Total posts: 2277
Last post: Oct 6, 2022
Member since:Nov 18, 2007
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 77
WorkBench Posts: 2
US

Besides all of that, if you did get it running and driving you could easily double your money. That 

should give you some motivation right there. Haha

 Posted: Aug 21, 2014 02:29PM
Total posts: 2277
Last post: Oct 6, 2022
Member since:Nov 18, 2007
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 77
WorkBench Posts: 2
US

I think you have a good base car there. Needs a bit of work, but it looks like the body is square. Maybe a bit of rust, but the pictures don't really show anything that scares me. Assembling all of the pieces would be a few weeks. Like others have said, the drivetrain is probably the "hardest" part. But if you don't want to deal with that, you could pay the cash to get a full running engine/trans. Or head over to 16vminiclub.com. 

 

But it looks like you may need a few other components. I'm in the middle of my full rebuild right now and like I said in the emails and texts the other day, if you need any help at all feel free to shoot me an email. 

-Cameron

 Posted: Aug 21, 2014 02:20PM
Total posts: 678
Last post: Sep 29, 2022
Member since:Apr 26, 2011
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0
So what brand of soap is good to use 6464? Sham wow or regular towel? But I get what you're saying 6464. I already admitted I didn't do most of my homework and a lot of old grandpa conservative mini owners like you I'm sure had the same incident like mine at one point and it's ok. Admitting is first step and doing something about it and asking for help is second.

 

Found 56 Messages

Previous Set of Pages 1 | 2 | 3