1989 Mini Mayfair

[Gregor]

This is my Mini:




i bought it for the grand sum of £10 about a year and a half ago when i was 15. i bought it because i was about to start a day release thing from school going to college and training to be a mehanic so it was basically bought to practice on.
but due to having no money it kind of sat about in my garage for ages waiting for me to do something to it.



as i started messing about with it taking things off and putting them back on i accidently messed up the timing and they didnt teach us how to sort the timing (finished college now by the way, passed all my tests first time!) as the mini is now moved so my step dads companys workshop, i got the mobile mechanic to help me sort out the timing and it now runs but it is getting treated to new leads, plugs, 2 front wings, a panels, and front panel as they are quite rusty, so i also attacked it with the angle grinder yesterday aswell ;D

Thanks for reading!

[qwerty]

Nice 1st Project!! I had a mini in similar condition as my first car when I was 16.......didn't do much with it sold it for £150......haha

[Gregor]

Update,
got the a panels and wings off, was about to get the front panel off, but i would of had to replace the cutting disk on the angle grinder and i couldnt find a new one. so pics:
A Panel off:


Wing off:


Other wing and a Panel off:


thanks for reading!

[trg1984]

doesnt look like itl need a daft amount of sorting mate, ive got a mini sprite, my passenger wing looked similar after a brief altercation with some snow and a metro haha.

you keeping it that colour, my mate had one the same colour. looks cool with black bumpers too

[Gregor]

Yeah doesnt need to much just the front end, plans are to get it mot'd before september when I'm 17, 10x6 minilights and suitable arches, maybe stage 1 but with maniflow and k&N instead of shops own poo kits. keep it that colour, maybe de-bumper it not sure yet.

[1340gt]

nice little project got one myself but its a little different!!

this is by no means a dig at you and please don't take it the wrong way, surely a college training mechanics has to show you how to do the cam and ignition timing on a simple car like a mini? this would mean any future mechanics could only ever work on fully mapped dizzyless cars.

i guess its true what they , they really do just plug them in these days.

if you want any advice on minis PM me ive had to deal with just about every problem with mine and have gone well down the performance road.

[briandamaged]

Welcome to Retro-Rides!!

Plan sounds good, but before parting with your hard-earned cash for wheels bear in mind thatunless you change the front brakes 10" rims ain't gonna fit the front of your Mini, you'll be stuck with 12's.

I had a 998 with a Maniflow LCB/single box on it, would keep up with my mate's stock '96 SPi Cooper even if it wouldn't actually stop (drum brakes......)! Great fun.

Nice to see one so young jumping in and hacking all the grotty bits off though, stick at it. There's plenty of inspiration/ideas to be found on these pages.

[trg1984]

unless you buy the J made cooper reverse rims which are 10s but fit over bigger discs

[briandamaged]

May 28, 2008 22:27:05 GMT trg1984 said:

unless you buy the J made cooper reverse rims which are 10s but fit over bigger discs

Shows how long it is since I owned mine!! 8 yrs ago the Japs were still buying up NOS Cooper rims like they were going out of fashion. I've just swapped a set for the paintjob on the Oxford!!
;D

[lae]

May 28, 2008 20:15:01 GMT 1340gt said:

this is by no means a dig at you and please don't take it the wrong way, surely a college training mechanics has to show you how to do the cam and ignition timing on a simple car like a mini? this would mean any future mechanics could only ever work on fully mapped dizzyless cars.

I have a friend who is about 17, he is doing mechanics at college and he wasn't taught how to set timing either. He was dead impressed when I told him I changed a head gasket on my own with only a Haynes manual and a 3/8 ratchet set... although I suppose more difficult stuff comes later on when you actually do an apprenticeship. I think they do honestly start it off at the most basic level i.e. oil changes

[trg1984]

May 28, 2008 22:32:51 GMT @briandamaged said:

May 28, 2008 22:27:05 GMT trg1984 said:

unless you buy the J made cooper reverse rims which are 10s but fit over bigger discs

Shows how long it is since I owned mine!! 8 yrs ago the Japs were still buying up NOS Cooper rims like they were going out of fashion. I've just swapped a set for the paintjob on the Oxford!!
;D

first time i saw em was at last years mini in the park, so don't think theyve been around for ages or owt.

not bad swapping a paint job for wheels tho, result!!

[Gregor]

I think really they've just taught me stuff for newer cars because everythings going that way, but i have been taught quite a lot and can do most things, most things on the course were just remove, inspect and refit and whilst on work experience i did learn a lot because you are acually doing the work rather than reading about it for ages then doing it on a car that doesnt really work.
going back in to work on the mini tomorrow so should have the front panel off, then wait til i get paid and i'll probly service it but with new leads aswell as its running on 3 cylinders at the moment.
Thanks for the comments!

[BMC Paul]

nice project, nice to see another mini saved, ten pund bargain too! ;D