Hi, Welcome to my RU-vid channel. I upload on a regular weekly basis Classic Mini related videos and workshops. I currently own three Classic Minis, a very rare 1997 Rover Mini Cooper Sport 5, Rover Mini Cooper MPI 1997, and a 1994 Rover Mini Sprite which I have modified extensively restored over the last 7 years including converting the engine to a 1.6 lite 8v C16SE from a Vauxhall Astra GLSi with a 5 speed gearbox.
I have owned Classic Minis for nearly 30 years and have picked up some great tips and learnt some valuable lessons along the way which I am more than happy to share with you. I am lucky enough to have owned several Mini Coopers and two ultra rare UK Spec ERA Turbo Minis.
I attend many Mini events throughout the year and am Vice Chairman of Brighton Mini Club. I enjoy helping others time permitting and have been involved in some very exciting Mini based project recently.
Hello you just got a new subscriber lol so I just got a Mini 1000 looks like the one you just worked on no title with a lot of rust no motor no transmission no interior for $300 cash Can you please help me? How can I identify? What year is the car? And how much do you think a good used motor would cost me Thank you so much
Blimey! Someone’s doing well out of RU-vid! 😂 Just kidding… looking forward to seeing content on this!! I would change those can connectors to a waterproof plug like the other end that you disconnected…
Great video 👍 The later T-cars had an additional expansion tank as standard from the factory which keeps the coolant swirl tank fully full. The cooling system without the additional expansion tank can draw air into the rad no matter how many times you bleed the system. I have an early T350 and installed the extra tank which has helped reduce engine temps. I also added a self-bleed hose from the rad bleed screw to the expansion tank 🍻
Keith - time consuming, but a you got to the simple root cause. I notied the stylie of connectors and location. Best to swap out with waterproof DEUTSCH connectors.
TVR Tamora owner here (and a Chimaera) welcome to the silly grin club! Look forward to seeing you at some events, slightly jealous of the bonnet conversion, that looks great. Enjoy. Cheers Jon
It’s a great looking car. Is the steering wheel standard on that. I assume it is as there are those buttons on the rear to adjust the readings. It looks a little bit like a Rover steering wheel.
Thanks Andrew. They are just magnetic signs i had made in an old style with my company name on them. No, I'm due to do a video once the Cooper is finished as i'm looking to sell the van as i need the space. I bought it in 2014 and it had been restored by the previous owner. It's a 1960 smooth roof, only 20 on the road or known to be.🙂
Those trim panels either side of the speedo look like a nightmare to fit neatly. I am putting mine off - maybe next year. I have just fitted a Newton carpet set to my Mk4 and was rather disappointed that it wasn't a better fit. You seem to be progressing well though.
Thanks Graham. The trim panels are a bit of a pain and don't fit great but i suppose they weren't looking for perfection when they designed and built the minis!😬
those dash cards from newton are crap , i had to take mine back out to so an issue out and riped it to bits there to tight bought another same problem both went in bin got one of ebay and fittted perfect, newton reckon they use correct 1290 grain bought several item all been different grain , expensive shit
Great stuff Mark.. That was relaxing watching compared to some previous 'white knuckle ride"' episodes recently 😅.. Just to reassure you that everything that was a pain in the rear end here was designed to be just that , especially the dash area. Carpets are looking really nice. The ladies also notice those as well as the availability of vanity mirrors ! 😅..
Unlucky with the oil leak. Those covers do get distorted! The SU guidance is good except, when checking the balance. I’m too tight to buy a vacuum monitor & did it by listening to each in turn. The only drawback is that as an old guy my hearing is not brilliant (according to my wife in particular). I had to enlist my daughter!
My poor Lincoln, in between the 1st owner and me it was at auction, and some brain dead numbskull jacked it up by the floors, both rear floor pans have jack marks and the left side was jacked up about 5 inches! She weighs in at around 4,015 pounds...that sheet metal had no chance! Unfortunately I don't have a drain hole on where the brainless auto assaulter attacked my floors... I'm gonna have to get various shapes of wood and just start hammering at it, I already have to repaint and replace deadener so I plan on upgrading anyways.
Hello, I bought them from Nippy Cars Online from their trade stand at Beaulieu about 4-5 years ago. If you contact them they may still sell them. The are on FB and online.
Chin up mate, you will get there! At least its just a dodgy cover gasket, could be something like a poorly seated head gasket or clutch plate! You will get it all back together in a couple of hours no trouble.
the big problem with the cover has always been they get bent and distorted cause they get over tightened and the centre gets pulled in to the point that the outer doesn't hardly make contact if remove the rubber seal and re fit it your see its distorted and the centre bottoms out before the outer edge touches the block so either chuck it over your shoulder and find a better one or punch the centre back so the outer touches first and do not over tighten the centre fixing
@classicminiworkshop Ah ok. Many thanks. I'm looking to build one myself as my grandad had built on himself, and he has experience with them. Was just wondering what price it would be nowadays
To do most of the stuff i've done, i've probably invested over £12k over the past 7 years in tools and machinery. I'm a house builder and didn't have mechanic tools so i started from scratch.
What a nightmare! I feel your pain. Life’s hard enough without this stuff, one dopey person making the loom causes you a world of pain. If it helps, this week I’ve had brand new rocker switches that rattle (fit badly). Leaky thermostat housing (my bad workmanship). A leaky heater matrix - replace with a new aftermarket one - took 4 attempts to fit it leak free (the outlet pipes were about 1mm below the surface so they would seal correctly - finally used a second o-ring as a spacer on the top). On a highly optimistic note I’ve booked mine in for an MOT on the 5th September and a show on the 7th… will it be ready? Will it be finished… just keep plodding along 👍
Isn't it! I don't mind so much if i make mistakes as it's a me problem. When you pay someone to do a job and they mess up, it's still a me problem! Ok, it makes me feel a tad better. 😅 Oooh, i reckon we could get finished and mot'd at the same time! 😀
@@markdraper7 it’s a race 🤣. irritatingly if mines ready for the mot it may not be ‘finished’, I might have to put the glass in before the headlining and I’m sure they’ll be other stuff, I can only do what I can do… good luck with yours 👍
I had a first fire up oil leak once, my brother previously fitted the clutch oil seal and managed to turn the lip out, instant deluge! So out it came again. Another first time start, engine was revving and rough, that one turned out to be big air leak at inlet manifold as the flanges were thinner than exhaust so nuts were tight but inlet not sealing at head. These things are sent to try us!
Nightmare! I can't stand even a tiny oil leak 😅 My Madgwick and Track mini both are leak free so i know it's possible on a mini, but they are both Swiftune Built.😁
Oil leaks, thats what Mini's are famous for, but not that bad of an oil leak. I know you really wanted to say "i got a f***ing massive f**k off oil leak" 😅
I really do feel for you Mark.. So close, but it seems one step forward and two steps back right now. The 'hot' exhaust manifold is worth a look before you do another start-up.. It could be your running with too much ignition advance which would also give higher idling speeds. Also check that your tappet cover gaskets are the 12A1175 type that are for the 1966 onward 1275 S cars. You probably know all this stuff but I always find helpful suggestions are better than negativity in these cases.
I know Pete, seems like it's been that way for a while! That's exactly what it was, scared the life out of me! They are correct and i've reset it back on. Once i've cleaned all of the oil off i'll give it another run and see if it's cured. We found another issue for the oil leak though. Positive and helpful suggestions are welcome, sometimes i don't know but i do try to study the in's and out's of the project i'm working on, but i don't know everything!😅
@@markdraper7 Restoring a car from ground-up, even if you've done a similar model previously, always seems to be a 'fresh' challenge that throws up a different set of issues and problems. Your Mk lll 'S' looks brilliant and is a credit to your endeavour and determination. Nearly there and the final hurdle is in sight.
The anguish in your face was felt through our screens. “Pesky oil leak”. Well that’s what I think you were going to say before you buried your head in your hands. Let’s hope that is all the teething problems you’ll have to endure on the rest of the refit.
