Attention to Detail

[rogerotto66s]

This topic may not appeal to everyone but I am interested in hearing from the “experts / anoraks”!

I am 99% complete with my refurbishing / restoring my 1966 Austin Cooper S and curious about specific items which my “S” should have. It is LHD, WET w/ brake servo.

I am the second owner. First thing I did was take the car apart in 1993-1998 and have no pictures covering this period. I started putting it back together in 2018 (20 years later!). Most recent part I installed was the gasket that goes under the LH fuel tank. I had it in my bit bucket and a recent forum post led me to identify and install.

Here are a few items which I have seen on this forum or MCR magazine which helped.

- proper location of control box
- gasket under LH tank
- jiggle pin (bottom of clutch housing)
- rubber pedal stop for accelerator pedal
- 2 screws securing door seals to B pillar
- Sound deadening in boot under rear shelf
- Sound deadening in boot lid
- interior light (torpedo w/ white switch)
- front sling shoe bracket (my front floors were replaced)
- color of bracket holding the door check strap (car color, not black)
- special washer (on back side of engine) connecting block to gearbox
- 5-bolt chrome bumper
- green hydropipe Protectors
- green wiper tubing
- front panel stiffener painted black
- brass carpet clips
- Lucas sealed beam headlamps

[mk1]

While I am personally more interested in enjoying my cars than getting every single detail spot on, all your list are good points that a lot of Anorak's will spot if missed out on.

Good spotting.

[Oneball]

What’s the “special washer (on back side of engine) connecting block to gearbox”?

[mk1]

Its the stepped washer that goes under the dowel with the hole through it at the oil pump end on the back, this assembly has a 1/4" UNF bolt through the whole lot. Never really saw the point of it, but I did know it existed.

M

[Pete]

Don’t forget the sound deadening inside the bootlid! I’m in two minds about all the exact detail, replacing your replacement parts for parts with the “correct” dates stamped on them is a fairly modern phenomenon and though I hate to see cars thrown together or ruined by a bad restoration I can’t help but think it’s gone abit too far to the point where people are too scared to take their cars out to a show for fear of ridicule!
So long as people enjoy their cars is the important thing and I’m wondering whether the minute detail has detracted from that.

[mk1]

Couldn't agree more Pete.

Restorations are supposed to be people getting a car back to a point where it can be used again. Personally, I have never looked at a date code apart from when I am selling a bit to someone else who gives a damn. I like my cars to be "right" but I'm never going to obsess about a date code on a boot lock that only I will ever see.

M

[Pete]

I’ve seen plenty of detail ‘correct’ cars freshly built from the ground up (ie a logbook) and some ‘incorrect’ cars with fantastic provenance to them rebuilt to keep them on the road and I know which I’d be looking at! That’s not to say you can’t ruin a really good car with a bad restoration and I’m sure if did another one I’d try at least to slosh some glue around the interior as they did at the factory and use that black gunk on the floor bungs!! . I think it was me that started the black paint behind the grille revival so I’m not against any of the ‘correctness’ but do draw the line at date stamps. If your car’s had its wiper motor replaced I’d use it! (Well literally in this weather! )

[Oneball]

Its the stepped washer that goes under the dowel with the hole through it at the oil pump end on the back, this assembly has a 1/4" UNF bolt through the whole lot. Never really saw the point of it, but I did know it existed.

M

Thanks, don’t think I’ve seen one, will have to look in my Family Circle biscuit tin.

[mk1]

I tried to find one in the parts list, but don't think it is listed.

I also tried to find a picture on my computer, It's made me realise how rarely anyone takes a pic of the back of an engine

M

[rogerotto66s]

What’s the “special washer (on back side of engine) connecting block to gearbox”?

Part number 12A1150

44EEE031-CCD5-41F4-83E9-12D61DEB396E.png

B56724FC-7034-4CA6-9542-B7C55190A3C4.jpeg

[Peter Laidler]

Yep, me too....... I've always had these mixed feelings about date stamps and other trivia. Seems like I am not alone either! I'm another of those users (albeit summer day users.....) who maintain my car for reliability, maintainability and durability foremost. Rear seat uprights.........!!!!! Out of sight, out of mind I say.

[mk1]

What’s the “special washer (on back side of engine) connecting block to gearbox”?

Part number 12A1150


44EEE031-CCD5-41F4-83E9-12D61DEB396E.png


B56724FC-7034-4CA6-9542-B7C55190A3C4.jpeg

Thanks Roger, That's the one

[Oneball]

That’s not what I was expecting, whats the raised bit do?

[rogerotto66s]

Don’t forget the sound deadening inside the bootlid!

75AB70EB-9EE1-4D60-B565-AFCFA0F1FD0C.jpeg

Also have the original sound deadening for the bonnet.

B1289AB9-E992-4EF9-B7DB-14345E4E0E92.jpeg

[360gts]

That’s not what I was expecting, whats the raised bit do?

Stops the bolt from turning when tightening the nut.

[Peter Laidler]

That stepped washer is important. I think that they were designated 'WASHER, Stepped..' and the stepped part was an anti rotation feature. In addition, these washers were what we called a 'loaded' item. They were also used in turrets where the washer, unable to rotate (during vibration/cannon fire etc etc) and would part-support another item. I don't expect many minis to have turrets fitted but the principle is there!

[360gts]

Don’t forget the sound deadening inside the bootlid!

Are you missing the rubber buffer/s on the boot board brackets???
Think they are still available.

[apblake]

Roger have you documented your car in the section of this forum for Our Cars and Projects? I haven't seen it there and I know I would very much enjoy seeing your car coming back to life. I'm sure others would as well.

[rogerotto66s]

Are you missing the rubber buffer/s on the boot board brackets???
Think they are still available.

I knew when I posted that picture someone would notice.
The rubber buffer is there now.
The picture was taken when I was trying to determine what these 3 pieces were.
Here is that topic.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=30642

Thanks for noticing Dermott

[850RS]

That Cooper S on BaT recently got roasted over some minor details that weren’t right and it killed the price. Shame as it looked like a fairly decent car.