Cooper 997 in Colorado

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Cole Liggett
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Re: 1963 Morris Mini Cooper 997 - Almond Green

Post by Cole Liggett »

Another busy day, both door shells finished up and epoxy primed the interiors and got both door jambs done and back primed. Installed the LH quarter panel and door jamb and mocked up the door.
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Last edited by Cole Liggett on Mon Feb 19, 2024 4:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
1963 Morris Mini Cooper 997 - 4461 KX
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Cole Liggett
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Re: Cooper 997 in Colorado

Post by Cole Liggett »

The scavenger hunt continues. Found a set of plug caps for the build.
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1963 Morris Mini Cooper 997 - 4461 KX
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Cole Liggett
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Re: Cooper 997 in Colorado

Post by Cole Liggett »

Keeping myself occupied.
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1963 Morris Mini Cooper 997 - 4461 KX
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Re: Cooper 997 in Colorado

Post by Polarsilver »

Good time to check your Radius arms are not bent .. measure from center of pivot shaft to center of the stub axle .. check you have the same dimension on both sides.
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Cole Liggett
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Re: Cooper 997 in Colorado

Post by Cole Liggett »

Polarsilver wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 8:43 am Good time to check your Radius arms are not bent .. measure from center of pivot shaft to center of the stub axle .. check you have the same dimension on both sides.
Good call. I’ll make sure to check the dimensions.
1963 Morris Mini Cooper 997 - 4461 KX
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Cole Liggett
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Re: Cooper 997 in Colorado

Post by Cole Liggett »

Block is back from the machine shop. I’ve sleeved it so that I can run stock 997 pistons. It’s a thin flange 497 block and I’ll be running a 997 crank (12A376) and cam (AEG567).
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Last edited by Cole Liggett on Mon Feb 19, 2024 4:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
1963 Morris Mini Cooper 997 - 4461 KX
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Re: Cooper 997 in Colorado

Post by mk1 »

That looks stunning!

Better than new.
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AndyB72
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Re: Cooper 997 in Colorado

Post by AndyB72 »

That engine block looks good enough to eat! Pass the mint sauce.
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Cole Liggett
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Re: Cooper 997 in Colorado

Post by Cole Liggett »

I’m very happy with it! Too bad the engine doesn’t stay this clean once it’s on the road!
1963 Morris Mini Cooper 997 - 4461 KX
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Re: Cooper 997 in Colorado

Post by NicholasUpton »

Cole Liggett wrote: Mon Dec 21, 2020 10:29 pm I’m very happy with it! Too bad the engine doesn’t stay this clean once it’s on the road!
The road! I thought we were building a pure Art piece for you to use as a new centerpiece in the living room. I’m sure your wife will love it.
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Cole Liggett
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Re: Cooper 997 in Colorado

Post by Cole Liggett »

NicholasUpton wrote: Sat Dec 26, 2020 2:22 am
Cole Liggett wrote: Mon Dec 21, 2020 10:29 pm I’m very happy with it! Too bad the engine doesn’t stay this clean once it’s on the road!
The road! I thought we were building a pure Art piece for you to use as a new centerpiece in the living room. I’m sure your wife will love it.
I told the wife I was going to get one of the bubbles to stick it in once we are done. She promptly told me that I had better be driving this damn thing!
1963 Morris Mini Cooper 997 - 4461 KX
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Cole Liggett
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Re: Cooper 997 in Colorado

Post by Cole Liggett »

Spent some time in the blasting cabinet getting the jack cleaned up and repainted. I know it’s not exactly the correct jack for a 63, it will have to do until I can find a correct one.
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Last edited by Cole Liggett on Mon Feb 19, 2024 4:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
1963 Morris Mini Cooper 997 - 4461 KX
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Cole Liggett
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Re: Cooper 997 in Colorado

Post by Cole Liggett »

Found a photo of the Hewens’ Garages High Wycombe location where my car was originally sold.
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Last edited by Cole Liggett on Sat Aug 07, 2021 9:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1963 Morris Mini Cooper 997 - 4461 KX
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Cole Liggett
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Re: Cooper 997 in Colorado

Post by Cole Liggett »

I also just realized I hadn’t posted a photo of the shell in primer. Really happy with how it’s turned out so far.
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1963 Morris Mini Cooper 997 - 4461 KX
jay weinstein
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Re: Cooper 997 in Colorado

Post by jay weinstein »

Looks great !! Nicholas Upton's work is as good as it gets.
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Cole Liggett
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Re: Cooper 997 in Colorado

Post by Cole Liggett »

jay weinstein wrote: Sun Aug 08, 2021 12:36 am Looks great !! Nicholas Upton's work is as good as it gets.
It looks good in photos.
Last edited by Cole Liggett on Mon Feb 19, 2024 4:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
1963 Morris Mini Cooper 997 - 4461 KX
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Cole Liggett
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Re: Cooper 997 in Colorado

Post by Cole Liggett »

I was browsing eBay the other day and stumbled upon a tag from Hewens’ Garages. I’ve seen tags for the Reading and Maidenhead locations, but still haven’t found one for the High Wycombe location that my car was purchased from. I wonder if the Hewens’ High Wycombe garage just didn’t have enough sales volume to warrant its own tag?
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1963 Morris Mini Cooper 997 - 4461 KX
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Peter Laidler
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Re: Cooper 997 in Colorado

Post by Peter Laidler »

If you really want a High Wycombe tag, why don't you find details of the local newspaper there and send them a short story of your car and its restoration - and that you'd like a Hewens Garage High Wycombe tag. The local newspapers like that sort of thing and I suspect that you'll come up trumps as we say......
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iain1967s
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Re: Cooper 997 in Colorado

Post by iain1967s »

I used to live in Maidenhead, just down the road from High Wycombe.

That whole Oxford St area shown in the photo was leveled in the early 70s as part of the ‘urban redevelopment’.

The river Wye, on the right hand side of the photo in front of the terrace houses, was culverted underground, and all those buildings are long gone.

It’s now the route of the A40, all modern red brick and glass commercial premises - shops, businesses, supermarkets etc.
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Cole Liggett
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Re: Cooper 997 in Colorado

Post by Cole Liggett »

Peter Laidler wrote: Tue Aug 17, 2021 8:57 am If you really want a High Wycombe tag, why don't you find details of the local newspaper there and send them a short story of your car and its restoration - and that you'd like a Hewens Garage High Wycombe tag. The local newspapers like that sort of thing and I suspect that you'll come up trumps as we say......
That is a great idea! I’ll track down the local paper!
iain1967s wrote: Tue Aug 17, 2021 1:05 pm I used to live in Maidenhead, just down the road from High Wycombe.

That whole Oxford St area shown in the photo was leveled in the early 70s as part of the ‘urban redevelopment’.

The river Wye, on the right hand side of the photo in front of the terrace houses, was culverted underground, and all those buildings are long gone.

It’s now the route of the A40, all modern red brick and glass commercial premises - shops, businesses, supermarkets etc.
Thanks for sharing your history with the area! I noticed when I looked at google street view that all the buildings were very different.
1963 Morris Mini Cooper 997 - 4461 KX
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