My 1964 mk1 austin. "Dianna"

[Joel Welsh 4769VU]

I've always wanted a real mini cooper since I was a kid. They always fascinated me. And, as I grew older, and started working on cars- I came to appreciate their simplicity and classic look.

I've physically owned Dianna for over a decade now... but she was never registered in the US. I'd fought that whole time- until recently... to get title of ownership for it. A few months back, I finally succeeded.

She used to be owned by a Mr. Mark Walker of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. He sold her to a soldier who brought her to killeen tx, near Ft Hood, Tx- where I was living at the time. She had sat for a year or two in the Texas sun just getting cooked... so her paint faded. Someone stole her mirrors, her distributor, gas cap, and other items.

Prior to her trip to Canada, she'd met several other owners... a couple I've had the pleasure to have talked with over the years. Others- I'm sure I'll yet meet. Hopefully!

My focus right now is just to get it running, and road worthy. I'd like to just enjoy driving it for awhile.

One benefit I have here in ohio- is that we don't have an MOT inspection, much safety, or even smog or emissions testing. So it's much easier to keep older cars alive.

The shiny paint picture was sent to me from Mr walker- as she was in Canada in 2006-07? timeframe?

The garage shot is when I first got her in 2010.

The yard shot is 2013.

The driveway image is current work.

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[Joel Welsh 4769VU]

Alot of things have progressed in the last six months or so!

So far-
I've pulled, and replaced the engine due to a leaking rear oil seal contaminating the clutch disc.

I was able to soak and clean the disc, and replace the oil seal.

I replaced her radiator hoses and water pump while at it.

Just a few loose ends to tidy up and hopefully she'll be running again after setting idle for way too long.

I've new quarter window seals for install soon, and then I'll need all new tires to even think about road worthy.

All hopes and luck hold out- i want to have her back on the road come late spring/early summer for a goal.

Winter was not kind to my old girl.

[Ronnie]

Never mind your 1/4 window seals, it looks like you need new seals on your garage

[Costafortune]

I think that may have lived near Heyford in Oxfordshire in the late eighties - there was a USAF base there then. I sort of recognise it with the four number two letter registration.

[Joel Welsh 4769VU]

I've had correspondance recently on a facebook mini page with a peter flannagen (spelling?) In the UK who was a previous owner as well.

Pete uses his fb account mainly for family, so there's been little communication... but it's interesting to me to learn her history, and I'd love to have been able to ask advice and questions as to why certain things were done...

I plan to try and keep her as close to the condition, or plainly... just stay the same as she is... as possible. They'll be no modern vtec motor swaps or crazy upgrades... at most maybe an electronic ignition in the distributor if i have a hard time finding/keeping points in the future.

I like my cars without computer chips.

[Joel Welsh 4769VU]

Never mind your 1/4 window seals, it looks like you need new seals on your garage

Lol...

50mph wind gusts in our latest winter storm kind of negated my seals!

[AndyPen]

I just admit, I had to look twice at that snow in the garage pic, a rare sight!!

[Joel Welsh 4769VU]

I just admit, I had to look twice at that snow in the garage pic, a rare sight!!

The sad part of that- is that we actually didn't get that much real snowfall. Only around 3-4 inches.

It was the accompanying high gale force winds that made it frustrating. It blew all the snow from the open field across the street- up to my house.

I had a 3-4 foot tall drift across the entire front of my place. For two or three days it blew like that.

I watched my garage door "floating" in the frame rails fully closed.

Fun...

[Joel Welsh 4769VU]

Just ordered my yoko A008's for Diaana today from Mini Mania.

My boss bought them for me for a bonus for work. So- even more bonus... they were free! Too cool!

Now when they get in, i get to do some more work hand mounting. Yay...

[SMOKE GREY]

Pete is on here, Pete??

[1071 S]

Just ordered my yoko A008's for Diaana today from Mini Mania.

My boss bought them for me for a bonus for work. So- even more bonus... they were free! Too cool!

Now when they get in, i get to do some more work hand mounting. Yay...

I suppose it doesn't matter if someone else paid...
'
I was booted of the Minimania site several years ago when I pointed out the disparity between what I paid TireRack for my A008s and the exhorbitant amount demanded by MM...

Cheers, Ian

[Joel Welsh 4769VU]

Ian, i know right? Been a bite in my butt for a minute... more than i paid each for the 17", run flat- high speed rated 165mph+ tires on my fiat spider!

They wanted $189 ea awhile back. Price had dropped to $159 ea. Or $579 a set of 4.

Wildchild classic had them for $119, but not in stock. Tire rack- also not in stock, and discount tire doesnt even carry them... exhausting all the US sources i could readily find at the time.

[Joel Welsh 4769VU]

Bit frustrasting... but the last few days have proven fruitful.

Dianna now wears her new shoes.
All four A008 yokos hand fitted to her rims, with new steel valve stems.

With the aid of the crew here- i waded thru a mental block and bad internet information... and got her fired up and running! For the first time in over a decade- she rumbles through her exhaust like a rough and tumble little fighter.

A very throaty throttle response from her dual carbs is a pleasant surprise. I'd not heard a bite like that from a little 4cyl motor in some time.
I can't wait to see how it pulls.

There's some hiccups to fix.

In the throes of working- i stepped on the brake pedal to feel it go... splat... splutter... and drop to the floor. So it seems the master cylinder gave its last push. Not a good thing.

And... while my clutch does indeed no longer slip, and engage firmly... i cant disengage it.
With the car running- pushing in the pedal gets me nothing to get the car in gear.

Adjustment does nothing to help... so now I'm looking at what i did wrong, or what needs replacing on the clutch arm assembly.

But the good-

She runs.
All external lights are working, including flashers.
New tires.
Wipers work.
Brake lights functioned prior to mc loss.
My fuel guage started working again on its own!
Oil pressure good, guage reads fine.
Temp guage good, reading.

Slow but steady progress!!

[Pete]

Used to own this one, Keith Calver engine in it, had some fun in this car!

[Joel Welsh 4769VU]

Used to own this one, Keith Calver engine in it, had some fun in this car!

Hi pete! Good to see you here sir.

Question i wanted to ask you sir- did you race her?

Judging from the roll cage, the racing harness belts and the build of the engine, i thought somebody might have... but it could have just been built to look like a racer... was unsure.

But she wears a few battle scars- that me make wonder if there's some good stories.

The rear subframe- by where the fuel pump mounts- she's got, for the lack of a better description.... a tear/bend/lump in it that looks like she went over something hard.

I thought, man... that had to have been a hell of a ride.

[Pete]

No it was just a road car, can’t remember competing in it but the cage was probably out of my previous hillclimber if it’s got any old scrutineering stickers on it? It wasn’t a car for the purist, but a lot of fun. It ended up in Canada when a mate of mine bought it and emigrated.

[Joel Welsh 4769VU]

No it was just a road car, can’t remember competing in it but the cage was probably out of my previous hillclimber if it’s got any old scrutineering stickers on it? It wasn’t a car for the purist, but a lot of fun. It ended up in Canada when a mate of mine bought it and emigrated.

She has quite a few stickers on the cage.
I'll have to check them out, most are parts or performance stickers i believe. The "bmw mini my arse" sticker is still proudly on the rear screen. Lol.

I hope to have fun with her as well.
My brother wants me to take her to a drag race series in the upcoming weeks, but i don't see that happening... i don't really want to, just want to enjoy her for a bit.

Mr Mark Walker i believe? I had talked to him for a bit after i got her in 2010. I've tried to get back in contact with him recently on facebook to chat with him on her progress, but I've had no luck contacting him. Back then, he told me if i ever wanted to sell her to let him know. He regretted letting her go.

[Joel Welsh 4769VU]

So...

I've got the clutch sorted out.
All new parts from the wok up to the slave cylinder did the trick.

Got the master cylinder off, cleaned out a bit of sludge and dirt caught in a seal inside- back in the car and working.

While working on the clutch and brakes- i tried to start her up, and she ran for a few seconds and died. A couple times- she'd start and die....

Acted like she wasn't getting fuel.

Checked fuel bowls- yup.

So today i checked it out. No fuel from the tank!
In short- rust, and crud blocking the pick up tube and fuel outlet.

Pulling the tank and cleaning everything out and flushing it- rewarded me with a leaky tank.
Found this out when i re-installed it. Sigh....

So now what?
Might as well bleed the brakes.

On the second or third round of pumping up and bleeding the very first caliper- the rubber hose blew. Oh, the joy of old cars.

[Joel Welsh 4769VU]

Got two new disc brake hoses on order, as well as a fuel tank conditioning/lining kit.

I'll be spending quite some time shaking, turning, rattling her tank to clean, etch and line it in hopes of saving it.

The kit says 96 hrs cure time before use for best results... so, I've got some time to put in.

[AndyPen]

Oh no, that doesn't look good!!!