1963 Super de-luxe

[minidean]

Hi Stuart, It certainly is getting the love and attention it deserves and providing lots of joy. I can't wait to get it back on the road and hopefully you see the fruits of my labour sometime. Im trying to get as original as possible. Thanks for the history.

Dean

[minidean]

The Story so far.

after T-cutting and polishing the engine bay, I got the engine in and eventually the wiper motor. The radiator was a nightmere and I still need some bolts to fasten the casing to the rad. I replaced to points, capacitor, distributor cap and ht leads (i just hope they are in the right order) next job is to wire it all up. if anyone can see anything I have done wrong, please let me know. Im still a novice but learning fast.

[coopertim]

Now that is an engine bay which is coming together nicely! Fantastic work mate!

Tim

[surfblue63]

Were have the old plug leads gone?

When I had the water pump replaced the guy who did it muttered all sorts of obsenities when he tried to put the fan shroud back together. I still have the old pump with its failed bearing.

Also I was informed that the brake and clutch master cylinders are fitted the wrong way round. The filler caps should be on the firewall side.

Otherwise it looks like it's coming along nicely.

[rich@minispares.com]

Also I was informed that the brake and clutch master cylinders are fitted the wrong way round. The filler caps should be on the firewall side.

very correct

[minidean]

Were have the old plug leads gone?

When I had the water pump replaced the guy who did it muttered all sorts of obsenities when he tried to put the fan shroud back together. I still have the old pump with its failed bearing.

Also I was informed that the brake and clutch master cylinders are fitted the wrong way round. The filler caps should be on the firewall side.

Otherwise it looks like it's coming along nicely.

I still have the old plug leads but they were damaged so I just replaced them all. I love the fact that the break and clutch cylinder are the wrong way around, it just adds the history of the car (or am I just getting a little sad now?). The fan shroud is still not completely right, I need to put another 4 bolts in including 2 at the bottom at the back of the rad but after a full day struggling I gave it a rest.

[minidean]

Attempted to fit exhaust today but I seem to have got the wrong parts I decided to start on the wiring and seem to have done ok? Back lights and indicators are wired up but still need to workout how to wire the headlights up.

[coopertim]

Looking very nice! Keep going!

Tim

[minidean]

Thanks to the expert help and advice from coopertim we have taken a great leap forward today and got loads done.

New exhaust
petrol tank
petrol pipe
new door seals
door handles
sound proofing
some chrome work
roof lining
interior light

The majority of the wiring is connected and it shouldn't be long before I can start the car and hear it for the fist time, I can't wait!

[coopertim]

Now that does look fantastic! Glad you got the Headlining in! Got loads done today and really enjoyed it.

Tim

[minidean]

Another saturday and another good days work.

It seems that the Master cylinders are not only on back to front but the wrong way around.

Got petrol pump wired and fuel pipes connected.
Fixed exhaust to gear box and made a few adjustments to it.
Did a little more wiring but I've got an auto electrician coming on Monday to complete the wiring and test everything.
Dinotroled everything that could be.
refurbished the switch panel and quite a few more little jobs.

Should be able to start the car for the first time next weekend.

[Vespanation]

I see you've got the new door seals in. How do they fit? Do the doors close well and easily? If so, where did you get the seals? This job is next for me.
Thanks,
Paul B.
USA

[minidean]

I see you've got the new door seals in. How do they fit? Do the doors close well and easily? If so, where did you get the seals? This job is next for me.
Thanks,
Paul B.
USA

Hi Paul, the seals are from p&l minis in Rotherham but I think they are just about the same from anywhere. The doors need a good pull to close fully but I hoping that this was because the seals were new?

[Pete]

The seals will be too big and they're different depending on where you get them from. They tend not to 'bed in' in my experience. I'd use original everything where poss.

[surfblue63]

I put new seals on the car when I got it 5 years ago as one of the previous owners had put some late type seals on with the teaxtured edging. The new seals never seemed to flatten and the doors always needed a good shove to close them. They did shrink length ways though leaving a slight gap at the join after a few years. I think I got mine from MiniSpares.

[Vespanation]

Hmm. Yes. I don't think I've ever heard this:

"Just put new door seals in the Mini. The fit and work great!"

With all the Mini's made, it amazes me that there are no good door seals about! So it's basically agreed then, the seals are too fat AND stiff, so they push the door outwards, necessitating a door slam/push to close the door?

- Paul B.
1960 Morris Mini Minor

[minidean]

I am amazed at the poor quality of a lot of the reproduction stuff. I have ended up spending a little more money but going for original stuff where possible. Luckily Nick at Min-e-bitz lives just around the corner so I have got access to lots of original parts.

[minimans]

Ask any restorer about after market parts!! doesn't matter if there for a Mini, Jag, or MG there crap most of the time. What gets me is that someone is willing to reproduce the parts but can't seem to get it quite right, if your going to the trouble of doing it DO IT RIGHT!!

[Pete]

I generally agree with the above but the trouble is that a lot of manufacturing processes have changed since these parts were supplied OE fifty years ago, often irreversibly, plus many of the cars have changed shape over time , especially when it comes to door gaps ! Any manufacturer has also got to weigh up how much he will get for his part once he's spent so much time and money getting it accurate ( if that can be achieved..).

On the subject of early door seals there's a guy that does many of the shows that sells both a narrower and fatter version of the seal, seem to have lost his card though.

[minidean]

Things are getting exciting now! Auto electrician came today and completed most of the wiring. There seems to be a short on one of the indicators and one of the sidelights isn't working but he's coming back tomorrow to finish off. The seat-belts arrived and and I started to fit one, although they are obviously not original I think they are going to look good? Im not prepared to comprimise my kids lives for originality. I just fitted the speedo and binnacle and it went in a treat after I fibreglassed the damaged mount.