Next project - ‘62 997 Austin Cooper

[morris-miner]

That's an amazing amount of detailing that'll never be seen. Congratulations on such a microscopic build.

[Dearg1275]

Keep the Harry Moss Air Horns .. extra noise just what a period Mini needs.

This,

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Is

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Going back on.

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I like to oblige.

D

[Polarsilver]

Thank you & well done .. i cannot resist buying them at autojumbles etc as the Compressor Vanes are often the iffy issue they may work but there is not enough compressed air to drive the Horns 100%..have also found out they are reluctant to give a full blast when they are wired through the Mk1 Horn Push & a relay which is needed.
My solution is a specific Air Horn Switch & will then give a full BLAST
Air Horns are a Big Benefit in todays Traffic when the Morons see a Mini coming & then just pull out direct in front of me..Have some of this Sunshine

[roger mcnab]

hi i had a set of them on my 750 ducati years ago they sure moved the traffic when they got a blast as people here do not see motorbikes and ignore older cars
maybe a set for the laser is an idea should of kept the ducati worth a lot now days
cheers roger mcnab

[Dearg1275]

The underside is now stone chipped and it is back on its dolly wheels.

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I want to get all the extra holes drilled and the wiring loom sorted before colour coat goes on. Trying to sort out where things will go. Some of it is decided.

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Some is provisional (thin aluminium and sticky backed plastic, Blue Peter style).

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It’s all a case of trying not to forget anything. It’s time to sort through my wiring off cuts and see what I can use up.

D

[roger mcnab]

hi david you have put a big effort into this car but it is looking great the wiring is probably the one job that i am not looking to doing but when the time arrives it will be done
tell me what are the holes on the right rear quarter where the filler for the r/h tank would normally go
keep up the good work
cheers roger mcnab

[Dearg1275]

Roger I see no such holes in recent photos. Are you referring to these long gone holes.

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Used to have a battery cut off.

D

[Dearg1275]

Today was all about knowing where everything is for the wiring.

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Now that head was very nice.

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Sadly it suffered a massive crack down the face of the head.

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That’s why I would never invest large amounts of time and money on an AEG 163 head. I have toyed with the idea of having it repaired by one of the experts at that game. It would however need completely reworking afterwards. You shouldn’t get sentimental about bits of metal but I guess that is the whole point of this Mini affliction.

D

[AndyPen]

Such a shame that the head is just an ornament now ;-(

Do you need a transfer gear housing with a rib for that year, or was it plain??

Excellent work - soooo impressive!

[roger mcnab]

david
it is the 3 holes shown in fri 21 feb post jusy wondering what they were for
cheers roger

[Dearg1275]

Such a shame that the head is just an ornament now ;-(

Do you need a transfer gear housing with a rib for that year, or was it plain??

Excellent work - soooo impressive!

Andy, well spotted. No it stays. Given the car’s history, local rallies with last owners, and the addition of a 1275 S engine in its past I have decided to go the “influenced by ST and then current thinking” route. So anything that may have been in the air until the car was moth balled in the mid to late seventies is on the cards. The second owner apparently had ready access to Special tuning kit. The car had certainly been developed by the time it came to me. Twin H4s, 4 synchro CR box, trip odometer speedo. The engine bay was disassembled and some bits were missing but what was there will by and large be going back. I will also keep some of the oddities.

Roger, I can’t work out what holes you mean but this might help.

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D

[GraemeC]

This is fantastic work, just makes me jealous of the skills of other - or even having the balls to have a go!

Think Roger means the battery cut-off holes, just maybe missed your explanation under the pic?

[AndyPen]

Such a shame that the head is just an ornament now ;-(

Do you need a transfer gear housing with a rib for that year, or was it plain??

Andy, well spotted. No it stays. Given the car’s history, local rallies with last owners, and the addition of a 1275 S engine in its past I have decided to go the “influenced by ST and then current thinking” route. So anything that may have been in the air until the car was moth balled in the mid to late seventies is on the cards. The second owner apparently had ready access to Special tuning kit. The car had certainly been developed by the time it came to me. Twin H4s, 4 synchro CR box, trip odometer speedo. The engine bay was disassembled and some bits were missing but what was there will by and large be going back. I will also keep some of the oddities.


D

Ah good for you, I m keeping she my car's oddities too - kind of aiming for the late 60s types of mods though.

Nice to see so much original floor by the way

[roger mcnab]

hi d
on r/h rear quarter panel where the r/h petrol tank filler would go are 3 holes that were in the car at the start just curious what was they for
cheers roger
great job keep it up

[roger mcnab]

d i missed the bit at bottom of pic battery cut off switch
cheers roger

[Dearg1275]

It’s not often you can do some useful mini-ing first thing on a Sunday morning at the breakfast table (except perhaps build a little more gearbox, I got the folding of the arms and pursing of the lips treatment). A kind soul on here lent me a BMC paint card to check the colour match.

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I’m happy with that. It’s a tweaked 2K Citroen colour. Vive la France.

D

[Dearg1275]

Focus on electrics with some panel work thrown in as a side order. I had an 11AC alternator sitting on the shelf gathering dust (as you may have guessed from the previous photos) and it needs a bit more space to get in and out of the engine bay. A job for grinder and hammer.

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After a little bending tapping and the odd bit of welding.

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The bracing strut will go back later once I have decided what size oil cooler to fit.

D

[Dearg1275]

I was trawling through bits that came with the car and came on a scabby clutch master cylinder. Out of curiosity to see what it was like inside after 40 years I stripped it. I was staggered to find it was immaculate inside. This needed to be reused but it looked awful. As there was nothing to loose it had a session in the blast cabinet and then with all the holes bunged and a fistful of new nuts inside to weigh it down it had a bath.

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After passivating it got a rub with some Granger’s hiking boot wax and it turned out not bad.

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I really must have another rummage through those bits I have failed to chuck out over the years. There may be more hidden gems.

D

[Dearg1275]

As I need to mount the servo to completely get an idea of my wiring runs I thought to push my luck and dig out the servo and take a look inside. My experience with old servos is not an entirely happy one, so I was not looking forward to what might lurk inside.

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Not looking great! But, but ,but. How about this?

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Not a scratch or rust blemish on the piston rod whatsoever! I hope this luck holds for the bores.

D

[Dearg1275]

A morning spent running between the blast cabinet (should have bought one years ago) and the electroplating bath and things are looking better. The cylinder bore is fine too and the rubber look good. As I can see nothing wrong with these I’m going to reuse them. I know the factor manual says to replace but what with? I could hunt for new old stock that has sat on a shelf for decades in unknown conditions or hope modern offering are as good as original. These have sat in a clean bore in what was very clean fluid so I will give them a chance.

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D