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There was a recent discussion on the U.S. Mini Mania Forum about remote shift housing differences when this quote from the Somerford site was posted and caused most of us to start scratching our heads. Now, I've been kicking around Minis for a lot of years and still get surprised now and then, but this is one I'd like to have some proof before accepting. I've e'd Somerford for confirmation and should hear back any time now.

"The 22A250 housing listed here attaches directly to the gearbox via four screws from underneath. The earliest 997cc Coopers however had a housing which attached from the sides, in a similar fashion to the Austin/Morris 1100 saloon of the period, but without the rubber 'sandwich' mounting used on those cars. This side-attached remote housing is not referred to in any of the factory parts catalogues, but - guess what - we have some still in stock at time of writing. Please phone for details."

Comments? Photographic confirmation would be welcomed.

wouldnt a measurement decide if this was true as the 1100 remote is longer than the mini one?

I have never heard of this before, & question why this odd part had never been put ion a parts list, surely revision 1 would show it.

However, having looked at this image closely, it does look a little odd. Its a press launch photo of a 997 Cooper engine, so as early as you can get.

Since the Cooper predated the ADO16 by at least 12 months, why would they use the rubber sandwich remote. Methinks someone has fitted an 1100 box and then said that's the way they came.

I had a November 61 , 997 cooper that had the original engine/box and that had the normal mini type gearbox

Mark, That's the early photo I've seen, too, but I dont have access to a good enough copy to make out what is going on. It looks like a Mini remote except for a lower hole on the side, and there seems to be a long stud with a nut on it making the actual connection. Can you tell more from your copy?

Ivor, It is possible that the pre-production Cooper was originaly set up to run a sandwich-type mount, but I tend to agree and lean towards the 1100 fitted to 997 Coopers as a way to get more power.

I received a very nice message back from Karen at Somerford. Here's their explanation:

"...to get to answer your question regarding the what led us to believe that the set-up was used. It’s very simple really, we do have a workshop here with many, many years experience between the various guys – and they have had experience of it!"

I'm certainly not going to dismiss their claim of remembering the cars being that way (I've never worked on an original, early '61 Cooper), but until I can see some photographic evidence, I'll remain skeptical.

I'll ask Trevor he's got a September 61 997.

Any updates on this one? "I gots to know!" (Extra points for knowing the film the quote is from.)

Anyone with a good copy of the photo Mark posted so it can be enlarged at the remote housing to diff. housing area so we can get a better look at it?

HA....was on TV just the other night. " Dirty Harry "

Turns out he was out of bullets.

The same picture is printed on page 84 of Pressnell's "Mini: The definitive History". Its much clearer but still hard to make out. Its not the same as an 1100 one with a sandwich plate, though, it clearly shows a bolt running through the extension into the gearbox case.

Tim

guru_1071 wrote:wouldnt a measurement decide if this was true as the 1100 remote is longer than the mini one?

My Dad remembers checking this on his Dad's Brand New 1100 in the early 60s and finding that they were exactly the same length!

He thengot hold of a 1100 unit and gearchage and dropped it in his Mini for the "Cooper Effect".

ceejam wrote:

guru_1071 wrote:wouldnt a measurement decide if this was true as the 1100 remote is longer than the mini one?

My Dad remembers checking this on his Dad's Brand New 1100 in the early 60s and finding that they were exactly the same length!

He thengot hold of a 1100 unit and gearchage and dropped it in his Mini for the "Cooper Effect".

Fits straight in, just change the rear rubber mount. The sandwich can hit some three branch exhausts