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My ownership since Sept 2014 and my first car after learning to drive a little late - it's expensive right? Due to the time I've had it I'm afraid this is going to be a bit of a list heavy post. I've done around 40,000 miles in it so far, although who really knows with the old speedos, different tyres and swapping diffs? This thing has moved me from 'down south' to Scotland and back again and taken us on holidays including the "Minors on Tour" to the south of France and back (from Dundee). It has been a commuter, it has been scratched, polished, welded up, sworn at and had the front bonnet catch fail at 60mph 11pm on Christmas Eve. It has also taught me everything I know about cars (other than a quick dalliance with a Rover 75 CDTi and its unreliable cooling fan & controller). Going from zero - breaking down in a car-park due to closed points - to engine rebuilds and all the rest these days. In its current state: - Negative earth & alternator conversion.
1275 head swap and HiF38, until it leaked/burnt oil as fast as petrol, then...- DIY engine rebuild - overbored 60 thou, high lift torquey cam, flowed A+ head, Minisport rockers, twin carbs, PCV system, LCB & 1.5" Maniflow pipes.
- Complete new loom.
- Ford Type 9 5-speed conversion with concentric hydraulic lifter & stronger Ford clutch cover.
- Swapped from 4.22 to 3.7 and then to 3.9 diffs.
- Bigger Wolseley front drums & rear brake overhaul (rears failed an MOT).
- Wider van-spec steel wheels.
- Poly bushes all round, new leaf springs, recon rear dampers (yet they still leak), front ARB.
- Soundproofing, carpets, late MG Midget leather seats.
- Hidden bluetooth amp, retro parcel shelf speakers, gauges.
- New bonnet after "the Christmas incident".
- New front inner wing, and now both front wings and bumper. I think living on the Scottish coast did some damage.
- All LEDs except for that alternator warning light!
Moving Arriving Commuting Topping Up Starter Motor Jammed? Guess the Castle Scotland North-East Morris Meet Oops Piece of Mind Tired Engine Out Rebuild Begins Tidying It's in! Midget Seat Fitting Finished Driving Again Details Off to France Arrived in France Driving back through France Did a Wedding! 2018 Snow Took a wing off and there were no holes?! ... and the saga continues. |
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Last Edit: Jan 14, 2023 21:00:14 GMT by halkyon
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looks like a cracking , usable , minor. very nice.
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'80 s1 924 turbo..hibernating
'80 golf gli cabriolet...doing impression of a skip
'97 pug 106 commuter...continuing cheapness making me smile!
firm believer in the k.i.s.s and f.i.s.h principles.
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That is bloody lovely . Love the colour .
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Apr 28, 2019 21:09:02 GMT
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Brillant. Love this. Nice to see a Minor with some period modifications and still retaining drum brakes. Saw a couple of Travelers the the day with fat van wheels which looked really good. In fact I know a guy with an A35 modified very similer to your Minor.
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rickygolf83
Scotland
Mk2 Golf 8v & 16v, VR6, Nova Antibes, Mk4 1.8t & mk4 Gt Tdi 130
Posts: 560 
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Lovely! Kudos to you for using it all year round, i get worried if get caught out in shower in any of mine that are pre 1990, let alone out in the snow!
How is she protected underneath?
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Apr 30, 2019 12:43:19 GMT
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Lovely! Kudos to you for using it all year round, i get worried if get caught out in shower in any of mine that are pre 1990, let alone out in the snow! How is she protected underneath? Thanks! The underside is protected by flaking underseal and surface rust. Seriously though - I rinse any grit or salt off the underside in the winter and keep it in a garage or under a lean-to when not in use. Plus I put the money I save on road tax and insurance (which are £0 and ~£100 respecitively) into doing a panel repair or replacement every year or so, and a little welding every couple of years. With a daily I think you have to "let go" a little and embrace the maintenance and accumulation of new "patina". Thankfully everything for a Minor is cheap and I can do it myself, other than the painting, I really don't have the patience for it and mess it up every time. |
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Last Edit: Apr 30, 2019 12:44:18 GMT by halkyon
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Apr 30, 2019 17:52:07 GMT
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Great to see a Minor being used daily! Looks good, like the color
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Last Edit: Apr 30, 2019 17:52:29 GMT by petervdv
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Apr 30, 2019 20:19:20 GMT
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My mate who I got my Minor off has five and an Austin 10. His everyday car is a Trafalgar blue 69 two door. His claim to fame is he has never worked on a car with disc brakes!!
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Popped over (okay drove for 1hr 30m each way) to Southam Mini & Metro Centre today. Turns out I had the timing pretty far out (under-advanced) and my needle choice was too rich. I think he said 52hp @ 4500rpm at the wheels with air-boxes on, a couple more with them off. I think that makes my build somewhere in the region of 30-35% pokier than a bone stock 1098, at 700rpm less.
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Last Edit: May 1, 2019 17:45:56 GMT by halkyon
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keyring
Part of things
Posts: 913
Club RR Member Number: 47
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What an awesome daily! Hats off to you for using it all year round, I bet it gets attention daily!
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You can’t beat a minor for Britishness
Just lovely old motors
I’d love one , and that colour blue is glorious
I had a modded one back in the mid 80s
Just loved that car
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Last Edit: May 4, 2019 6:43:14 GMT by Mercdan68
Fraud owners club member
2003 W211 Mercedes E class
1989 Sierra sapphire
1998 ex bt fiesta van
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brachunky
Scotland
Posts: 1,339
Club RR Member Number: 72
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Made my morning reading this wee post! Its fantastic to see her on the road everyday enjoying her pleasures and foibles so well done man!
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rickygolf83
Scotland
Mk2 Golf 8v & 16v, VR6, Nova Antibes, Mk4 1.8t & mk4 Gt Tdi 130
Posts: 560
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Lovely! Kudos to you for using it all year round, i get worried if get caught out in shower in any of mine that are pre 1990, let alone out in the snow! How is she protected underneath? Thanks! The underside is protected by flaking underseal and surface rust. Seriously though - I rinse any grit or salt off the underside in the winter and keep it in a garage or under a lean-to when not in use. Plus I put the money I save on road tax and insurance (which are £0 and ~£100 respecitively) into doing a panel repair or replacement every year or so, and a little welding every couple of years. With a daily I think you have to "let go" a little and embrace the maintenance and accumulation of new "patina". Thankfully everything for a Minor is cheap and I can do it myself, other than the painting, I really don't have the patience for it and mess it up every time. Good logic, will be keeping my eye out for a usable 40year + to run as a daily at somepoint and save myself some ££! not much left that age up here though! Barely see anything from 1995 onwards lol |
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Nice looking car and enjoyed reading your thread,
Please keep the updates coming,
Nigel
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BMW E39 525i Sport
BMW E46 320d Sport Touring (now sold on.)
BMW E30 325 Touring (now sold on.)
BMW E30 320 Cabriolet (Project car - currently for sale.)
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Thanks! The underside is protected by flaking underseal and surface rust. Seriously though - I rinse any grit or salt off the underside in the winter and keep it in a garage or under a lean-to when not in use. Plus I put the money I save on road tax and insurance (which are £0 and ~£100 respecitively) into doing a panel repair or replacement every year or so, and a little welding every couple of years. With a daily I think you have to "let go" a little and embrace the maintenance and accumulation of new "patina". Thankfully everything for a Minor is cheap and I can do it myself, other than the painting, I really don't have the patience for it and mess it up every time. Good logic, will be keeping my eye out for a usable 40year + to run as a daily at somepoint and save myself some ££! not much left that age up here though! Barely see anything from 1995 onwards lol It did rust a bit faster when I lived in Dundee and then on the north coast of Fife but it is also where I found the best help. There are some twins that run a restro/repair shop just outside of Tayport that work damn fast, to an excellent level, and were reasonable. The holy trinity! |
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Awesome! Love that you've daily'd this over 40k miles. Looks easy and so idyllic in pictures but I'm sure it's been a hard slog at times.
Think I managed my first 5 years of driving in a classic Mini and Vauxhall Viva before getting a 90s modern classic when child #1 was due. The classics came off the road for 'some maintenance' and haven't gone back on yet. Miss driving things so full of character as this.
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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My plan is to run a Volvo 145 when kids and settling down a bit more become a reality!
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What a nice Moggy you have there. really good to see you using it properly, for more than parking in showfields (not that there's anything wrong with that I must say, as someone who likes car shows)
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Last Edit: May 13, 2019 7:24:34 GMT by halkyon
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Jan 15, 2020 21:33:22 GMT
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Ks - from the Scottish Borders originally - Roxburghshire. I don't suppose you know the supplying dealer? Could have been Croall-Bryson in Hawick - I think they were dealers of Morris etc at the time. Maybe!
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Last Edit: Jan 15, 2020 21:38:57 GMT by OAY842F
1968 Mini MkII, 1968 VW T1, 1967 VW T1, 1974 VW T1, 1974 VW T1 1303, 1975 Mini 1000 auto, 1979 Chevette, 1981 Cortina, 1978 Mini 1000 1981 Mini City, 1981 Mini van, 1974 Mini Clubman, 1982 Metro City, 1987 Escort, 1989 Lancia Y10, 1989 Cavalier, 1990 Sierra, 1990 Renault 19, 1993 Nova, 1990 Citroen BX, 1994 Ford Scorpio, 1990 Renault Clio, 2004 Citroen C3, 2006 Citroen C2, 2004 Citroen C4, 2013 Citroen DS5. 2017 DS3 130 Plenty of other scrappers!
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