Mini City 1293

[casbar]

Just bought my 17 year old son an 89 Mayfair 998. Its in really good nick, doesn't look as nice as yours though

Got him insurance, from L&V for £799.00 only mod to car though are alloys.

The problem is, I've had 3 minis over the years, including a Cooper, so I'm finding it difficult not to start fidling with the engine, new exhaust etc, I'd better wait until he passes his test

[Dino42]

casbar said:

so I'm finding it difficult not to start fidling with the engine, new exhaust etc,

Be careful, my son was with Liverpool Victoria, they wouldn't accept any mods that increased the power AT ALL, not even a replacement exhaust.
I tried arguing that you couldn't get the original parts anymore and I was just replacing with the nearest available new, but they wouldn't accept it.
It worked out fine tho'..As soon as he passed his test we went to Footman James who were much more helpful ..and.. cheaper!
LV gave us a full refund of the months we hadn't used as well which was nice of them.

Edited by Dino42 on Friday 8th December 11:56

Edited by Dino42 on Friday 8th December 11:57

[casbar]

L&V were by far the cheapest I tried. Direct Line, wouldn't entertain him, because you have to be 25 to have alloy wheels

Didn't try Footman James, will try them next year, and when he has passed his test

[Dino42]

casbar said:

Didn't try Footman James, will try them next year, and when he has passed his test

Yes, you need a full licence, but certainly worth a try

[mini_lund]

Hello all It's been a while, nearly forgot about the forum! But dont worry I'm still here

To be honest, no progress has been made since the last post really, its just sitting at the top of the drive deteriorating Bullet mirrors starting to corrode and pit, losing shine (crap cheap metal ) Aston filler cap doing the same, went round it with some WD40 spraying it all up... bits of rust are coming through on the boot floor, nothing serious at all and its fully water tight with new rubbers so should be okay... So all in all not too brilliant really, waiting for weather to get better so ore progres can be made... she's reluctant to start too, and not as shiney as she desperately needs a wash, battery going flat from trying to start her, need to put some more petrol in thats all! lol Just finished AS Exams so might find some more time on my hands but I've started more Units at 6th form now. Oh well! I've put a progress video on youtube now and this is the link:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO0uZIzYUP4




And all that were following this topic...It's time to get back into it! May need some advice soon so will hopefully be on here more often and start making some progress!

Thanks...


Tom

[tomkidd]

Minis are like pets, neglect them and they'll bight you on the arse

[guru_1071]

tomkidd said:

Minis are like pets, neglect them and they'll bight you on the arse

'thrash them and they will blow up?'

[NDT]

Dino42 said:

casbar said:

so I'm finding it difficult not to start fidling with the engine, new exhaust etc,

Be careful, my son was with Liverpool Victoria, they wouldn't accept any mods that increased the power AT ALL, not even a replacement exhaust.
I tried arguing that you couldn't get the original parts anymore and I was just replacing with the nearest available new, but they wouldn't accept it.
It worked out fine tho'..As soon as he passed his test we went to Footman James who were much more helpful ..and.. cheaper!
LV gave us a full refund of the months we hadn't used as well which was nice of them.

Edited by Dino42 on Friday 8th December 11:56

Edited by Dino42 on Friday 8th December 11:57

funny, I had an Elise insured with LV and they said they would accept any mod, even an engine swap!

[Dino42]

Odd, but I guess it depends on which policy you've got with them, he was 17 and only just passed his test.
They were adamant tho'and the guy did go off and check.

[kirsty5150]

I've never had a problem insuring any of my mini's, and I've only had a standard one before about a week! Just impossible to resist tuning it! Mine's not been on the road recently either, but it does have 150 bhp!

Try flux or some of the other tuning specialists, they may be better/more helpful.

Edited by kirsty5150 on Wednesday 17th January 21:07

[xxplod]

tomkidd said:

Minis are like pets, neglect them and they'll bight you on the arse

How true that is! In the 14 years I've owned them I totally agree with that. I hardly used mine for a year as I was using my Elise for every day commuting. It took a mega service, various bits of work and regular use to get her back on song.

[mini_lund]

The two beasts!

Edited by mini_lund on Monday 5th February 20:39

[mini_lund]

SNOW!

New Cooper seats, excellent condition, no sagging or anything just great! £100 FULL INTERIOR, the lott! bargain ;D





Same pattern as Checkmate seats I guess?

[mini_lund]

[love machine]

I've got a set of the most expensive mini spares GP 5 arches which I'm never going to use if you're interested in making an offer

[mini_lund]

love machine said:

I've got a set of the most expensive mini spares GP 5 arches which I'm never going to use if you're interested in making an offer

Friend came round with some Group 2 wide arches today...tried them against the bodywork...far too wide, so I'm getting group 2 standard arches witjh the chrome strip down the side

Thanks for your offer tho

[love machine]

mini_lund said:

love machine said:

I've got a set of the most expensive mini spares GP 5 arches which I'm never going to use if you're interested in making an offer

Friend came round with some Group 2 wide arches today...tried them against the bodywork...far too wide, so I'm getting group 2 standard arches witjh the chrome strip down the side

Thanks for your offer tho

I had a set of 6" JA Pearce wheels which were rather like wellers offset wise, coupled with S Brakes, they were more out than in. When I realised I had to cut the bodywork, I didn't bother. The wheels burned in a shed fire and the arches have been just sat there. I quite liked the idea of using rivnuts to fix them, that way you could remove them, fit narrow wheels, etc, etc, I don't like the permanence of arches but rivnuts would be acceptable. I've come to the conclusion that going with big power it's best to use a sensible offset to avoid nasty steering The JAP's would have been awful to drive on a real road surface.

[mini_lund]

Hello, I have to remind myself that I am still part of this forum! Keep forgetting to update:

I hope to spend more time here!

Anyway, more progress has been made on the Mini! Taken of the subframe and I am concentrating on the rear underside of the vehicle, under the rear wheel arches, the heal, the underside, rear valance, all subframe components etc etc. The rear brakes are being tidied, got 2 good condition back plates, for a fiver cant go wrong

Heres the flock of pics!

Removing the subframe:

























Sanding down:



















Subframe as it came out!



One of the backplates:



Also, bought the rest of that cooper/checkmate interior:







And the small bore:





Tom

[alfa-chris]

love your car!!

especially these wheels....do they fit on a 1996 spi??

[mini_lund]

alfa-chris said:

love your car!!

especially these wheels....do they fit on a 1996 spi??

Cheers ;D Yes they should (drums or discs?), however I dont think they produce these wheels anymore, I could be wrong tho!