46 replies to this topic

[Itsaminithing]

Oh Yuk! it looks 'orrible

 

OK you know i'm only joking . I'm guessing from the remote gear lever it's was made as a 1000cc. Cream-ish paint job & AA badge are to make it look more '60's.

Not keen on the 'Mini Special' boot badge, chrome number plate light & associated 'pretty it up' junk -it's an ORIGINAL Mk3 & that should make it beautiful enough for anyone.

Is it going to be a daily driver or a weekend plaything?

[Laurie]

It's my new toy. It requires enough work to keep me busy for some time, I'll be restoring it rather than anything else.
The eyelids will most probably be going

What's the colour though? Or should it be glacier white

Edited by Laurie, 19 July 2017 - 09:03 AM.

[Itsaminithing]

Only white i could find listed for a '71 was Glacier White (though the best site for Mini colours by Year is no longer available). On my '71 i found the original paint under the underseal inside the wheel-arch, it was originally Black Tulip (aubergine!) as used on the 1275GT. From what i can gather it was only available on a round front by 'special order'.

Which white you choose is up to you- i like to keep the look of the MK3 but i'm not an originality freak.... my Tundra Green '75 has lots of mods (Mk5 electrics, alternator etc. Mk3 steering shroud but modified to accept the MPI wiper/indicator stalks, & the nice MK3 rocker switches are modified with the later lit coloured plastic inserts).

[Laurie]

I've asked at the local car paint mixers and they can produce glacier whitefrom their code despite me not knowing what the shade / colour even is! everything is going to need repainting after repair anyway due to odd small pockets of rust getting through. I'd ideally like to stay as original as possible, but the heater is staying as are the seatbelts lol.
Going is the unnecessary chrome, eyelids, jack on the roof and red carpet (they've done it inside the boot as well).
Question is can chrome be rubbed back and repainted? Or is it a call for a new part? Re chrome numberplate light

Edited by Laurie, 19 July 2017 - 10:23 AM.

[Itsaminithing]

Question is can chrome be rubbed back and repainted? Or is it a call for a new part? Re chrome numberplate light:

 

It's a nightmare stripping chrome yourself, far easier to get 2nd hand items to paint.

Re chroming is expensive, & the quality can be variable! avoid if possible... & numberplate light should be body coloured.

The 60's/70's chrome seems better/thicker than repro parts so if you can buy 'new old stock' items (things like the indicator surrounds used to be chrome plated brass, later ones are made of monkey metal + few microns of shiny!).

[midridge2]

Have you looked on the car as there should be a plate with the paint code on?

[Laurie]

Have you looked on the car as there should be a plate with the paint code on?

Afaik and someone WILL correct me if I'm wrong, early cars only had plates with the VIN number on. Rover VIN plates had more information due in part to being near on twice the size.

[Laurie]

Hang on, what mk is my Mini? I've just done a search of the vin plate (bmc), and it says it's a mk2
Source
http://www.retromini...7efd7bd0799d3b8

[Itsaminithing]

Hang on, what mk is my Mini? I've just done a search of the vin plate (bmc), and it says it's a mk2
Source
http://www.retromini...7efd7bd0799d3b8

.... & the cheque is in the post, & the government is here to help you!

I've always found the Somerford site useful for ACCURATE information.

https://www.somerfordmini.co.uk/

Edited by Itsaminithing, 20 July 2017 - 07:31 AM.

[Simont]

Hang on, what mk is my Mini? I've just done a search of the vin plate (bmc), and it says it's a mk2
Source
http://www.retromini...7efd7bd0799d3b8

 

It is a mk3, It's identical to mine, just mine is citron, I have a mk3 and I know the owners of my car since it was new,

everything looks legitimate, just got a few things for example, the numberplate light housing that has been changed,
 

[Itsaminithing]

....It's identical to mine....

Oh no it's not!       (is it panto season again ??)

Yours is identical to my Tundra Green '75 Mk3 .... well apart from the colour & the fact that yours is in far better condition.

Lauries is a 1971 there were quite a few differences on the early Mk3- round tunnel floorpan, remote type gearbox & access panel on the rear seat back etc.

 

 

[Itsaminithing]

Laurie: Any updates?

ie have you grabbed a rag & white spirit, stuck your head up your rear wheel-arch, & found some original paint?

Edited by Itsaminithing, 21 July 2017 - 09:34 PM.

[Laurie]

Not yet Hun sorry, but I went all over it when I took the pictures. What hasn't been slapped in OEW paint has been slapped in underseal- I'm dithering whether it stays or goes to be honest

Edit I mean the underseal

Edited by Laurie, 22 July 2017 - 03:26 PM.

[Laurie]

Just as another quick question (apart from whether to keep underseal paint or not), I'm looking at making sure the leaded /unleaded operation has already been done on the engine years ago, if not and it needs doing how much am I looking at? Car doesn't run lumpy or complains or anything so I assume it's safe to say it's been done? Or is it?

Edited by Laurie, 22 July 2017 - 07:58 PM.

[Itsaminithing]

Do you have a receipt for an unleaded conversion? If not presume it hasn't been done. Running on unleaded fuel will be fine for thousands of miles.... & then it will go pear shaped IF it hasn't been converted! Three options: 1. Get your head converted or buy an exchange head. http://www.jonspeedr...d=15206&cID=951 2. Buy a 2nd hand unleaded cylinder head (CAM4180 1989 on). Bit risky, could need skimming, could need new valves & valve guides. 3. If it's only going to be used at weekends add a cap-full of fuel additive every time you fill up- http://www.minispare...l additive.aspx Cheapest option, but opinions vary as to the effectiveness of fuel additives.

By the way i object to being called 'Hun'. My family is from Canterbury so i'm not a Hun i'm a Jute https://en.wikipedia..._jute_575ad.jpg

Edited by Itsaminithing, 24 July 2017 - 09:39 AM.