17 replies to this topic

[dotmatrix]

hello.

we are doing up a mini and it seems to be produced right when they changed between mk3 and mk4 so I would like to know what month and year various mk3-4 differences was made.

 

front subframe four small bolts to two large = october 1976?

centre dash buttons spade connections to round connections?

round "morris minor type" indicator stalk to modern square stalk (and the plastic cowling)?

 

and also what determines if it has one or two speed wiper and if its a dash button or a column stalk?

 

according the the papers the car is a produced in the first half of 1976 and is a austin mini 1000.

 

I hope you can help.

thanks in advance

Martin

[nicklouse]

I think the best answer will be during the year of 76. As both were coming off the lines at the same time. Some one might know when the first MK4 came off the line and someone might know when the last MK3 came off the line.

 

there is often talk of thE MK3.5 which was a mix of both.

[dotmatrix]

ok. thanks for the reply.
so it seems this could be a mixed car then.

but all of these things with the stalks and buttons was changed at the same time with the change from mk3 to mk4?

I think the best answer will be during the year of 76. As both were coming off the lines at the same time. Some one might know when the first MK4 came off the line and someone might know when the last MK3 came off the line.

there is often talk of thE MK3.5 which was a mix of both.

[Lplus]

According to a Mini World special edition from April 2000, the single bolt front subframe started May 76, together with twin stalk controls and new ignition lock.  Various other small details are mentioned.  Apparently this was then known as the Mk 4.

[dotmatrix]

does it say if all the changes came at once at the same time?

According to a Mini World special edition from April 2000, the single bolt front subframe started May 76, together with twin stalk controls and new ignition lock. Various other small details are mentioned. Apparently this was then known as the Mk 4.

[imack]

Some of the major Mk3, 3.5 & 4 differences from memory

Mk3 69-72: round tunnel/remote gear shift, solid mounted twin bolt front subframe, oval rota dip hole in rear bulkhead, ashtray brackets in rear bins, single stalk indicator switch, toggle switches for early cars, or 2 big rocker switches for later ones, dash or column ign switch, manual washer pump, single circuit brakes and small square pedals, rubber drive shaft couplings for manual gearbox

Mk3.5 72-76: Square tunnel, rod change, solid sub mounts and twin bolt, no rota dip rear bulkhead hole or Ash trays, single indicator stalk, 2 big rocker switches, manual washer pump, single circuit brakes and small square pedals. rubber driveshaft couplings for early mk3.5, pot joints for most

Mk4 76: square tunnel, rod change, rubber mounted single bolt front subframe, no rotodip hole, no rear bin ashtrays, twin column stalks, small rocker switches, electric washer pump, dual circuit brakes, large coffin shaped pedals. pot joints.

[Itsaminithing]

....we are doing up a mini and it seems to be produced right when they changed between mk3 and mk4 so I would like to know what month and year various mk3-4 differences was made....

It can depend in which country your Mini was made & which model it is.

All the Mk3 - Mk4 changes didn't all happen on one day, there was a continuous program of changes & there are some early examples of Mk4s fitted with some Mk3 parts (in the same way that very early Mk3s were sometimes fitted with Mk2 parts).

 

To make things easy....

 -IF it has a twin bolt subframe then it's a late Mk3 (sometimes known as a Mk3.5), IF it has a single bolt (rubber mounted) subframe then it's a Mk4.

[dotmatrix]

....we are doing up a mini and it seems to be produced right when they changed between mk3 and mk4 so I would like to know what month and year various mk3-4 differences was made....

It can depend in which country your Mini was made & which model it is.
All the Mk3 - Mk4 changes didn't all happen on one day, there was a continuous program of changes & there are some early examples of Mk4s fitted with some Mk3 parts (in the same way that very early Mk3s were sometimes fitted with Mk2 parts).

To make things easy....
-IF it has a twin bolt subframe then it's a late Mk3 (sometimes known as a Mk3.5), IF it has a single bolt (rubber mounted) subframe then it's a Mk4.

its a mess with this car and im trying to put it right. its definately a mk3 or 3.5 car as it has a 4 bolt subframe, but it was mated with a 77 clubman at some point so it has mk4 stalks and round pin buttons and the wrong speedo.

[Itsaminithing]

...."it was mated with a 77 clubman at some point so it has mk4 stalks and round pin buttons and the wrong speedo".... Urgh! what a horrible thought.

 

Is it a UK built Mk3 850 or 1000? That would make it easier to tell you what should be fitted.

Here's a good example of one that hasn't had bits changed (just a shame it has a poo coloured interior!)

https://www.swva.co....0/08/Mini-3.jpg

 

 

 

[dotmatrix]

its a uk built 1000 and its built before july 76 as that is the danish registration date. i dont know the build date and it could have been stod for a while before being sold

...."it was mated with a 77 clubman at some point so it has mk4 stalks and round pin buttons and the wrong speedo".... Urgh! what a horrible thought.

Is it a UK built Mk3 850 or 1000? That would make it easier to tell you what should be fitted.
Here's a good example of one that hasn't had bits changed (just a shame it has a poo coloured interior!)
https://www.swva.co....0/08/Mini-3.jpg

Edited by dotmatrix, 05 November 2022 - 11:15 AM.

[Lplus]

does it say if all the changes came at once at the same time?
 

According to a Mini World special edition from April 2000, the single bolt front subframe started May 76, together with twin stalk controls and new ignition lock. Various other small details are mentioned. Apparently this was then known as the Mk 4.

 

It just says "May 76" for all the changes it lists.

[mab01uk]

Some change points from 'The Complete Mini' by Chris Rees:-

 

October 1970 to Jan 1971 - Steering lock introduced across range.

1971 - Radiator cowl deleted.

Dec 1972 - Alternator standard.

Pre 1973ish.. rear seat bulkhead, cars should have the big 'rotodip' hole.

April 1973 - inboard driveshaft pot joints, rod gearchange with larger front floor tunnel.

June 1973 - improved door check pivot brackets.

Feb 1974 - inertia seat belts standard.

May 1974 - SU HS4 carb (850)

June 1974 - HRW standard and twin silencer exhaust.

Pre 1975 cars have shallow dip in front bulkhead cross-member to clear carb, later dip is deeper to clear later type of SU carbs.

October 1975 - Anti-tip seat catches, seat belts mounted in rear pockets. Cars made prior to 1975ish.. had welded-in ashtray holders.

May 1976 - Twin column stalks, new rocker switches,hazard lights standard, larger pedals from Allegro, moulded carpets, steering lock from BL Princess, softer rubber cones, new subframe mounts 1976 onwards (Mk4) cars front subframe have one single big bolt with a rubber mount instead of twin fixing bolts. 7.5 gallon tank

July 1977 -  Padded steering wheel and handbrake grip from Austin Allegro

May 1980 - 'Silent Mini' sound proofing added, perforated headlining.
 

Edited by mab01uk, 05 November 2022 - 12:49 PM.

[mab01uk]

This is a useful thread linked below.

 

How To Spot A Mk3 (Oct '69- '76) Mini Saloon Shell:-

https://www.theminif...i-saloon-shell/

Edited by mab01uk, 05 November 2022 - 12:31 PM.

[Ethel]

The major revisions are usually to meet new regulations, so there should be a cut off date.

 

Dual circuit brakes (with failure warning light), hazards, steering locks, seat belts as standard fitment (so no ashtrays in the bins) all fit that.

[Ethel]

The major revisions are usually to meet new regulations, so there should be a cut off date.

 

Dual circuit brakes (with failure warning light), hazards, steering locks, seat belts as standard fitment (so no ashtrays in the bins) all fit that.

 

 

...I don't recall moulded carpets in the 70's, mouldy ones were pretty standard though