Like a child with a new toy
Discussion
All week I've been like a kid waiting for Christmas! Today she arrived:- my new toy / project 
Peggie: A 1968 Morris Mini Cooper 998, 66k, 2 owners and off the road since 1978!
The body really is as solid as the pictures look, she needs a little underneath but overall the 31 years is a clean dry garage / lockup has done the trick.
The interior is complete if a little mouse nibbled
The engine looks lovely although until shes out and open I won't know for sure what her heart really is? :-
On the origonal registration V10 she is listed as a 997, which it shouldn't be - and the engine number (9FD SA H) confirms that she is not a 997.
But the engine number (9FD SA H 33855) does suggest that she is actually a 1070cc? (according to numerous online and book references) and on closer inspection her engine is a closed circuit breather with the oil light switch in the filter housing.
Strangly though the first registration document (V.E.60 with a date stamp of July 29 1968, date of first reg 01.08.68) displays the same engine number?
SO, the question is: would this have been build at Longbridge as a Mini Cooper 1000 with a 1070cc engine? was it an optional extra?
I'm happy either way but the historian in me likes to find these little things out
Peggie: A 1968 Morris Mini Cooper 998, 66k, 2 owners and off the road since 1978!
The body really is as solid as the pictures look, she needs a little underneath but overall the 31 years is a clean dry garage / lockup has done the trick.
The interior is complete if a little mouse nibbled
The engine looks lovely although until shes out and open I won't know for sure what her heart really is? :-
On the origonal registration V10 she is listed as a 997, which it shouldn't be - and the engine number (9FD SA H) confirms that she is not a 997.
But the engine number (9FD SA H 33855) does suggest that she is actually a 1070cc? (according to numerous online and book references) and on closer inspection her engine is a closed circuit breather with the oil light switch in the filter housing.
Strangly though the first registration document (V.E.60 with a date stamp of July 29 1968, date of first reg 01.08.68) displays the same engine number?
SO, the question is: would this have been build at Longbridge as a Mini Cooper 1000 with a 1070cc engine? was it an optional extra?
I'm happy either way but the historian in me likes to find these little things out
Edited by Ben Magoo on Thursday 3rd February 22:10
It can only be 1071 if it's got an 11-stud head. Check that it has a 12G295 head casting number, which was the head fitted to only the Cooper 998, amnd a lovely head it is too. Looks like a 998 to me.
Of course, if you take the 998 block out to +0.080" it'll be a 1061 cc.
Looks a great project. Where did you find it?
Of course, if you take the 998 block out to +0.080" it'll be a 1061 cc.
Looks a great project. Where did you find it?
nice find, i got a 1969 mk2 that been stored in a garage since 1977 just the other week!
i doubt its a 1071 engine, its got a small bore head fitted. (but the engine number is odd as it fits in with the 1071 sequence)
though dont forget, but the time your car was built the 1071 was nearly four years out of date! - i guess its a typo at the factory
oddly, its also got a flat topped early mk1 radiator as well.
i doubt its a 1071 engine, its got a small bore head fitted. (but the engine number is odd as it fits in with the 1071 sequence)
though dont forget, but the time your car was built the 1071 was nearly four years out of date! - i guess its a typo at the factory
oddly, its also got a flat topped early mk1 radiator as well.
Edited by guru_1071 on Sunday 24th May 20:26
Edited by guru_1071 on Sunday 24th May 20:27
Cooperman said:
It can only be 1071 if it's got an 11-stud head. Check that it has a 12G295 head casting number, which was the head fitted to only the Cooper 998, amnd a lovely head it is too. Looks like a 998 to me.
Of course, if you take the 998 block out to +0.080" it'll be a 1061 cc.
I've just had here out in the day light again looking at bits etc, it is a 12G295 - 9 stud, which is good as it means that the promise of an "unmolested" 66k Cooper looks to be true Of course, if you take the 998 block out to +0.080" it'll be a 1061 cc.
The more I look the more I just want to get started
but I have some DIY promises and an Allegro MOT to see out first - all in good time (he says now lol)Cooperman said:
Looks a great project. Where did you find it?
I certainly hope so, London - Brighton 2010 is the target , a good work mate told me Friday before last that his mate had offered him this 68 cooper for £500, he weren't interested but knew I would be. Went to see it Monday being told on the way "I aint gonna lie - the bodies rough, but she's complete" what he meant was the paint needs stripping After a good look round, she really is as good as she looks and the notes were exchanged!
I had it in my head to do a quick turn round and flog it on, but I've fallen for her and want to play for keeps with a veiw to re-use as much as possible.
what a nice unmolested car nice to see a unspoiled Cooper with its BODY plate intact on the slam panel, from the pics it looks like you can keep it in a good original condition, with some polish/cleaning etc, (thats what I would do) as there is so many restored cars, and so few original. its so rare to see cars like this. At Copenhagen Classic Autojumble there was only 1 unrestored Cooper, all others were restored, but a few were matching numbers, and all were sitting on their original body, as its illigal to change the body on a car in Denmark(well you can but then you would have to pay tax and wat again) and it would not be recognized as a genuine car anymore, unless you had such extreme luck to find a Cooper body.
nice to see a unspoiled Cooper with its BODY plate intact on the slam panel, from the pics it looks like you can keep it in a good original condition, with some polish/cleaning etc, (thats what I would do) as there is so many restored cars, and so few original. its so rare to see cars like this. At Copenhagen Classic Autojumble there was only 1 unrestored Cooper, all others were restored, but a few were matching numbers, and all were sitting on their original body, as its illigal to change the body on a car in Denmark(well you can but then you would have to pay tax and wat again) and it would not be recognized as a genuine car anymore, unless you had such extreme luck to find a Cooper body. Edited by JC T ONE on Monday 25th May 05:27
Wow finding this thread again made me realise just how long its been!
I've been nibbling away at her for a little while and pulled the rear subframe off a few weeks ago to find the boot floor is fairly rotten but nothing terminal
Last Wednesday I got an entire 7 hours to myself!!! the girls were at nursery and wifey was "working" so that left me at home for the whole day!!! (sorry to sound excited by that but its the first one in 2 years lol)
Anyway, turns out she still fits in the garage in three (+ many little bits, bagged and tagged)
The only real problem is that everytime I play with her I fall deeper in love!
The rad looks lovely and has a "Coventry Radiator and Pressworks Ltd" plate on top with a "648" tag on the side - looking at it, there are three rows of water vains and the brass top should polish up nicely
-
The brother of the previous owner (deceased some time) told me that he was a stainless steel fabricator by trade and had made some bits for it during its restoration in the late 70's?
Here are some other quick snaps just for fun
The manifold only weighs 2.25kg's which seems light to me?
Mmmmm green
New year, new push! Gonna push real hard to get her done for May (everything crossed!)
I've been nibbling away at her for a little while and pulled the rear subframe off a few weeks ago to find the boot floor is fairly rotten but nothing terminal
Last Wednesday I got an entire 7 hours to myself!!! the girls were at nursery and wifey was "working" so that left me at home for the whole day!!! (sorry to sound excited by that but its the first one in 2 years lol)
Anyway, turns out she still fits in the garage in three (+ many little bits, bagged and tagged)
The only real problem is that everytime I play with her I fall deeper in love!
The rad looks lovely and has a "Coventry Radiator and Pressworks Ltd" plate on top with a "648" tag on the side - looking at it, there are three rows of water vains and the brass top should polish up nicely
-
The brother of the previous owner (deceased some time) told me that he was a stainless steel fabricator by trade and had made some bits for it during its restoration in the late 70's?
Here are some other quick snaps just for fun
The manifold only weighs 2.25kg's which seems light to me?
Mmmmm green
New year, new push! Gonna push real hard to get her done for May (everything crossed!)
Edited by Ben Magoo on Thursday 3rd February 22:16
guru_1071 said:
those stainless bits are nice, a real bit of the cars history.
i hope your gonna refit them all?
Oh god yes, from the moment I saw her I intended to keep her as original as possible - these little bits are priceless, not putting them back on would feel like removing her character!i hope your gonna refit them all?
Cooperman said:
If you need engine paint the correct colour is 'Land Rover Bronze Green'. I buy it as a brushing synthetic from my local paint supplier.
What a great re-build youa re doing.
Thanks for that, little bits of info like that are golden.What a great re-build youa re doing.
-
I have a clear picture in my head that I want to replace as much as neccessary but as little as possible in her restoration - obviously brakes, steering and suspension are not included in this ethos but everything else is to be as original to her last road use as possible.
Although
Like an impatient child I had to pull the head off last night to see what lay in store
hapily her heart looks in good shape. roughly measuring I am certain that she is 998. I did notice that the block face was stamped in front of each cylinder: 3,3,3,4 ? what ever that means?Should be able to get on and make my subframe stands and chassis jig this week
Tangent Police said:
This has motivated me to go and drag my mini into the shed and crack on with it 
Do you mean that or drag it out the shed? What a fantastic project, the stainless steel parts are a work out art, give them a polish with some autosol
All the best with the project,
Tom
Mini_Lund said:
Tangent Police said:
This has motivated me to go and drag my mini into the shed and crack on with it
Do you mean that or drag it out the shed? What a fantastic project, the stainless steel parts are a work out art, give them a polish with some autosol
All the best with the project,
Tom
Tangent Police said:
Into the shed! Bugger sitting outside in this weather. I've got a woodburner I can bung into the shed as well and can have a few mates around on odd nights, a couple of tinnies and crack on! (started a topic on it now)
I'm afraid to say I'm outside in the cold in all weathers! I must be brave I just noticed your topic, I'll go have a read now 
Just in case anyone thought I had given up!:
Been busy pulling bits off etc oh and doing head gasket type work on an MGF in exchange for painting the Cooper which is well worth it, although I havent finished the MGF yet - what a pig of a job, and I though access on Mini's was comical?
I'm quite happy to leave the engine as is after a good clean up she looks pretty good and very origonal.
I think that is now my ethos for this project, origonality over total restoration. Obviously where required bits will be replaced and or restored but I want to keep as much of her origonality as possible.
Onwards and upwards
Been busy pulling bits off etc
oh and doing head gasket type work on an MGF in exchange for painting the Cooper which is well worth it, although I havent finished the MGF yet - what a pig of a job, and I though access on Mini's was comical?I'm quite happy to leave the engine as is after a good clean up she looks pretty good and very origonal.
I think that is now my ethos for this project, origonality over total restoration. Obviously where required bits will be replaced and or restored but I want to keep as much of her origonality as possible.
Onwards and upwards
Edited by Ben Magoo on Thursday 3rd February 22:18
ben
have a look at this link
http://www.serifwebresources.com/phpBB2/viewtopic....
this is my mk2 resto project!
doubt it will be finished before yours!
have a look at this link
http://www.serifwebresources.com/phpBB2/viewtopic....
this is my mk2 resto project!
doubt it will be finished before yours!
guru_1071 said:
ben
have a look at this link
http://www.serifwebresources.com/phpBB2/viewtopic....
this is my mk2 resto project!
doubt it will be finished before yours!
Thats one hell of a project, to be honest thats what I imagined a £500 Cooper to look like! Just shows how lucky I am have a look at this link
http://www.serifwebresources.com/phpBB2/viewtopic....
this is my mk2 resto project!
doubt it will be finished before yours!
Good luck matey
My god I am so ashamed!
Such a pig of a year, got virtually bugger all done - other than strip bits off. Clean, polish and assess them (I have a shopping list and everything lol)
Overall she's still looking good she needs the rear valance, boot floor, boot lid hinge section, rear subframe back board and both outer sills with a few odd patches here and there.
Time to get cracking - The hell that was 2010 is over, 2011 is here and I'm on fire!
Such a pig of a year, got virtually bugger all done - other than strip bits off. Clean, polish and assess them (I have a shopping list and everything lol)
Overall she's still looking good
she needs the rear valance, boot floor, boot lid hinge section, rear subframe back board and both outer sills with a few odd patches here and there.Time to get cracking - The hell that was 2010 is over, 2011 is here and I'm on fire!
Edited by Ben Magoo on Thursday 3rd February 22:18
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