snail paced...

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Tim-D

Original Poster:

536 posts

228 months

Friday 18th April 2008
quotequote all
resto of my mini....had a burst of enthusiasm today cleared out my garage & found my mini under a mass of components decorating stuff and assorted tools - this almost unmolested 80' city was laid up many moons ago to for an intended quick rebuild - since then life has somewhat got in the way, my son had leukaemia for one - so some 7 years later after much good intent I have shelves heaving with tasty bolt ons and a rusted out low mileage equinox (bought initially for its interior) donor disintegrating in outside storage its time to crack on - the parts wants list I compiled back in the mists of time is fulfilled down to the last clevis pin so (it's a mini so theres obviously lots more I haven't thought of)... its time to select a lump - I have carefully stored a '68 cooper 998 HC, a c84' MG Metro and a provenance unknown (was given it) A+ 1310 short engine (I think its that - 30 thou overbore???) with a 276 cam I've stripped this down and renewed the bearing shells - excellent order, in addition to the Spi lump of the equinox and the original 998 of the city - all are A1 serviceable apart from the MG whose box has to be held in 2nd).
Plan is to run on 10" wheels (I have 9 slotmags around so almost guaranteed to get a perfectly serviceable set), S discs and use the servo from the 'nox, after toying with the idea of a straight injection transplant for a while I just couldn't get out of the mindset that mini's should have a carb or two, besides the injection set up is not exactly within my capabilities to repair if /when it goes wrong - so simple it is, the gifted engine and my newly rebuilt spare box with the MG head, an HIF44, maniflow LCB and single box centre exit RC40 am somewhat at a loss to figure out what FD to use I want a reasonably pokey mini good for some speedy fun but also capable of holding its own on the motorway, no competition use is planned so.... I have carefully boxed up a 2.95, 3.1 (in the 'nox or is it 3.21 I have yet to check?), a 3.44 (in the knackered MG box), from somewhere long forgotten a 3.65 and a 3.76 too - open to opinions as to which one to use - I'm leaning towards using the 3.65 as can't envisage too much motorway use... but will this restict the top end when running on 10"s too much??????