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 Posted: Feb 15, 2018 04:17PM
 Edited:  Feb 15, 2018 04:22PM
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US
https://www.facebook.com/PoserMotorSports/posts/1825146384224696

 

Michael, Santa Barbara, CA

. . . the sled, not the flower

      Poser MotorSports

 Posted: Feb 14, 2018 10:46PM
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Mini's are great fun to drive and do handle very well for what it is but I hate the Go kart analogy, to make that statement you haven't driven a real Kart!

Mini's are like buses they come along in a bunch

 Posted: Feb 14, 2018 07:03PM
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when filling up at the station, people ask "what is it? what's it like to drive".

I just refer to what I read somewhere, "you never forget the first time you drive a mini".

I was in the pits at the Divisional Solo II event at the Renaissance Center in Detroit. I got the chance to drive Noel Montgomery's Cooper S. I was just 14 years old. I was hooked.

Mark Looman, Ada Michigan 1967 Austin Cooper S
 Posted: Feb 14, 2018 05:35PM
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On a Renault the salt & vinegar bath reminds one of Poutine. :)

If it's not Scottish....it's crap! (Cry of the Mini Tartan Owners' Clan)

 Posted: Feb 14, 2018 12:16PM
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heheh

 Posted: Feb 14, 2018 10:08AM
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CA
Vinegar in a spray bottle will help loosen and remove salt buildup.
(Tends to make one crave french fries though.)

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Feb 13, 2018 06:34PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by onetim

This is a salt state view of things of course....
You "salt state" guys have my respect. It takes a lot of effort to keep a car nice when Mother Nature and the Dept. of Hwys. are both conspiring against you. 

 

Michael, Santa Barbara, CA

. . . the sled, not the flower

      Poser MotorSports

 Posted: Feb 12, 2018 07:24AM
 Edited:  Feb 12, 2018 07:59AM
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It's a good question on mini's, but I have no long term experience. On big old 60's and 70's American cars it was transmissions at 70 to 100 thousand miles, and timing chains at 90 to 120, or rusted apart. Many were sent to the junk yard, with these problems as used rusty cars were not worth much. A lot of cars now hit the junk yards in MI with rotted brake lines, when the quote to replace them is a one to two grand. This is a salt state view of things of course. My 04 mini van runs and functions perfectly, but is starting to seriously rust, the 3rd row seat belt anchors were recalled 5 years ago for rust, now the second row belts are wicking salt water, and are covered with salt crystals 6 inch's up. Can't be all that safe in a crash.

 Posted: Feb 11, 2018 04:59PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by onetim
It’s kind of a non question, do you mean run it till you can’t? 
I guess what I'm asking is typically, what major item breaks or wears out first? What ever it is, assuming it requires pulling the motor/trans out of the car, it's not hard or expensive to freshen up any and all of the other wear items. I'm just wondering for example, do synchros usually wear out before the clutch? Do valves and seats give up before the piston rings, etc.

 

Michael, Santa Barbara, CA

. . . the sled, not the flower

      Poser MotorSports

 Posted: Feb 11, 2018 04:40PM
 Edited:  Feb 11, 2018 04:47PM
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It’s kind of a non question, do you mean run it till you can’t? Or until it needs a repair? Or until it needs so much repair you would bail on it? This does not seem to apply to a collector car of any kind. My experience is due to the low mileage they just get better and better With each area refreshed on the car. Driving a mini? What coopertune said, on pins! Like a slot car.

 Posted: Feb 11, 2018 04:16PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rosebud
 
I drive Rosebud pretty much every day too. Usually 100-250 gentle miles per month. No dumping the clutch, always bip the throttle for a downshift and often double clutch for an up shift. I change the oil & filter and adjust the valves every 3K miles.

So my question is; what kind of longevity can I expect from the drivetrain? What wears out first… clutch, syncros, engine/trans seals, rings, valves?  I don’t mind paying for a rebuild, but the only mechanic within 100 miles of here has a 2–3 month backlog. I can’t imagine having Rosebud on the hoist for that long.

I guess I should have mentioned that my build was a complete resto; virtually every nut & bolt as new including motor, trans, and everything else, really. Regarding my longevity question, my starting point is mile zero.
[Bump] Thought there'd be no shortage of comments on this one. No other opinions?

 

Michael, Santa Barbara, CA

. . . the sled, not the flower

      Poser MotorSports

 Posted: Feb 8, 2018 06:17PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CooperTune

It's hard to say...
I guess I should have mentioned that my build was a complete resto; virtually every nut & bolt as new including motor, trans, and everything else, really. Regarding my longevity question, my starting point is mile zero.

 

Michael, Santa Barbara, CA

. . . the sled, not the flower

      Poser MotorSports

 Posted: Feb 8, 2018 04:06PM
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It's hard to say, I built my car from a new shell so suspension and brakes were all new. Ran out of money so I bought a 998 power unit with 78,000 miles on it. Compression test was a little low but even across. I replaced the timing chain, tensioner, front seal, valve cover, tappet chest gaskets and diff, output seals. I was able to get another 87,000 miles before a by pass hose failed and over heated the engine. Over the period of time I replaced a coil, a front wheel bearing, two sets of tires. I am now on my second power unit and a 1360 Cooper S is a lot more fun than an old 998. Steve (CTR)

 Posted: Feb 8, 2018 12:10PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CooperTune
I drive one every day and have for the last 16 years…
I drive Rosebud pretty much every day too. Usually 100-250 gentle miles per month. No dumping the clutch, always bip the throttle for a downshift and often double clutch for an up shift. I change the oil & filter and adjust the valves every 3K miles.

So my question is; what kind of longevity can I expect from the drivetrain? What wears out first… clutch, syncros, engine/trans seals, rings, valves?  I don’t mind paying for a rebuild, but the only mechanic within 100 miles of here has a 2–3 month backlog. I can’t imagine having Rosebud on the hoist for that long. 

 

Michael, Santa Barbara, CA

. . . the sled, not the flower

      Poser MotorSports

 Posted: Feb 8, 2018 07:07AM
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What's funny is at MME2017, we were looking for a good place to eat, so we asked some locals.  They started in on what brought us to Columbus and all that, and we told them about the Mini Meet...  And the guy says "Why Minis?"

And I thought about it, and said, "Well...  I don't know.  I just love them."

--trying to set a record for the longest Mini restoration ever!
 Posted: Feb 8, 2018 06:16AM
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I drive one every day and have for the last 16 years. The are all fun to drive and quite nimble. I'm currently setting up a later 9 single bolt sub frame car. Solid mounted the front sub ( and noise transfer is not the problem expected ) S racer red springs, Hi-Los, fully adjustable suspension, alloy hubs, drive flanges, swing arms, rear hubs and four pot calipers. KAD rear sway bar. Five and a half X 12 s with 048 s now this is a hoot to drive. I have not found a safe place to search for the limit. I'm thinking it's more like a slot car. Steve (CTR)

 Posted: Feb 7, 2018 02:34PM
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CA
The point and shoot thinking, for me . Is the ability to make our roads more interesting.Come out of one corner on the gas and squirt to the next corner. This is greatly helped by my 1380 Twin cam motor. Or Don Sobering's 1293 8 port space framed light weight mini. Also freshly made Don Dixon's 1380 super charged tinnie. Our roads are a little boring, so we had to spice up our lives a little. Cheers. 

 Posted: Feb 7, 2018 01:27PM
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CA
Like BlueBox, I always use the GoKart analogy, though people don't really get it until they've ridden IN IT. Point & Shoot....good one. I like it.

  ~ 30 minutes in a Mini is more therapeutic than 3 sessions @ the shrink. ~

  Mike  Cool  NB, Canada   

 Posted: Feb 7, 2018 09:08AM
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CA
Quote:
Originally Posted by Minerva
I'd much rather that my wife caught me on my back working under our Mini........
Like this?

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Feb 6, 2018 08:26PM
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I'd much rather that my wife caught me on my back working under our Mini........ :)

If it's not Scottish....it's crap! (Cry of the Mini Tartan Owners' Clan)

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