1980 Mini Convertible - First start in over 10 years

[slimjim119]

that is a SU type carb u put gas where the oil damper is gas goes down the throat of carb ok lol

[MrRider1405]

electrostarter problem

[elhion]

a mini with rust it's not rare, it's their disease.

[MO3MINI]

@elhion I know, I have three Mini's all of which have rust, this is a bad car. The shell I have is much better. Just needs one floor pan and a spare wheel well.... just is a big issue. Watch some production videos. No rust protection at all. Places that you couldn't see didn't even get painted. terrible really. But at the time that was budget motoring

[elhion]

or it's not in states i'm wrong?

[LethalLeo93]

y u putting fuel in top of carb, where the oil for dashpot goes, and did u get the mini started.

[MO3MINI]

@LethalLeo93 it might look like that. But we was pouring the petrol into the air intake. Yes the engine did run towards the end of the video.

[1994fury]

wats that grining sound when the starter turns

[MO3MINI]

@1994fury each time the engine fired the start dog disengaged so that is the sound of the start spinning without being engaged the the flywheel on the engine........ its a normal sound when that sort of thing happens

[novachevyguy]

ready? yup! ready? yup!

[winnerjgw]

Wow! Alot of work ahead of you, but I would love to see this mini finished. Wish I was alot closer so I could come take a look at this beauty in person. Keep up the work on the great videos!

[coolbluelights]

wow a side mounted radiator? never seen one of those ever, that's weird!

[Spotty1125]

@coolbluelights Every classic Mini that has the original factory engine has a side radiator. I guess it is one of the ways the designers of the car used to save space, since the Mini was all about saving space.

[MrMoterKid]

Wow, what a cranky old thing, dodgy sounding starter :/ Your voice has changed a lot as well

[MO3MINI]

@MrMoterKid i dont think i talk in this video, my dad does all the talking :L 

[truecreation]

hi if the approx weight of the standard 1000 is between 596 & 619 kg would you have any idea of the weight difference on a convertible model ?

[MO3MINI]

@truecreation hmm tough question, i no it takes 4 people to lift a mini salon shell. Me and my dad along lifted a convertible shell into the back of a van so i would say losing the roof does knock a far bit of weight off but im not sure how much. Wish i could be more helpful but i couldn't say what the weight would be, and this car is nothing to go by seen as much of it has rusted away now.

Unfortunately i was too late to save this car but parts of this will be put into a good shell :)

[truecreation]

@MO3MINI thanks for the reply im gonna try a project im looking at getting a mini 1000 convertible automatic of a friend and see if i can drop the weight to under 550kgs so another friend can drive it on his motorcycle license im sure the car has to lose around 30kgs atleast when the roof was cut off.

[MO3MINI]

@truecreation i would say it would lose around that, but remember when the roof is cut you will need to put a role bar in the car to make the car rigid again. So i guess this would add most of that lost weight back into the car.

[truecreation]

@MO3MINI yeah what im looking at is loseing weight here and there etc abit from it being a convertible changing the wheels to lighter ones etc. im overly confident that it can be done which normally means im way off but who knows lol

[MO3MINI]

@truecreation yer weight on minis can be lost in many ways, some people put those fiberglass fronts on them that must lose some weight

[truecreation]

@MO3MINI yeah the problem with fibreglass is its quite heavy itself but depending on grade etc not the stronest where althou carbon is more expensive its alot lighter and stronger.......... or atleast so i have been led to believe

[TJayClark]

I love the old mini's

[MO3MINI]

me too, i love the look the drive just everything about them apart from the rust

[MO3MINI]

@TheTractorMan09

thanks for your interest and comment

[tjm52071]

you know its supposed to have oil in it where your pouring petrol right ?

[Conway11906]

why ?

[tjm52071]

@Conway11906

Because thats how the carb. is designed. The oil dampens the movement of the slide.

[pianopete]

love it. reminds me a bit of my old mini after i didn't touch it for a year only, needed over £300 spending to get it going just after that! so i feel your pain, nice to know some minis out there are getting some tlc. check some of my oldest videos to see my mini 1000!

[MO3MINI]

Thanks for your comment

and a very nice job you have done with your mini

[themaritimeman]

Great video! It probably would've started up quicker if the starter stayed engaged ever time the engine fired.

[MO3MINI]

Thanks you very much yes it would have started better if the starter motor stayed engaged when it fired but it start after a little while it will be a year it started soon i will have to make a fuel system and get it running for longer

[ajb73]

Nice to see the beauty fire up - that's a lot of work and welding but always defo worth it - I bought a mini that was on it's last legs and I'm nearly finished ..... it will honestly be well worth it - Keep going mate and keep these classics going

[MO3MINI]

Thanks for the comment i have looked into spares and the price of them. I think it will take the best part of 500 pounds in panels and im not sure on a price for the hood which also needs replacing. i think it would be worth while as i would hate to see it go. i have turned the engine over since the video and given it a once over. i also have reason to believe that this engine has been reconditioned i can't wait to check inside the engine :p i will keep you posted on what im doing with the car.

[minkis18]

nice little project ya got there.  I hate body work though

[MO3MINI]

do u think i should restore it. I brought it for bits! its really bad there rust all over the place. if i took the roof down it may fall in half lol. it could be done but nearly every panel needs replacing. my dad said cut it in half and make a trailer! i did some research and round that all the panels for it from mini magazine would be over a 1,000 but it would be worth it just to see the look on the mans face who i brought it from he was going to scrap it

[MO3MINI]

Sorry m8 I went to click reply but clicked remove by accident. A new shell sounds sweet but it would need to have the roof cut off the same. Seems like a lot of work. I would like to fix her up but don't have the time at the moment so it will be sitting out until I have the time and the money to fix it up.

[fs8uke9]

MY dad has a beetal not been started in 20 Years I might try spark it up...

[bigguyfilms2008]

Shes a beauty ain't she! Glad to see you've got her to fire.

[bmtimv]

glad to see you got the british crapland working. Just make a redneck fuel system and you should be good to go.