Availability of Mini parts and general info

Kaiser D

Hi lads,

I might be picking up a 1980's Mini. But before I commit I'd like to find out about them and parts availability.

The car needs welding to the floor and new sills. The welding to the floor doesn't bother me too much but I'm a bit weary about the sills.
It also needs door cards and front seats.

This would be my first full blown project car and I'd just like some info on what they are like to work on and would I find it hard to get parts for it?

I'm looking for something old to work away on over the Winter and this just came up.

Thanks

w124man

Everything is available for Minis these days

Daveq

Yep you can get absolutely everything for them,

have a look at

http://irishminis.ie/ and www.theminiforum.co.uk for other projects, ideas and help

and for parts and panels www.minispares.com, www.minisport.com, www.bullmotifminispares.com and www.bmh-ltd.com

The Big Red Fella

You can get every part for the mini look here.
http://www.somerfordmini.co.uk/eshop/

http://www.retrominisltd.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&zenid=il0tca32v83min81pn8d7ps2j2

http://www.newtoncomm.co.uk/cars/classic-mini/model-162/

mgbgt1978

Probably one of the best cars to choose from (if you're happy enough to do a bit of mig welding).
All the seams are exposed and easy to get at, and then covered with trim covers, so you don't need to be spot on with your welds.
Panels are possibly the cheapest available (cheaper ones can be harder to line up, but they will fit with a bit of clamping and twisting )
As long as it's not a metallic colour you could respray any panels (or the whole car) yourself in cellulose at a very, very reasonable price (assuming you have a compressor, spray guns can be got from ebay for as little as €15).
Personally, i would google UK suppliers for panels, using parcel motel if necessary.
For cellulose paint (which is still perfectly legal to use on older cars, despite what some may say, especially local motor factors) just google 'Wilson Lendrum & Weir' and give them a ring. They are up in NI and will send paint to S. Ireland with Fastway Couriers.

BTW the sills will probably reveal a bigger mess once you cut them off, but just cut away and weld in fresh steel wherever you can....the new sills will go on over all the messy welded-on bits.
One Tip....once you have the old sills cut off, make sure the rear subframe bolts (which bolt onto captive nuts behind the sill) are able to be removed...otherwise you will have to cut out the nuts and replace them now while you can.
Best of luck with the project.

Kaiser D

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

Probably one of the best cars to choose from (if you're happy enough to do a bit of mig welding).
All the seams are exposed and easy to get at, and then covered with trim covers, so you don't need to be spot on with your welds.
Panels are possibly the cheapest available (cheaper ones can be harder to line up, but they will fit with a bit of clamping and twisting )
As long as it's not a metallic colour you could respray any panels (or the whole car) yourself in cellulose at a very, very reasonable price (assuming you have a compressor, spray guns can be got from ebay for as little as €15).
Personally, i would google UK suppliers for panels, using parcel motel if necessary.
For cellulose paint (which is still perfectly legal to use on older cars, despite what some may say, especially local motor factors) just google 'Wilson Lendrum & Weir' and give them a ring. They are up in NI and will send paint to S. Ireland with Fastway Couriers.

BTW the sills will probably reveal a bigger mess once you cut them off, but just cut away and weld in fresh steel wherever you can....the new sills will go on over all the messy welded-on bits.
One Tip....once you have the old sills cut off, make sure the rear subframe bolts (which bolt onto captive nuts behind the sill) are able to be removed...otherwise you will have to cut out the nuts and replace them now while you can.
Best of luck with the project.

Excellent advice there, thanks a million.

tinofapples

Kaiser D wrote: »

Hi lads,

I might be picking up a 1980's Mini. But before I commit I'd like to find out about them and parts availability.

The car needs welding to the floor and new sills. The welding to the floor doesn't bother me too much but I'm a bit weary about the sills.
It also needs door cards and front seats.

This would be my first full blown project car and I'd just like some info on what they are like to work on and would I find it hard to get parts for it?

I'm looking for something old to work away on over the Winter and this just came up.

Thanks

Did you go through with it ?

Kaiser D

tinofapples wrote: »

Did you go through with it ?

I didn't. It sold and I lost interest to be honest.

I have enough cars at the moment as it is too.