Assessing a Mini City before starting its restoration
Dave walks through the condition of his newly acquired Mini City, noting surface rust, trim he dislikes, and botched sill repairs from a previous MOT. He outlines what needs fixing and what he plans to change later, while sharing a quick engine inspection and a fan belt replacement already done.
Specs
As stated in the original write-up.
- Engine
- 998cc A-series with a single SU carburettor
- Brakes
- Servo-assisted braking system
Parts used
Parts named as used in the original write-up, grouped the way the Parts page groups them. Where one of the shops we index lists the same thing for this car, it is shown underneath with a link to the shop.
Cooling 1
- Fan belt
Replaced after the original was found worn, requiring removal of the grille and alternator and pivoting the radiator back to fit the new belt
In the shops
Fan Belt (838mm) ↗
Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $9.46 USD
Fan Belt (825mm) ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $11.99 USD
Multi Groove Fan Belt ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $14.75 USD
Photos
7 pictures collected from the write-up, in the order they were posted, shown from My Mini Project. A picture opens larger here, with the way through to the page it is on.
How it was done
Starting condition
The car has small patches of surface rust on the front wing and below the windscreen, loose pot-riveted wheel arch covers, and missing sill trim. The bumpers, grille and City decals are not to Dave's taste, and a rear bumper dent and non-working fog light are noted. Tyres are near new so wheels are left alone for now.
Previous repair issues
A prior MOT repair added new sills but without drain holes, letting water collect and flood the front passenger footwell through a hole in the sill. Dave drilled holes to drain it. Both front door seals are found to need replacing, and the rear quarter panel shows signs of earlier filler or weld work under its primer.
Interior and wiring
The interior is described as in decent shape for the car's age but plain. Messy wiring has already been sorted, and the carpets and soundproofing were pulled out to dry before being refitted once sill welding and door seals are finished.
Engine check and fan belt
The 998cc A-series engine runs reliably but needs cleaning and repainting. Replacing its worn fan belt required removing the front grille, unbolting the alternator, and pivoting the radiator back to clear the fan blades.
Planned work
Dave intends to fit chrome bumpers with overriders, a new grille, replacement light units, and de-badge the City decals and Mini logo. Longer term he wants a roll cage, bucket seats, a custom dashboard with extra gauges, a leather steering wheel, and a Stage 1 performance kit, none of which has been carried out yet.
A summary in our own words. The full account, with all its detail, is in the original write-up: read it at My Mini Project ↗
Worth knowing
- Sills welded in without drain holes will trap water and can flood the footwell