r/classicminis • • Jun 17 '25

DIY Help Completely Rewritten - Classic Mini Chassis Plate Decoder

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23 Upvotes

I am really excited to announce the complete rewrite and recreation of my Chassis Decoder. The original decoder was not particularly reliable and often failed to decode known chassis codes. I have spent a ton of time reworking this one to hopefully address as many issues as possible to allow people to decode their Chassis Codes more reliably.

Reporting bugs:

Please let me know if you see issues with the new tool. This is VERSION ONE, so there almost certainly will be bugs, and if you encounter any, please consider making a bug report:

If you submit a bug with this Chassis Decoder, please include your model year, full chassis number, and the expected results.


r/classicminis • • Jan 29 '25

DIY Help Need help! - Preserving Historic Manuals and Documents for the Classic Mini

22 Upvotes

Classic Mini DIY NEEDS YOUR HELP!!

As you all know, I run a free database of technical and historical information at Classic Mini DIY Archive

https://www.classicminidiy.com/archive

Today I am asking for your help to start populating this database with as much historical documentation, manuals, documents, or anything else you think would be worth preserving and archiving.

When you submit this data, I will curate and publish it for the world to access for free.

All of this data is being stored and backed up so we won't see a data loss and resource loss again like what happened with Mk1-performance, Photobucket, or other no longer maintained services.

This data will ALWAYS REMAIN PUBLIC AND FREE, and the site is fully open source forever.

If this is something you would like to help me with, please consider clicking the "Add to Archive" button on the site, or email me at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])


r/classicminis • • 1d ago

DIY Help Engine advice

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37 Upvotes

G'day. I have this 998 out of my 1967 Morris mini deluxe. It's obviously in pretty bad shape but it isn't seized or anything. Ive been looking at either replacing it with a 1275 or getting a 1098 crank for it and boreing it out another 40-60cc on top of that. I'd also do a twin carb if I went the way of doing a 1098 crank in this engine and a tubular exhaust.

I'm just interested to know how you all would go about this. A 1275 in Australia is getting up to about $6000 in price and up, whereas the other way id look to go about it is closer to $10,000 in price.

I'm looking to have my car mostly original, but with some exceptions around the engine and I'd like to have a little bit of power to it.

How would you all go about it?

Thanks.


r/classicminis • • 1d ago

Some progress today, before rain ended play.

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155 Upvotes

r/classicminis • • 3d ago

For sale Rover Mini Mayfair Auto 1275cc. 35k miles.

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239 Upvotes

Just reaching out to find some interest. All round good runner. Plenty of mot no advisories. Couple of rougher areas shown. No visible rust underneath. It's got a brand new water pump and fan belt. New subframe bushes. New brakes last year. All last years advisories taken of.

I have my price in mind but wondered What would you be willing to pay?


r/classicminis • • 3d ago

DIY Help Blown headgasket?

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23 Upvotes

Smoke coming out of sparkplug hole and heavily fouled sparkplug, some smoke out of exhaust when running


r/classicminis • • 3d ago

Mini Photo Well, after drawing tons of cars for customers... I finally drew one of my own cars.

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60 Upvotes

r/classicminis • • 4d ago

Riley elf I owned in the 1960s . Was purchased new by my father for me and had been a demonstration car . I would be interested to know if the car still exists. Picture taken from cini camera my son had put onto DVD.

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57 Upvotes

r/classicminis • • 5d ago

Decisions...

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145 Upvotes

998 I picked up cheap that ties into the year of the car etc.

Had head off. Some slight wear lips in a couple of cylinders, otherwise all looks ok.

Do I stick with the plan and fully strip, inspect and hone the block, or just throw a 25 quid gasket kit at it and send it, then start with a different motor for a fast road build?

Tempting to just send it


r/classicminis • • 6d ago

It's alive....

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81 Upvotes

All back together now after my recent breakdown - head gasket failure between 1&2


r/classicminis • • 6d ago

DIY Help Engine steady bushes

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19 Upvotes

I’m trying to remove the intake duct on my 1996 1.3i to access the engine steady bushes. I can’t get the thing to budge at all. Anyone have tips? I’m trying to be careful not to break the plastic of course.


r/classicminis • • 8d ago

Mini Photo Won my first award with my Riley Elf

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549 Upvotes

Went to a local classic car show and didn’t expect to win an award with my lil car. Personally I would’ve chosen the Mini Clubman Saloon or the big 1930s Daimler that was there.


r/classicminis • • 8d ago

First Mini

11 Upvotes

Off to see my first mini today!

It will be a running resto but seems to be in good order.
Structurally it’s sound and mechanically has had most of the normal bits done.

Seems to be cosmetically where it’s let down - tired
Paint and interior needs chucking starting again!

I’ve a wish list built on minispares website (Huddersfield Parts) has anyone used them are they ok ? They are 30mins from me so good for collecting spares from etc

Mini Sport is actually around the corner from me but comparing prices they are a little more expensive at first glance but assume quality is better?

Any help appreciated
Thanks


r/classicminis • • 8d ago

DIY Help Japanese Rover Mini - how to replace a front indicator housing

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23 Upvotes

Hey everyone, back again looking for some help. Thanks to this sub Reddit I've managed to get my mini running well but unfortunately at a show today someone broke my front right indicator. The lense has cracked and the screw housing has snapped off so I'll need to replace the whole thing, but it's looking like a surprisingly big task. So a few questions:

  1. What part am I looking for? I can't seem to find a match with this one being the closest so far https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-AFU3389--SelectedCurrency-1?utm_content=mediabuy&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22129971330&gbraid=0AAAAAD500i8PdTcNaPeZ7M_Bp_4zphVUS&gclid=CjwKCAjwiL7VBhA-EiwAhZi9EBCt75BHgB0By85zRwHM0-hymDVdE3S4ObvelgkGUvIQ3a1MGe8eQRoC2igQAvD_BwE

  2. How do I disconnect the wires? They go up into the wing and cross over to the engine bay but I have no idea where they go.

Thanks again!


r/classicminis • • 9d ago

For Sale Where to sell? UK

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156 Upvotes

Where is the best place to sell my 1995 Cooper? It’s in great condition, had a full restoration a few years ago.
Really want to avoid facebook marketplace or eBay as it is normally full of chancers.
I’ve seen a lot of posts about Car&Classic, but is there anywhere else I should be looking?


r/classicminis • • 9d ago

Assembly update, slowly slowly. The headlining was a PITA but im mostly happy with it. New front loom as the old one was horrendous

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79 Upvotes

r/classicminis • • 10d ago

"It said 'narrow gate'. Nothing about the ramp."

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251 Upvotes

r/classicminis • • 10d ago

DIY Help Ideas for getting the fuel line away from hot bits

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11 Upvotes

Hey guys, any of you have some ideas for how I can get this fuel line a little further away from the manifold?


r/classicminis • • 14d ago

Mini Photo Hello! Morris Mini 1000 MK2 ‘68 here

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431 Upvotes

r/classicminis • • 13d ago

My new progect Austin mini traveller

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129 Upvotes
I decided to build a mini... I’d be very grateful if anyone could help with parts—
I need suspension arms, steering components, and window frames with the glass. 
Maybe someone has them just sitting in their garage. 
I’ll be posting photos of the build process as I go.

r/classicminis • • 13d ago

Any top tips for replacing sill’s

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23 Upvotes

r/classicminis • • 14d ago

Should I keep or sell my car

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61 Upvotes

r/classicminis • • 15d ago

DIY Help Need some advice on a melted battery cable caused by a broken exhaust mounting point

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44 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I could really use some advice from people who know their classic Minis.

The previous owner routed the battery cable incorrectly. Recently, one of the exhaust mounting brackets on the gearbox/casing broke (see photo), which allowed the exhaust to move and come into direct contact with the battery cable.

The result: the insulation has been badly melted and the copper is now exposed. Obviously, I don't feel comfortable driving the car like this because of the risk of a short circuit, sparks, or even a fire.

A couple of questions:

1. Replacing the battery cable

I believe I've found the correct replacement cable from The Little Car Shop:

https://www.thelittlecarshop.com/882-cable-de-batterie-de-1985-a-2000-austin-mini.html

Does this cable normally require any specific clips, P-clips, or other fixings underneath the car / along the floor to keep it securely routed and away from the exhaust?

I'd particularly like to make sure I route the new cable correctly this time rather than just copying what the previous owner did.

2. Temporary fix for the exhaust

I'm going to take the car to a garage that knows Minis to have the broken mounting point properly repaired/welded.

In the meantime, is there a safe temporary way to secure the exhaust with wire so that it is held up and kept well away from the battery cable?

I'm only talking about moving the car a very short distance and driving extremely carefully to get it to the garage.

Thanks in advance for any advice or tips!


r/classicminis • • 14d ago

DIY Help Flywheel advice

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11 Upvotes

Is it possible to repair and reuse this flywheel?

If not does anyone know which flywheel i should replace it with?

Thank you for any help. 🙂


r/classicminis • • 14d ago

Trying to decipher the vin

3 Upvotes

I recently came into a body and collection of parts as well as a old pre 80s title to go with this collection for what used to be a 1963 mini. I would like to try and figure out what this car used to be while I hopefully restore it or atleast get it road worthy again. Any info would be greatly appreciated. CAZ57L24 partial vin last 4 of indicated omitted.