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manual v automatic
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- mini_sprite94
- NON Member
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Mon Jun 19, 2006 1:23 pm
- Whats your location?: just out side Mitchlestown.
- Region: Southern
- What Minis have you?: 1995 Mini Sprite, Elmo.
- Location: Tipp/Cork border
- Contact:
manual v automatic
Hi, just a quick question, I have a mate that recently must drive an automatic car, he doesn’t want to sell his mini, is it a job to convert a mini to an automatic?
Thanks
Thanks
- Billy
- IMOC Paid Member
- Posts: 4649
- Joined: Mon May 09, 2005 12:49 pm
- Whats your location?: Roscommon
- Region: Western
- What Minis have you?: 1967 Morris Cooper, 1967 Austin Mini auto, 1968 Wolseley Hornet x2, 1981 Clubman Estate
- Location: Roscommon
- Contact:
Unfortunately it's not just a straight gearbox swap. You have to change the complete engine/gearbox unit. I'm not positive but I think it's a different front subframe for the automatic.
I think TMG has a spare auto engine/gearbox.
The other option is to sell the existing Mini and buy an automatic Mini, which may be cheaper than the manual.
Hope it helps,
Billy
I think TMG has a spare auto engine/gearbox.
The other option is to sell the existing Mini and buy an automatic Mini, which may be cheaper than the manual.
Hope it helps,
Billy
- The Marcos Graveyard
- IMOC Paid Member
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- Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2005 10:05 am
- Whats your location?: Longford
- Region: Eastern
- What Minis have you?: 1971 Mini Marcos.
1984 Mini Sprite - Modifications: 1380cc
Weber45
S/C CR gearbox and drop gears - Location: Longford
- Contact:
The sub-frames are different as are the engine mounts and pedal box.
Not many do the manual to Auto conversion, but I would think it would be easier then the auto to manual conversion.
My Drop Nose Clubman Estate has an automatic which I will be converting to manual this winter, some of the purists, Milton especially, may think that such a conversion would be sacrilege, but I reckon having a manual Drop Nose Clubman Estate would be even rarer than an automatic, I have never seen a manual DNCE before so this might be unique.
Not many do the manual to Auto conversion, but I would think it would be easier then the auto to manual conversion.
My Drop Nose Clubman Estate has an automatic which I will be converting to manual this winter, some of the purists, Milton especially, may think that such a conversion would be sacrilege, but I reckon having a manual Drop Nose Clubman Estate would be even rarer than an automatic, I have never seen a manual DNCE before so this might be unique.
- The Marcos Graveyard
- IMOC Paid Member
- Posts: 4720
- Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2005 10:05 am
- Whats your location?: Longford
- Region: Eastern
- What Minis have you?: 1971 Mini Marcos.
1984 Mini Sprite - Modifications: 1380cc
Weber45
S/C CR gearbox and drop gears - Location: Longford
- Contact:
Well Monty (Watkins) hasn't been in contact yet, but I know he is busy in Japan at the moment, so maybe that's the reason.
As for making the cover with it, Monty says that if he puts a Mini on the front cover that has a standard A-Series engine in it, sales of the magazine go down, hence all cover featured cars have exotidc engines, Vtec, R1, Chevy and the like.
If Woody ever gets the heads done on his Lotus, sure we could pop the engine in the back for a photo or two and you never know :-)
As for making the cover with it, Monty says that if he puts a Mini on the front cover that has a standard A-Series engine in it, sales of the magazine go down, hence all cover featured cars have exotidc engines, Vtec, R1, Chevy and the like.
If Woody ever gets the heads done on his Lotus, sure we could pop the engine in the back for a photo or two and you never know :-)
-
- NON Member
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:07 pm
- Location: Co. Dublin
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-
- NON Member
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:07 pm
- Location: Co. Dublin
- Contact:
- mini_sprite94
- NON Member
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Mon Jun 19, 2006 1:23 pm
- Whats your location?: just out side Mitchlestown.
- Region: Southern
- What Minis have you?: 1995 Mini Sprite, Elmo.
- Location: Tipp/Cork border
- Contact:
-
- IMOC Paid Member
- Posts: 2680
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:44 pm
- Whats your location?: Between an A series and a G13B
- Region: Eastern
- What Minis have you?: 61 van,68 MKII,
75 Clubman estate,
80 1275GT
91 RSP Cooper - Location: Between an A series and a G13B
- Contact:
- The Marcos Graveyard
- IMOC Paid Member
- Posts: 4720
- Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2005 10:05 am
- Whats your location?: Longford
- Region: Eastern
- What Minis have you?: 1971 Mini Marcos.
1984 Mini Sprite - Modifications: 1380cc
Weber45
S/C CR gearbox and drop gears - Location: Longford
- Contact:
I'm sure it would be possible to convert a standard mundane looking slab front estate to the more sporty racing drop nose version, you would have to modify the wings and A panels which would be easy enough the main problem would be the unique floor pan that they have ( they were originally converted by the guys who made the Concord and were brought out in 1979 for the anniversary, they only came in red, blue and white, the colors of Air France and British Airways ( I have one of the red ones)), you would need a specialist, who would be used to making handmade panels, to do this, someone like the guys at Aston martin or Rolls Royce possibly. Workmanship of that standard wouldn't be cheap though, The modified floor is beautifully formed with varying radius's and has hardly any straight lines at all, it's a shame to cover it with carpet to be honest :-)
If you want you could drop over and take some photos and measurements while I am doing the restoration.
I don't know if it would be economical. Keep an eye out at the more prestigious car auction sites, http://www.coys.co.uk/showroom/index.php or http://www.classic-auctions.com/ but they don't come up too often. I don't think you would get one on Ebay though. :lol:
If you want you could drop over and take some photos and measurements while I am doing the restoration.
I don't know if it would be economical. Keep an eye out at the more prestigious car auction sites, http://www.coys.co.uk/showroom/index.php or http://www.classic-auctions.com/ but they don't come up too often. I don't think you would get one on Ebay though. :lol:
-
- IMOC Paid Member
- Posts: 2680
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:44 pm
- Whats your location?: Between an A series and a G13B
- Region: Eastern
- What Minis have you?: 61 van,68 MKII,
75 Clubman estate,
80 1275GT
91 RSP Cooper - Location: Between an A series and a G13B
- Contact:
oh what a let down and there i was thinking that i might be able to get these unique panels from heritage or mini machine perhaps one of those auction house webs sites might turn up one to these rare machine but i,d better not hold my breath and as regards taking measurements and photos i doubt a mere mortal like me could emulate the work created by the godlike men who created the concorde
- The Marcos Graveyard
- IMOC Paid Member
- Posts: 4720
- Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2005 10:05 am
- Whats your location?: Longford
- Region: Eastern
- What Minis have you?: 1971 Mini Marcos.
1984 Mini Sprite - Modifications: 1380cc
Weber45
S/C CR gearbox and drop gears - Location: Longford
- Contact:
-
- IMOC Paid Member
- Posts: 2680
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:44 pm
- Whats your location?: Between an A series and a G13B
- Region: Eastern
- What Minis have you?: 61 van,68 MKII,
75 Clubman estate,
80 1275GT
91 RSP Cooper - Location: Between an A series and a G13B
- Contact:
personally i believe it would be a grave mistake to convert from auto to manual because if for instance you were attacked and savaged by a yeti(a creature almost as unique as the dnce) and the only way to save your life was to amputate a leg than an auto dnce would be perfect for a mono leg driver(though cold morning take offs might pose a slight problem but you could always use a bit of 2x1)
- The Marcos Graveyard
- IMOC Paid Member
- Posts: 4720
- Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2005 10:05 am
- Whats your location?: Longford
- Region: Eastern
- What Minis have you?: 1971 Mini Marcos.
1984 Mini Sprite - Modifications: 1380cc
Weber45
S/C CR gearbox and drop gears - Location: Longford
- Contact:
- The Marcos Graveyard
- IMOC Paid Member
- Posts: 4720
- Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2005 10:05 am
- Whats your location?: Longford
- Region: Eastern
- What Minis have you?: 1971 Mini Marcos.
1984 Mini Sprite - Modifications: 1380cc
Weber45
S/C CR gearbox and drop gears - Location: Longford
- Contact:
Another of the green eyed brigade, If Milton is on the forum, I'm sure he will verify the existence of the DNCE, in fact it hasn't changed much since the day he saw it when I picked it up in England, Paul Kelly is familiar with the car as well and was able to fill in some of the historical details about it.
I don't know whether to be honoured or saddened by your envy guys.
I don't know whether to be honoured or saddened by your envy guys.
-
- IMOC Paid Member
- Posts: 2680
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:44 pm
- Whats your location?: Between an A series and a G13B
- Region: Eastern
- What Minis have you?: 61 van,68 MKII,
75 Clubman estate,
80 1275GT
91 RSP Cooper - Location: Between an A series and a G13B
- Contact:
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