Newb just got an Irish 74 Estate w/ 1275cc swap
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:22 pm
Well I haven't owned a Mini since 1995 so I'd call myself a newbie. And that one was never on the road! I do have 26 years experience with 1950's American cars and trucks. I moved to Cork from California in 2018. Then bought a house near the Ballyhoura Mountains in Co. Limerick 10 days before Lockdown 1.0.
I decided I wanted to return to a Mini since it was the first car my wife of 28 years saw me with. But this time I lucked out and got everything I wanted in a Mini that I didn't know I wanted. So what did I get... 1974 Mini Estate, Irish built with Shamrock Glass and a 1275cc Metro engine swap already done.
I retired from law enforcement days before we moved so this is exactly the project I want. Needs some basic maintenance before she's reliable. First thing is getting the starter/solenoid to actually engage the ring gear rather than spin uselessly. And she has to get painted YELLOW with Minilite style wheels and a timber roof rack. Those are requirements for me. Other than that I just want to keep her driving daily.
Restoration was done quite a while ago. She's now showing rust bubbles but looks pretty darn solid structurally!
I'm open to help, advice and making friends. Not interested in politics, bashing or being told I have to build my car a certain way. I won't do that to you either.
I decided I wanted to return to a Mini since it was the first car my wife of 28 years saw me with. But this time I lucked out and got everything I wanted in a Mini that I didn't know I wanted. So what did I get... 1974 Mini Estate, Irish built with Shamrock Glass and a 1275cc Metro engine swap already done.
I retired from law enforcement days before we moved so this is exactly the project I want. Needs some basic maintenance before she's reliable. First thing is getting the starter/solenoid to actually engage the ring gear rather than spin uselessly. And she has to get painted YELLOW with Minilite style wheels and a timber roof rack. Those are requirements for me. Other than that I just want to keep her driving daily.
Restoration was done quite a while ago. She's now showing rust bubbles but looks pretty darn solid structurally!
I'm open to help, advice and making friends. Not interested in politics, bashing or being told I have to build my car a certain way. I won't do that to you either.