The Lowly Gentlemen 1974 Austin Mini

[Rally]

If you need I can help sourcing stuff let me know. I'm an electronics tech and I've got a stack of catalogs with different connectors, bulkhead mounts and supplies of that nature.

Also, if you can afford it, look into the DYMO Rhino label maker. It prints labels on shrink tube.

Thanks man...that's greatly appreciated. I'll definitely keep you in mind as I'm sure your expertise would come in handy.

Love seeing work being done to the mini. I dont evny the wiring harness challenge ahead. Even with the simplicity of older cars, its still a pain. It will be worth it to have it all sorted out though. Are you going to be adding or upgrading anything electronically, or keeping it as it was?

If anything I'll be simplifying it as far as removing some of the unnecessary options, but I'll probably update the core structure of the harness because Lucas was a bit infamous of their electrical systems

I'm hoping I like the harness making as much as I think I'm going to, haha. I usually prefer the problem solving tedium of organization over things like rust repair and cleaning, so it might be enjoyable.

[Keith602]

Love seeing work being done to the mini. I dont evny the wiring harness challenge ahead. Even with the simplicity of older cars, its still a pain. It will be worth it to have it all sorted out though. Are you going to be adding or upgrading anything electronically, or keeping it as it was?

[Jlyons617]

Yeah that's the plan. I just wanted to make sure I understood what I would need and how it was originally routed before I started putting my own together. I'm not sure how fancy I'll get with it in the end, but I'd love to put together a loom akin to the motorsport ones with the quick connectors and such.

If you need I can help sourcing stuff let me know. I'm an electronics tech and I've got a stack of catalogs with different connectors, bulkhead mounts and supplies of that nature.

Also, if you can afford it, look into the DYMO Rhino label maker. It prints labels on shrink tube.

[Rally]

Have you thought about replacing the entire harness. Might be easier than dealing with an old cut harness.

Yeah that's the plan. I just wanted to make sure I understood what I would need and how it was originally routed before I started putting my own together. I'm not sure how fancy I'll get with it in the end, but I'd love to put together a loom akin to the motorsport ones with the quick connectors and such.

[Jlyons617]

Have you thought about replacing the entire harness. Might be easier than dealing with an old cut harness.

[Rally]

Does the steering column come out between the pedals?

Yeah, it comes up right between the clutch and brake.

[catuned]

making good progress Andrew!

[floatingdino]

Does the steering column come out between the pedals?

[99sil-teg]

Showing off your sweet car with your sweet pics lol

[Rally]

In anticipation of the engine build, I went ahead and pulled the 998 A-Series out and began deciphering the wiring mess under the hood. With a previous owner adding a stereo himself, it has taken some time to figure out what he added to the stock loom.









I proceeded to get the car up high on 4 jack stands because the next step is to address the rusty floors and sills. Somewhere along the way, someone decided it'd be a grand idea to simply weld a patch over a rust spot of the sills, leaving the old sill to rust away behind the new panel. The Mini sills are already notorious rust spots, but this certainly didn't help the situation. A little poking revealed what I'm up against. I already have all the panels to completely replace it all.

[MkI]

Good luck mate. I have a classic mini, and love them. The conversion has been done a few times with great success. If you get some time check out www.ausmini.com, there is a lot of info and people who know this stuff back to front (even make proper conversion kits, turbos, plenums, etc)

Love the photography style, its a raw and fresh view. Subscribed!

[theseeker411]

Too awesome dude! I seriously need to get out to CA this summer.

[Rally]

I've never been very interested in these cars until I took the time to read what you're doing with this one. I never knew there was so much to them.!

Thanks They're a car with a really rich history and a successful pedigree in racing.

I just put an in depth Daily Grind article up on the homepage documenting the progress and plans.

http://www.stanceworks.com/2014/04/lowly-gentlemen-austin-mini-build/

I've recently been dis-assembling the 1275 engine to prepare the block for the machining.

[aLaFleur]

I've never been very interested in these cars until I took the time to read what you're doing with this one. I never knew there was so much to them. You've got my attention now sir, keep up the good work!

[Rally]

I have also not ever seen a repro/original parcel shelf with no speaker holes in it. I've always seen the rover typical panel:

I believe early models didn't have speaker holes, but no one produces them any longer so it's either speaker repros, sourcing one from an early parts car, or fabricating one.