Some Mini parts are getting harder to get, but a lot of stuff is also being remanufactured in the UK (and some in Japan). Availablility is much better than with many other classics, and prices aren't too high by comparison with other major overseas marques. OK you may be able to stuff an imported yank big block into a Falcon or Torana comparatively cheaply but you're still going to pay big bills to have the body repaired and repainted.

Availability of second hand parts is also still pretty good for Minis, with perhaps then exception of Copper S stuff.

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Slide
1965 Mini Van (1360)
1970 Mk2 Cooper S (1310)
1978 Rover SD1 V8 (4.6)
1996 Land Rover Discovery V8 (4.0)

Expensive?
I just had a guy here picking up a Moke canopy frame
- he found Mini distributor caps "Discount" at KMart for $1.67
he bought 2 & they only rang up as $0.67, so he went back & bought the last couple

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Too many cars, and too little time.

Mac

You keep talking crate motors, they are not that cheap, a Gen 111 is about $3000 for a long motor and doesnt have any ancillories and the ford crates are about the same if not dearer depending whether you get complete or just a long. Performance well they would want to perform they are 5ltrs or bigger and as for reliability the Gen 111 has been a dog since being introduced here and rumor has it the fords are much the same leaking oil like its going out of fashion as well as piston/ bore problems.

Minis are not the fastest cars on the road but they have a style and character that appeals to some people if you want performance and reliability buy a Jap import, Holdens and Fords are more expensive than a mini to build, a mate of mine has been building a XY GT look a like for over 15 years and it owes him over $30,000 so far, like all things its always a work in progress.

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Roundies and Clubbies(except vans) are both ugly that is why I have Midas and a van
1293 Mini Midas Bronze,1275 Clubman van

yeah i know dont get me wrong MINIS are great and i have had nothing else which is why i was asking the Question in the first place as i have had no experience with other makes
All i know is i hear of mini engines being built for the likes of 15000 - 20000 and they are making like 100-150 bhp and not all that reliably and then i see these ford and holden engines giving like 300-400 hp for between 5000-7000 and with out as much stess on parts
But minis rock so i am willing to pay a little more

The other thing is there is only one mini mechanic in Brisbane that i would let touch my minis *Matt Read* and i have learnt this through numerous experiences with others
If they are so easy to work on why do so many mechanics get it wrong and only a few get it right
Given i havnt tried everyone but geez i dont have enough money to throw away getting things fixed twice becuz people dont do it right 1st time

I actually think mini parts are cheap.
I have an FC ute and an EH wagon. Can't pick up a reasonable guard for less the 150 these days. Try to get a Nasco heater for less then 300 bucks. Not to mention the switch. What about a VDO clock. if you have one sell it to me I won't tell you what they are worth. A spare wheel well door for the ute perhaps? I have three, paid 150 each, still can't make a decent one from them all. Guard strips... 80 bucks each... uncracked steering wheel... 300 bucks..... fc ute fuel tank... 500 bucks.... geesus.. how much for mini stuff like that? try to find an fc ute shell for less the 1500. if it doesn't buckle getting on the trailer.
like they said, apples and oranges.
ne way... 400 hp in an old holden won't run the rings of a mini on race day

Mac

It is a problem these days finding a mechanic to work on mini's, most of the so called mechanics these days are bloody hopeless when you take them away from there HolForNissMazToyotus and if you cant hook it up to a fault diagnosis machine are pretty bloody useless. Its worthwhile when you find a good one to stick with them, you have Matt up there and Fred Sayers there somewhere and Paul Gulson down on the Goldcoast and what these guys don't know about mini's is not worth knowing. Most decent BMC/Leyland trained mechanics are now in the 50s plus and are hard to find

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Roundies and Clubbies(except vans) are both ugly that is why I have Midas and a van
1293 Mini Midas Bronze,1275 Clubman van

what matters if you want to be quick, isnt power so much as it is power to weight ratio.. mini is light so doesnt need anywhere near as much horsepower to be competitive with a heavy tank.
parts can be bought extremely cheap if you take time and look around if you need a specialised part then expect to pay more, but that applies to anything in life..
ie car stereo can be bought for $40 0r $4000+, both will play music..
doing as much of the grunt work yourself, and only farming out what you cant do to people who know there stuff will save you loads.. asking and listening here will save you loads.. getting out and meeting local ausmini members will help locating bits and pieces..
i payed 1800 for my yellow mini Dimmu. with a budget of $250 and spares i had laying about, it has an 1100 motor now and has has a quick tidy up.. still needs some body work, but it will probably be going again tomorrow. sure its no beauty but it will be presentable and reliable for under $3000 which i think is pretty reasonable.. if i want to replace everything to make it like new then it should be compared costwise with a new car. and this isnt unreasonable as a new small car wont have half the charactor or coolness.

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No longer Ms Westwoods mini outside her original kings road shop

b4 mini's there were mopars in my drive but the cost for part is what killed it outright ....... although one of there new 600plus cube monsters with 800+hp at the flywheel would make it all worth it hmmmmmm now were can i get a cheap pheonix
makka
oh yeah you will not get change out of 18000 grand for the motor

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Anonymous moderation means the agro that is built up towards the mods isn't aimed at an individual (fewer "Makk" attacks). Less stress for mods means less moderator "retirements".

Restorations ARE expensive.
I can see myself spending in excess of six thousand dollars on my deluxe.
And thats just a 'quick' resto.
Nothing flash really.
Just a new outside & engine bay paint job, 'shitty' 998 (theyre still good!, and this ones an A+), new bumbers, grille, moustache, tail lights, new rubbers all round.

Add a grand for wheels and tyres, at least.

Yeah its not cheap, or for the impatient, or feint hearted!
And by the end of it there will be lots of regrets/whatever, so take your time, plan it out, and make sure its right FIRST time, so you don't have to go back and make changes to silly bits you missed out on/didnt pay attention to in the first place.

That is all.

GOod luck with the build! If you decide to do one.

ditto makka would love to afford another dodge in my drive with a mini in the boot as a spare.. one look inside that boot and you know that concept isnt quite as dumb as it sounds.
remenber that smallest mini post.... hmmm now thats an idea .. dodge with custom boot ramp and mini mini inside..

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No longer Ms Westwoods mini outside her original kings road shop

They are expensive to restore, run and maintain. Part's in particular are a lot more than other makes and don't seem to last as long. Mechanic's hate them,because the engine is hard to access.Still, you've got to love them.

Having restored a Fiat 124S once, I reckon Mini parts are cheap. At least we can still get 'em...
Bloody miracle if you ask me, just try and buy body parts for anything else 30+ years old...

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Doc, a Triumph Stag is equivilant to your Fiat.

Not quite- Stag V8 motors are crap, at least Fiat twincams are bulletproof... (if U change the cam belt every 50,000 miles)

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Figjam

wait untill the mini guys have to pay $180-250 for a water pump like you do for a Stag/Dolomite . I can no longer buy balljoints for the dolomite except of the UK dolomite club and you have to wait in line untill they get them rebuilt, isnt owning old cars fun

Doc

fiats are good mechanically but hell I think they own the patent on rust in bodies

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Roundies and Clubbies(except vans) are both ugly that is why I have Midas and a van
1293 Mini Midas Bronze,1275 Clubman van