I can lift the steering wheel up and down slightly (probably a few mm) it pivots on the clamp that holds it to the dash... so it can move up and down where the U bolt is (where it goes into the firewall)... is this bad? I'm not sure if it did this before... Is something loose?

If you can push/pull it into and out of the floor panel yes it's bad... must be loose on the spline of the rack's pinion shaft.
If there's a gap there tighten the clamp bolt up- if no gap, take it apart and check the splines. In worst case you will be up for another steering column shaft... if not too bad, you can make the slot wider using 2 hacksaw blades, then tighten the bolt more.

This is real serious, don't keep driving with it loose- or one day soon the car will go straight ahead when you turn the wheel.

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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.

Ah thanks for the reply.. yep I've heard it's pretty dangerous, damn.. I can't actually pull or push it in and out.. just up and down.. not sure if that makes any difference? I'll go have a try at tightening the U-bolt, see if that helps at all. I'm not very good when it comes to the steering rack.. never had to adjust anything here before.

Its not a U Bolt...its a pinch bolt/clamp bolt that clamps the bottom of the column to the splined pinion coming out of the rack...sometimes people assembly this bolt and nut so that it can move up and down (which is WRONG!).

By all means check the tighness of the four nuts on the steering rack U Bolts on the firewall....they should be good and tight.

Do it soon so that you get to grow old like me and the Doc

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"Show me the Mini!"

Watch the bottom of the steering column when you move it as you said, see if inner shaft moves in the outer column.
There a bush (usually felt) inside the column at the bottom, and a nylon bush at the top. One or both may be stuffed. Easy to fix.

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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.

Oh I see... So the U-bolt is the engine side of the firewall... and those 4 nuts on the inside of the firewall are to tighten them? I was getting it mixed up.. Cool, I'll go check all of them..

Can't wait till I'm an old man

Check the torque on them...it ain't much...maybe 25-40ft/lbs in the old money...there are several threads on here about them...do a search before rushing out

I used to say that once....now I'm wishing I could turn back or at least slow down time so don't wish your life away mate

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"Show me the Mini!"

Doc: I think it might just be that.. I can move the inner shaft up and down while holding the outer one still.. (I'm assuming the inner shaft is inside the outer one all the way down to where the clamping bolt attaches to it?)

9YaTaH: I could only find two nuts on the firewall, they are both to the left of where the steering coloumn goes into the firewall.. They were both tight.. Where are the other two?

Yes it is. sounds like bushes are RS. soak the bottom felt bush in oil before fitting. Trim it if you absolutely have to.

The other U bolt & its nuts are on the passengers side.

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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.

So I'll have to pull the whole steering coloumn out? Where do I get new bushes from/

Sorry you'll have to excuse my lack of knowledge in this area, never had to do anything here before.

Bottom bush is split so you can fit it in. Inner shaft stays put. Take off steering wheel, blinker switch assy etc and undo the clamp at parcel tray. outer tube will slide up off.

New bushes can get at Karcraft etc.

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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.

Awsome thanks for all the help.. I'll get onto this tomorrow morning Hopefully that's all there is to it.

tell us if its fixed or not, i've got a little play in mine too, will try the same things.

Also make sure that the pinch bolt is the right size as if it is too small this will be the result as it will not fill the grouve. I once lost this bolt in My speedway Mini during a Race. Not Much fun not taking a corner and meeting a concrete fence Full Bore. That motor was only a 1485cc Job. I thought it had Power steering without responce at the wheels. Ouch. that hurt.

Pinch bolt is 1/4" UNF (grade 5) from memory. Don't ever replace it with a hardware store bolt, those are all Chinese crap now- with the tensile strength of licorice..

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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.