Well... The mini didnt pass. And it was frustrating.
I admit the oil leaks are pretty bad, and the right indicator might not blink as brightly as the left.... But I could read the engine number alright.

It was an interesting trip.

First of all, trying to find the place, I had to call mum and ask her to tell me where it was on the map, as it wasnt where we thought it would be.
On the way, every time we went to pull over, this guy behind us pulled over as well. After a while we assumed that our boot must have come open and we decided to pull over and chcek.
The guy was actually following us because he also has a mini, same model, same year I think, but a matic. He asked if we were lost, and we said yes, and that we were on our way to go get a blue slip. He told us about this other truck mechanic place that passed his car after it had been sitting in a shed for 6 years, and passed his ute, which he said was a piece of shite. So we thought we might go there if we got stuffed around at this place we were going to.

So when we got there, the mechanic came out and went to start checking over the car.
I had to tell the mechanic how to get it into reverse so he could get it into the work shop.
Then I had to tell him that the reason he couldnt find a compliance plate was because it didnt need one...... (it's a 67 morris.)
Then we couldnt ind the chassi number. So I called Dean (Big Bad) and found it by the radiator (it wasnt on the fire wall.... so it may as well have no been tere, he moved onto looing at other things while I was finding out from dean where it should be) Thanks to Dean for that also.
Then he couldnt read the engine number. So he had to call the RTA and get them to fax him out a sheet with the number, model, manual/auto, you know the one.
My engine number wasnt on there. So I called Ian (sports850) Thanks again Ian for your time.
Ian found a book, and a thread on ausmini, with my engine number (morris 1100s) and something about the RTA having issues with the prefix in their system. Aparently this is also the case with a late model moke.
So now once I have it passed the blue slip, I have to get the RTA to book me in with some guy to check up on the numbers and maybe have it restamped (chassi number was beyond readable. I could see maybe 4 numbers)

So then, while standing by the office I looked over at my car and he w as half in the back of it looking at the seats. I thought his next issue may be that there was no back seat. He was talking with dad. I later asked dad what he was going on about. He wanted to know whether it was a 2 seater or 4 seater, as if it was a 4 seater, it would need back seat belts....... *starts closing bonnet lid on head*

its been an interesting day.
Thanks to Dean and Ian for your help.

Cass

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Talk is Cheap because Supply Exceeds Demand

a 67 is legal with NO rear belts. My `70 has none, never did and got regoed as 4 seater. I'd tell him to F/off, find another tester...
People that don't know the RTA rules shouldn't be issuing Blueslips...

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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.

Where is this place?
Did they give you a list of things to be fixed?
Bloody mini-unknowledgeable inspectors

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1962 850

Don't forget it has no rear seats as well as no belts though . Put a rear seat in it Cass and you can then explain it didn't have belts as standard due to it's age but it is still a 4 seater . Taking it without rear seats only opens it up to more arguments about 2 or 4 seater .

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I dont think I can talk troy into putting a rear seat in it at the moment.
I'll just explain that the guy before us raced it and probably took them out to make it lighter or something.

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Talk is Cheap because Supply Exceeds Demand

Cass
No no no - dont even suggest it might have been raced. That will create more problems than its solves.

Just beg borrow or steal a rear seat back and rear seat squab. Make sure it has no significant rips and definately no steel springs showing. Whack a seat cover on it necessary.

Were you given written list of things to repair or he just didn't pass it. ???

Did you put the car up on ramps and presssure clean the engine before you took it. ??? You must - all minis leak oil but a clean engine doesn;t look as bad or attract attention.

Sorry girl but you have just gotta take it on the chin and fix the problems and take it back with them repaired.

Mike

I'm pretty sure I still have the two bits of a brown vynil clubman rear seat here , I'll check in the morning , but not sure how to get it to you . they do just sit in there and it will only have to be there , no mod's neccesary , they just sit there .

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Dont worry Mike. I am taking it one the chin. But I'll be childish and angry about it if it will make me feel better. However. With the range of cars the guy had sitting in his place, I'd expect him to know about compliance and ADR's.

I will think about borrowing a back seat for it. He didnt say anything about it not having a seat there, just that it needed seatbelts if its a four seater.

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Talk is Cheap because Supply Exceeds Demand

Cass, If you want a rear seat I have one spare, its brown vinyl out of a clubby, I think it's in good enough nick to get you through rego. Let me know.

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1962 850

Hehehe.
Thanks for the offer of seats guys. But the guy didnt say there was anything wrong with the back seat.
Just that there are oil leaks that need to be fixed. and the right front indicator needs to be fixed (its not cright enough).
But if I need to borrow a seat I know who to call. THanks

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Talk is Cheap because Supply Exceeds Demand

If it's a 67 then the chassis number is on the firewall and the number on the shroud is the body number, they are different. If it doesn't have a plate on it then you'll most likely get a police number unless you have rego papers from a previous owner with the same number combo on it.

69 model came out with only number on the shroud, but same thing, you need paperwork to prove prior history. RTA will tell you if the number is already being used by someone else, in that case its down to the COp shop for a police number too.

4 seater, no belts in the rear (ask the d$#%ed to find where they bolt to!) as the others said.

Stick a seat in the back or say it's getting retrimmed, don't ever say any car used to be a race car, even if it was. It's this stupid mentality like people still fit "diesel squirters to do burnouts". Cars now have more than enough hp to turn the std cheesecutters they come out with. They think that all race cars are stolen cars cause many racers remove the body plates(to stop others using them).

The fact you had to tell him how to get reverse is alarming, go somewhere else with a grey haired owner, they'll remeber at least what a Mini is. My local blue slip guy Lionel (At a Carlining muffler place on blaxland rd Ctown) is genuine, he always checks the balljoints and critical items, he also listens and occasionally fixes the exhaust so it stops leaking.

Sorry if I offend, but after riding a motorbike, I believe all cars should be pulled up for oil leaks, nothing more scary than trying to stop a traffic lights after light rain with all the oil soaked in from dripping cars/trucks/busses & bikes.

Daniel

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Videos - Turbocharged A-Series on Dyno & at Wakefield
Mafs waz not my strong subgeckt at skkol

I agree. the oil leaks need to be stopped.
I'll use the story that the back seats been pulled out to be retrimmed if it becomes an issue.
whats a shroud? is that the bit near the radiator that numbers are on?
There are no numbers on the fire wall, at least not that I, dad or the man could see.

I had no idea that i would need to clean under the mini. I have never really looked for dirt or oil under one before.
For that matter today I got to stand under my mini. never done that before either.

What is the best way to clean the underside of the car? considering its not registered and I shouldnt be stopping on the way to the mechanics at car lovers or anything....?

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Talk is Cheap because Supply Exceeds Demand

Cass , just put a seat in the back , it'll keep the tester happy and will look better to the RTA guy when you go to sort out the engine number as well . It just makes the car look finished and less of a hoon machine

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cass. if you need a back seat to borrow for the test...(the bottom and top bit) i have one from a clubbie i am happy to loan you for it.. no probs...

just let me know

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The shroud is the radiator one. If the car is not a 69 model and is aust 65/66/67/68 then the number is on the firewall, generally directly behind the master cylinders. If it is a 69 model then its a Cooper S and the number is on the radiator shroud. the trouble of course is that there are always numbers on the shroud, so be sure thats the one you are after.

Try to get some paperwork for the car before you go back, even rego papers years and years old, it will make it easier to id.

Daniel

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Videos - Turbocharged A-Series on Dyno & at Wakefield
Mafs waz not my strong subgeckt at skkol