Hey I just obtained my first mini and I'm excited. Ive been after one for a while now (years) and have finally managed to gain enough extra cash to kick my obsession off. Because I am so new I'll be needing some help with some questions. First one is for my little 850 am I able to change over the doors to get wind up windows instead of the sliding ones with any model mini as long as it has external door hinges? The reason for this is that I am actually a teacher and I want to start driving to school in it. I could just emagine what the little brats at school would do if they could open the windows easy as and put something fun in there for me.
Thanks

Not to mention what they could do to a car they can lift up and carry anywhere they want

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Bob Slattery
Duffman Says A Lot of Things - OH YEAH!!

Yeah I also thought of that but I park the car right outside my staffroom and i figured a big group of guys with that in mind would stuggle to stop themselves from bursting out in laughter just at the thought. High school kids are so predictable . But the question I really need to know is where can I get some wind up windows? Can I source them off any mini even a van? It would be great if you could let me know and if anyone has any spares they want to sell in QLD hit me back

why don't you just get locks for sliding windows?

(they do exist don't they? anyone?)

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Sunday Morning Mini Sprint http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtGuzqBQ32Q my "rendezvous"

To answer the question actually asked - yes you can fit doors with wind up windows.
There is a couple of tricks for the uninitiated though. Minis used a couple of different "B" pillars during their life. The "B" pillar is the pillar is the piller where the door lock is.

You can not use doors off a clubman or even a very late roundnose as they used burst proof locking system that had an entirely different "B" pillar and door locking system. It would require extensive engineering to fit that system.

There are sublte differences between an early 850 shell and a later Mini K type in that the area around the door locks has a slightly different profile and the door and the pillar will contact when it is being closed- its just a clunk and you can minimise it with careful adjustment and good hinges.

From memory early deluxe doors just bolt on without any problems. But, the sliding windows did have locks on them to stop unwanted entry although car theives did find the mini a very attractive car back back then

Your 850 should have little push button locks on the inside of the windows that you also use to push them open or closed , does it have these or are they missing ? If they are missing you'll have two holes drilled in the lower side of the window glass . They can be found second hand and aren't too scarce if they are missing .
Wind up window doors can be fitted but providing you aren't driving the car for long periods in summer heat I'd try and keep the sliding window ones as they were pretty much unique to 850's (and early vans) and are desirable and sought after now . If you do change the doors however , keep your sliding window ones rather than selling them as they will add to the value of your car should you sell it in the future , definitely don't seel them cheap if they are any good .

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Keep the sliding window doors - the locks are quite secure and you get the benefit of the bigger door pockets to carry all your corrections home in

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Curly
'64 Cooper 'S' (Group Nb spec)
'67 Mini Marcos GT www.mm7056.wordpress.com

Or bottles of Teachers Whiskey

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"Show me the Mini!"

Or Gin and Vermouth for Issigonis's dry martini's .... Can't remember the quantities of his joke recipe but something like 9 bottles of gin and 1 of vermouth ....

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Hey guys you obviously know a few teachers there will definatly be less of the book, exams and assignments in there and more of the alchol so i can have a swig to sooth the nerves after dealing with those evil buggers all day long. Only problems with the windows is the 1) when i shut the doors they don't shut properly and are not flush i think this is the hinges what do you guys think? and 2) the locks on the windows are jammed open. Does anyone know where I can get some of these locks from?

Next pupil free day - go and see Minimatt - he should be able to free up the locks you have and assess what you need to have the existing doors opening and closing properly. It will be heaps cheaper than new (alternate) doors.

PM Matt.

Definitely know a few with that "thirst".... Are the doors shut properly when they are out slightly ? just check to see if you can push them a little further or not , you might be able to move the striker block in a bit which will hold them in more . Also , how thick and strong are your door rubbers , if they are reasonably newish they might be holding it out further . Mini doors aren't like other car doors , yoiu can't adjust anything through the hinges except for longitudinally how far forward or back (or angled) the door sits in the frame . Someone should have some latches lying around , I'll see what I've got , ebay is another good place to look and failing that some of the bigger mini shops around may have them , new or used though I'm not sure what the new ones are like .

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hey Bato

Is the 850 you got the one i posted up in the 4 sale section
if so what was the condition and how much did you pay

Open each door and try to lift it up/then let drop down.....there should not be much movement (well there is sometimes in a 40-45 year old car)....if you can move the doors up and down a say half centimetre each way then the hinges probably need repinning.

Ask Matt to check this out on your pupil free day visit

The kit is about $50 if they are saveable....too far gone and you need to fit oversize inserts.....do a search on hinge pins etc

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"Show me the Mini!"

Who is this MattMini of which you speak. Can I get some details cause I am getting some movement in the pins so I think that I will definatly have to hit him up