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 Posted: Jan 6, 2017 05:06PM
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80k is good figure for most British cars these days be it mini or mg TD trouble is the labor  is the same as jag or any other big car. The last full on concour mg TD I did came out at around 100k!  

Mini's are like buses they come along in a bunch

 Posted: Jan 6, 2017 04:12PM
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steve. I talked to well know resto shop in Calli today. they  have FOUR mini pick up in for full restos.. price  $80 LARGE each. ouch. ouch ouch..  bc

 Posted: Jan 6, 2017 10:52AM
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CA
Quote:
Originally Posted by h_lankford
Steve ,what about your $10,000 of labor?
Harvey
"Priceless" (as the saying goes?)

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Jan 6, 2017 08:35AM
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Steve ,what about your $10,000 of labor?
Harvey

 Posted: Jan 6, 2017 06:05AM
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End of month time to do paper work. Looks like Murphy's Law rules. Ready to reassembly the car all parts machine work and completed labor to date has us a $4500. Roughly $500. went to cyl. head converting to lead free. Around $1900. parts and labor went into tranny rebuild. The case and gears were all reused. Main shaft, lay shaft, diff. cage and normal replacement parts. The balance went into engine machine work parts and assembly. Also included are all parts to rebuild the suspension, brakes and labor to rebuild hubs and axle assemblies. Suspension is converted to fully adjustable on car. Once all together rust repair and a new Newton interior should wrap it up. When I have more time I will list the 4 legal pad pages of part numbers used so far. I will get someone to post some pictures for me. Steve (CTR) 

 Posted: Dec 25, 2016 06:12AM
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Looks like I added $798. in tranny parts not to include clutch disc, pressure plate, TO bearing, plunger, arm, push rod, clevis pins and hydraulic parts. Tranny is back on the engine and flywheel lapped on and torqued. Wear is so bad in chinese hat that will be replaced as well. Steve (CTR)

 Posted: Dec 24, 2016 12:35PM
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CA
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex

The newest MPi Mini gearbox is 16 years old.

The newest non-MPi chocolate gearbox is 20/21 years old.

The newest Metro gearbox is 26 years old, and would have had a harder life than a Mini 'box.

We're dealing with old parts now, made to a budget for a dwindling model - I expect to change every bearing, the layshaft, synchros and probably selectors, as well as dipping into the parts bucket for second gears.

Thanks for this perspective on ageing Minis. I'll remember it and have more consideration for my Mini with a Metro drive-train.

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Dec 24, 2016 07:15AM
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GB

The newest MPi Mini gearbox is 16 years old.

The newest non-MPi chocolate gearbox is 20/21 years old.

The newest Metro gearbox is 26 years old, and would have had a harder life than a Mini 'box.

We're dealing with old parts now, made to a budget for a dwindling model - I expect to change every bearing, the layshaft, synchros and probably selectors, as well as dipping into the parts bucket for second gears.

 Posted: Dec 24, 2016 06:44AM
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Once again I have rebuilt a DAM 5626 tranny complete. Other than the racing dog boxes I have never put so many new parts in a gear box. The trannys that come out from under 998 s are normally in better shape. This one leads me to believe it lived under a 1275 for some period. Bad 18 mm spigot on third motion shaft. Broken ball spacer on double ball bearing on 3 rd motion shaft. Bad lay shaft, synchros and forks. Worn diff. pin and spiders and bearing fit on diff. cage. Picking though idler thrusts and housing gaskets was able to get idler float down to .004. The primary started at .010 and selecting bits I was able to get it to .004 as well. Every bearing was replaced and all preloads and clearances checked and adjusted. The diff. side covers rebushed and align honed.

Just so I know, I worked on this tranny only from picking it off the floor with pots in place till ready to attach to engine. All labor to include cleaning all housing parts and internal bits. That includes replacing the idler and first motion support in clutch housing 16 hours. I have every reason to believe this tranny under a stock rebuild 998 will be doing it's job for a very long time. Steve (CTR) 

 Posted: Dec 13, 2016 05:38AM
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I fully understand how hard it is to come out ahead on a mini or any project car for that matter. I sometimes wonder if a nice paint job and flashy interior alone will sell a car weather there is anything under there or not. I have cars come in looking good but with thousands in repairs required and nice paint and interior. Most are hiding tons of rust and bondo. It's not unusual for a car to need a couple thousand in floor and or sill repair. Picking the right car can go a long way toward enjoying you mini experience. Hard as it is to believe I have customer cars I refuse to test drive till we bring them up to a min. safety level. Funny, tell someone you would not suggest they drive their car till repairs are made. They drive it in have work done and drive it home. I offer trailer service but when to tight to get suspension and brake work done, can't pay for a ride. One and a half pumps is not good drum brake performance. Steve (CTR) 

 Posted: Dec 12, 2016 09:20AM
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We have sold 2 Classics that we built - one a 1275 MG Metro powered sedan for $12,500 (in 2004), the second a 1380 powered sedan for $16,500 (in 2013).

Even at those prices with Minis that had very few flaws, we did not get everything out of them.

Jemal is right, some of what we do - the unpaid sweat labour - is because we like it!

When we were finished with Mini travel in Australia, I had friends there that said the market for good window Vans was strengthening.  I could sell the Mini for more than I paid & the parts installed.  No, I shipped it home for $4,300 (costs, taxes, safety certification) because I was quite keen on the Mini.  Might be able to get twice that cost today, perhaps more...but I am still keen on the Mini.

 Posted: Dec 12, 2016 05:51AM
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Rebuilding the engine has been fun. Head got full unlead treatment with a min surface cut and rocker shaft. Block honed, cleaned, bearings, cam & lifters, oil pump, timing chain, gears and tensioner.  The tranny is getting everything replaced bearings, forks, synchros, detent springs, diff. kit and  side cover bushings. After a 20 min. test run on engine stand if it don't leak it will go back in. Leaks are much easier to locate and repair out of the car. 

I'd like to think new ball joints, wheel bearings and brakes all around with fully adjustable suspension aligned correctly will help it roll easy. It won't be long and a new compression and leak down test should show running on all cyls. Then a fresh set of tires, new Newton interior and address any rust in the car and it should be a upper middle class 998. 

This car was bought in about 2000 as a last year of high school and four years of college car for the owners son. Very min use since son moved to west coast. Car will never be a cal. car. If we have to hang on to the car at least it will be in top shape and still stored inside. Steve (CTR)

 Posted: Dec 11, 2016 12:05PM
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When paying $8500 or above for that matter a good running engine and gearbox is expected.
Will the recent repairs add value ? Probably not to the amount of repairs when hop labour is considered.
If it were my car at this point i would fix the rest and look for the high end numbers for a 998 like $11 to $12k and have the receipts handy, someone will bite.
As far as mpg. On a new car usually the mpg is lower as everything is bedding in and they seem to get their best mileage when they are below 100k in my experience, once over that threshold the mileage starts to drop.
I would say if the owner puts some miles on it (say 5,000) it should get close to the figures you posted.
Next time when offered $500 less take it. There is an old saying in the car biz "first offer is usually the best offer" and i can testify to that LOL.

If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.

Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.

 Posted: Dec 10, 2016 06:17AM
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I have seen this car in Steves shop and his good work. Someone would be lucky to buy this for a nice Christmas present.

 Posted: Dec 9, 2016 03:28PM
 Edited:  Dec 12, 2016 07:06AM
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cooper tune.. like I said. $4k in the  SAD shape  it is in NOW , with bad TICKER. Trans gender. ect ect ect.. later b c ps for $8500 for plain jane 998.. I would expect.. demand. is better word..  that is run , drive and stop.. good paint , good tyres and very little cancer..and have proper US title.. BUT I have NOT imported or sold a classic mini in many years..for resell  .. so might be out of touch. in  late 2016..

 Posted: Dec 9, 2016 02:37PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeinNC
I have seen the car and Steve's work   It will be a neat little car for someone, maybe even the owner will want to keep it now  
MikeinNC... your avatar photo looks eerily familiar!

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Dec 8, 2016 06:50AM
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So it didn't sell fast or well BEFORE the inspection and tear down... then the price was too high. (not enough value)

 Many repairs and fixes will add Value to justify a certain price.

Price is reflective of the Value that you are receiving.   Upon walking up to a car if it can look great and feel great + and it will sell fast... 

Value is added after all these repairs are complete and the buyer is knowing that any issues may have been resolved with a revised price. Reads to me like it will now be a mechanically top spec 988  now with a so-so visual appearance. (if it shows rust and Needs carpet)  so your value is still comprimised. 

When I sold my SPI== I first skoffed at a 1200$ nose paint job (bubbles, ugly paint) fixes to this and that.  = but it had to be done ...So i went ahead and  paid the 1200$ = It looked great = sold in 1 week  for every penny I asked.   


Value = perceived benefits received
                    perceived price paid

 

 Posted: Dec 8, 2016 06:42AM
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I have seen the car and Steve's work   It will be a neat little car for someone, maybe even the owner will want to keep it now  

 Posted: Dec 8, 2016 05:42AM
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So I don't confuse anyone the owner is fine. His wife suffered a serious heart condition earlier this year and been though a lot. When one reaches their mid 60's they realize what is really important and adjust. More of what is important to her and less toys for him. 

I agree the cost of this repair may be greater than the added value to the car. I'm sure some of us know the cost of a rebuilt engine. We also have an idea of the cost of a tranny rebuild. Removing , powder coating front sub and building it up with adjustable bits and doing the brakes complete is not cheap. Repairing the only rust issue on the car will pay. I'm a firm believer in the interior sells a mini also. 

Funny I have ask all my smart engineer types the MPG question. No one seems to care or want to answer. According to Vizard the cam in most 998 s is designed to have a flat power curve and good mpg. More MPG than power but a good balance. I drove this car on and off for a year. It ran well just not fast with no sign of a bad cyl. With for sale signs in the rear windows I got a call each time I drove the car. Asking price was $8500. and I have had so many $8000. offers I wish we had taken one.

In about $1500. in parts and $1000 labor which includes machine work. Everything has been cleaned, glass beaded and painted. Now it goes back together and the labor for that starts today. Steve (CTR)  

 Posted: Dec 8, 2016 12:53AM
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Actually my friend Rich found a place here in Spokane that painted his mini for about $3500...Guy does real nice work and works out of the back of a gas station with his son....I think it's a gas station. I think Rich just got done painting his 3rd car, an America, a Mini and something else...maybe the clubman, but sending a car to Spokane is a long long way from your coast.

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