Mini Door Release Cable
December 18, 2024
While out on our Mince Pie Drive, the driver’s door release cable snapped on our 1961 Austin Mini 850. Once it had finished helping us
1961 Austin Mini 850
Minis Everywhere
December 5, 2024
It’s a busy Mini today in the workshops as we prepare for our Cooper S to be delivered to Geoff later in the week. We’ve
Austin Mini Clutch Hose
November 13, 2024
Technician Jonn has been looking at our beautiful 1961 Austin Mini. He has been working on the clutch hose and has made the following notes:
Mini Repairs
November 12, 2024
Our 1961 Austin Mini has been in the workshop being checked over by Jonn. Here are his notes: Clean outlets and refit rad hoses. Carry
1961 Austin Mini – Recommission
November 7, 2024
Having been off the road but dry stored for some time, we have started the assessment and repairs required on our 1961 Austin Mini. I
Transporting A Classic Mini
October 14, 2024
Tony recently collected our 1961 Austin Mini and brought it to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
Arrivals And Departures
October 11, 2024
We have recently welcomed several new vehicles into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop. The first is our 2013 Land Rover Defender 110 and, as you
Mini Door Release Cable
December 18, 2024
While out on our Mince Pie Drive, the driver’s door release cable snapped on our 1961 Austin Mini 850.
Once it had finished helping us spread some festive cheer to local care homes, Jonn repaired the cable and it is now back as good as new!
Minis Everywhere
December 5, 2024
It’s a busy Mini today in the workshops as we prepare for our Cooper S to be delivered to Geoff later in the week. We’ve carried out the pre delivery inspection and noticed a fuel leak from carb float bowl.
We’ve taken the car outside to warm her up.
Checked for previous fuel leak and no signs of leak anymore.
Next up, we’ve carried out a long road test, under different driving conditions using P1 fuel. We’ve cruised at 30, 50, 60 and 70mph and all seems to be ok. The car accelerates well at all speeds. The idle speed is a little erratic but doesn’t stall or cut out at all and drives lovely. We’ve rechecked for fuel leak and it appears to have stopped now. We suspected the needle valve was stuck in offside carb.
Now, it’s time to make history here at Bridge Classic Cars as we fill her up with our new P1 fuel, right to the brim.
Rob then took the car away for some final bits of filming but annoyingly the fuel leak has reappeared. Jon has remove the float bowl lid, freed off the needle valve and checked over and now all seems ok.
Now on to Mini number 2, our 1961 Austin Mini 850. Molly has been out to shoot the car today and has reported that it struggles to stay running. Jon has now attended to the stalling issue by removing the air filter and carburettor suction chamber and piston.
We have thoroughly cleaned both and checked for piston free fall in suction chamber. It was a bit sticky so we have lubed up, refitted and refilled the damper oil. The air filter has been refitted.
Road test and adjust idle speed.
The brakes pull to the right slightly under hard braking which we will need to address but otherwise the car now drives fine.
We have adjusted the front brakes and retest and now it is much better.
Austin Mini Clutch Hose
November 13, 2024
Technician Jonn has been looking at our beautiful 1961 Austin Mini. He has been working on the clutch hose and has made the following notes:
Fit new clutch slave cylinder flexible hose. Refit cylinder and bleed system. Top up fluid. Clutch dragging. Repeat bleeding process 3 more times but still the same. Adjust clutch arm stop. Bleed again but force piston back into cylinder when bleeding. Test. Ok now, top up fluid.carry out stop adjustment and arm nuts according to manual. Refit return spring. Remove exhaust manifold to downpipe clamp. Clean and seal up, refit and secure. Torque wheel nuts and refit locking wheel nut covers.put 5ltrs fuel in and take outside and warm up. Richen mixture and adjust idle. Carry out road test. Brakes pull to right. Staling at idle and door unlock cable inside drivers door come off.
Jack up and adjust brakes. Remove drivers door lock. Refit interior release cable and refit lock and test. Adjust striker plate and test. Car requires road test to check brakes and tune during pdi.
Mini Repairs
November 12, 2024
Our 1961 Austin Mini has been in the workshop being checked over by Jonn. Here are his notes:
Clean outlets and refit rad hoses. Carry out vacuum test. Fit a small washer to heater valve to help seal. Re vacuum test and tighten all hose clips. Refill with new coolant. Raise in air and clean and blow off underneath. Remove wheels. Strip nearside rear brake and remove wheel,cylinder. Let brake fluid leak out to drain system of old fluid.
Continue brake repairs. Modify both rear brake backplate to accept new cylinders with larger bll3d nipples. Fit rear cylinders in turn. Clean and delip drums and refit. Strip offside front brake and cylinder. Fit new cylinder and eecu3. Refill reservoir and bleed all brakes. Adjust all brakes and pressure test for leaks. Remove and clean out washer bottle. Refill and refit. Burn off frayed part of nearside seat belt. Refit wheels.
1961 Austin Mini – Recommission
November 7, 2024
Having been off the road but dry stored for some time, we have started the assessment and repairs required on our 1961 Austin Mini. I very much doubt we will need much work to get the car back on the road.
We’ve stripped and fitted a new clutch slave cylinder. The new clutch slave cylinder is slightly different to the existing so we’ve had to reposition the return spring.
We’ve removed all the old fluid from the reservoir and filled up with new. Next, we’ve let the gravity feed down to cylinder and repositioned the flexi hose.
We’ve removed the fuel tank and we’ve discovered that it is not too bad at all inside.
We’ve used the petrol to swill around inside, gathering all the sedative before draining again.
The tank has been refitted and secured into position. The hose from tank to electric pump needed replacing so we’ve done that too before blowing out the old fuel line. Fitted the pipes and secured.
Next, we’ve added 4 ltrs of petrol in to the tank and checked for leaks. All is ok.
The sump has been refitted and filled with oil. We’ve run the car up and all is ok. The oil light went out and no visible leaks present so all good so far.
Switch off and top up oil. We’ve then drained the coolant, removed the heater valve, stripped, cleaned and free off before rebuilding.
New gaskets have been made and refitted with new nuts and washers.
The clutch slave cylinder has been bled but the pedal still doesn’t feel right. The clutch is not returning. We’ve traced the fault to a collapsed flexi hose.
Strip and remove the carburettor which is full of dirt inside. We’ve cleaned all parts and blown out. Fitted new jet tube and needle valve and set to basic setting.
We’ve cleaned the pistons, fitted new gaskets and refitted the carb with new air filter.
Strip and fit new spark plugs points and condenser.
Next up, we’ve drained 9 litres oil, cleaned out filter housing and fitted a new filter. Then we’ve run 1 litre of oil through the engine and left it to drain.
Removed the rocker cover and adjusted the tappets. Re-stuck the gasket and refitted rocker cover before draining the fuel tank.
Grease all points, fitted a new battery.
The boot was in desperate need of a hoover.
Then we cut off old hold down bolt, drilled out to fit 3/8unf bolt and secured.
Transporting A Classic Mini
October 14, 2024
Tony recently collected our 1961 Austin Mini and brought it to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
Arrivals And Departures
October 11, 2024
We have recently welcomed several new vehicles into the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.
The first is our 2013 Land Rover Defender 110 and, as you can see, it is quite the beast! After our 90 went into competition, it was decided that this is the one that will take its place.
The next to arrive was our 1961 Austin Mini 850.
Everyone here loves a classic Mini and this one looks to be in great shape. We are very excited for this to be won through Bridge Classic Cars Competitions in the very near future.
Another future competition car arrived in the form of our 1960 Triumph TR3.
Again, a beautiful classic that someone is going to win very soon.
After all these arrivals, we also said goodbye to one of our projects. Our 1966 MG Midget left the workshop to be delivered back to its owner.
