MiniWorld July 2019 45
discs at the front together
with uprated pads such as EBC
GreenStu . To fi t a servo with
dual circuit brakes, use the
later type of 1988-on master
cylinder with in-line servo. To
do this you will also need a later
pedal box. Fi ing a servo will
reduce pedal e ort and make
the brakes feel more modern
but it will not improve braking
e ciency. With good quality
discs and EBC GreenStu pads,
(EBC make discs too) it is not
absolutely necessary to have a
servo, especially as you have 8.4”
discs. Pedal pressure will always
be higher than your Golf though!
850 box
rebuild
I have a 1962 Morris Mini-Minor
and the synchromesh has worn on
all three gears, meaning I have to
double-de-clutch to change gear.
The synchros are the early type
and parts are no longer available.
The only option appears to be to
replace the power unit complete
with a more modern one but I
do not want to do this as it will
ruin the originality of the vehicle.
Can you suggest an alternative?
Steve Norris
I would suggest that you source
a late Mk2 or early Mk3 magic-
wand gearbox. You will need
all the parts, including the gear
lever, as there are di erences
between them and the early
box. There are two advantages
in going down this route: fi rstly
these boxes are four-synchro
and, secondly, parts are
more readily available,
so a rebuild will not
present such a problem.
Try Guessworks (www.
guess-works.com) or
Avonbar Racing (www.
avonbar-racing.co.uk).Mini 25
I have recently purchased a
B-registration 1984 Mini 25. It is in
fairly sound condition with all the
unique parts supplied with it. It
has a number of modifi cations at
present and is the wrong colour.
I intend to restore it back to its
original specifi cation. Could you
please tell me whether it is a
Mk2 or Mk3 model, as I need to
know this when ordering parts?
Jon BevanA 1984 Mini with 12-inch wheels
and 8.4-inch front disc brakes
is not a Mk2 or 3, but a Mk5. The
Mk5 started with the introduction
of the Mini 25 and was produced
between 1984 and 1991. The
larger front brakes, which were
derived from the 11/1300 range,
had appeared previously on the
12”-wheeled later 1275GT. In
1991 mods were carried out for
single point injection and its Mk6
shell. Many of the body panels
are the same from Mk3 onwards
but there are di erences in some
so it is important to order from a
reputable specialist and always
quote the year of manufacture.RUST PREVENTION
Restoring any car takes a lot of time and e ort,
not to mention money, and the last thing you
need once the car is back on the road is for it
to start rusting again. Injecting rust-proofi ng
cavity wax, such as Waxoyl, into the sills and
other box sections is essential as welded areas
will have some bare metal which can rust at an
accelerated pace, even with the car kept in dry
storage. A good quality wax will seal and protect
against moisture coming into contact with the
metal. The underbody is another ma er. In times
gone by it would have been the thing to coat
everything in thick, black underseal. Obviously
this is not a good idea on a nicely-restored
Mini today, even if you want a period look!
In fact, there are very few areas where serious
rust begins on a Mini but, when it does appear,
it spreads over time. A well-painted underside,
which is kept clean, will remain good for a
long time. However areas such as the A-panel/
inner wing seam, behind the headlamps, and
the rear subframe front mounting points/
heelboard area – to name but a few – defi nitely
could do with some extra protection.
Don’t forget that stone chips occur underneath,
even on rarely driven Minis, and you can never
guarantee that you will never be caught out
in the rain! A clear wax such as Bilt Hamber
Dynax-UC is the answer as it o ers near invisible
protection yet is easy to remove should localised
paint repairs for stone chip repairs become
necessary. Dynax–UC is available from Bilt
Hamber Laboratories, http://www.bilthamber.comThe Mini 25 brochure. This 1984 limited edition heralded the Mk5 Mini.
RESTORATION CORNER
Rust prevention
can be very targeted on
a restored Mini in
occasional use. It should
be a lot tidier than
this, though, and it is
much better to use
a clear wax.