Having a bad day, went to look at a mini today and got all confused, what is the history of wiper hole postion on the scuttle, seem to recall 850's were in the middle (centred) then went to one side (Deluxe?) then the other side? what about smooth scuttle vs indented scuttle with those little diamond shapes?

Can someone explain the time line? What changed when? it is difficult when looking at a shell with no ID to determine age!

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Sir Alec! we are not worthy!

Hey Graham, Kevin will have better info, but the changes you mention are the difference between the early and later body shells. The early, Mk1's, were centred with smooth scuttle, same as early English cars. The later ones, were positioned to pivot in front of the driver and were indented. Change occurred around??? 68. Happy to be corrected. Take a look at a Clubbie, they had the later body pressing. Steve

I think I was looking at two deluxes (wind ups with traditional lever handles), one with smooth scuttle, therefore pre 68? and then one with offset and indented scuttle, therefore post 68?, but both deluxes? (both wet cars)

Mini K did not come in till 69? am I right?

Any way of telling a late deluxe from an early K if no body identity or motor? (obviously K was 1100)

Where are you Kev!!

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Sir Alec! we are not worthy!

Indented scuttle panel is an Aus thing - the UK cars never had it. Apparently all to do with the minimum percentage local content Aus Gov insisted the cars have and was indented to show it was locally made.

I think it was `68 they changed to indented ones. Our Barney (`66 Deluxe shell without channels under floor) has the early type.
The indented style was the sime right up to the end of Clubbie production in `78.

Note the 2 rubber escutcheon thingys are different too. I believe the later ones are NLA new. I imported some nice Bling! ones from UK but they didn't fit my `70 car- they'll go on Barney when I find them.
I'm about to make some late style ones out of S/S, soon...

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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.

A little bit more trivia.
The wiper panel was changed some time in 1968 and is common to all OZ Mini's from then. ie Mini Deluxe, Mk1 Cooper 'S' - otherwise known as a MK1.5, Mini K, Clubman etc. This was when the round bodied 12AUW OZ built wiper motor was introduced along with unique wiper pivot mounting. The end result being you can't get replacement plastic parts when they finally expire in the hot sun. (I think this may have also been at the same time the upholstery pattern was changed.)
However BMC and Lucas didn't get it quite right first time around. They had to change the wipe angle from 110 Deg to 105 Deg to stop the RH wiper arm from hitting the windscreen rubber. This was done when the 2 speed wiper motor was introduced The wipe angle was changed by reducing the cable movement with a different plastic gear in the wiper motor of 2 speed wiper motors.
Not sure whether this was done on later single speed wiper motors.

RonR

Barney must have the original wiper boxes still - the p owner fitted him with a Clubbie 2 speed motor, he now does 180* sweeps!
But, if I fit the later boxes in this early car, the shaft angle is different- isn't it?
Anybody done this conversion?

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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.

Hi Kevin,
I'm not sure whether the actual wiper arm boxes are different or whether the mounting angle is the only difference. Would have to examine both types of wiper arm box. The later type uses an outer casing tube for the cable to run in whereas the earlier type used a flexible casing. If the later motor and the early arm box gives 180 deg wipe then something must also be different in the arm box.
Don't know if this helps but it's worth checking

Regards
RonR

Ron,
According to my MCC parts cattledog there are 22 teeth on the early wheelbox gears and 32 on the later ones (with the 8 sided nut).

Looks like I'll need to fit the Clubbie rack and tube, reposition the wheelboxes to suit the old spacing.
Or try and fit the early drive gear into the Clubbie wiper motor? maybe...

Hey, with a mill, a lathe and a welder, all things are possible!

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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.

Kevin,
There's no substitute for Myford, Bridgeport, retirement and some time in between monitoring the Super fund returns. A large amount of cubic dollars helps also.

Regards
RonR

hey, im just lucky enuf to own a mini deluxe 68' (mk1 cooper s replica 1275cc) it has all genuine parts and it also has.. the wiper holes like the mini K which is a bummer because water settles in the indents and rusts, so i was thinking of bogging those indents up has any one done this before? or i could move the wipers..? would this work?

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Shouldn't rust there if paint cover is OK. I would just strip and repaint that panel. Use 2 pack primer- it's not porous like ordinary primer, and you can still put acrylic colour coats on it if you want.

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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.