Looking for classic Mini Repair/Check-up!

Hello! I recently purchased a 1974 Mini Rover and I need to find someone to give the engine a looking over to tell me if there is anything to be repaired. I just replaced the battery and the car runs great but it is leaking a bit of oil. I also need to have some minor body repair done and would like to have the interior worked on (new dashboard, new gauges and new flooring). Can someone help point me to a shop that would be able to help me with this? I would like to get started ASAP!

Thank you very much!!
Erica
(Sammamish, WA.)

[BIGSHOT]

Welcome to the site, Erica, and, hopefully, to the club. Contact club president Chuck Heleker at cheleker(at)aol.com. He's in Renton, and he can tell you what kind of "1974 Mini Rover" you're driving and what it needs. His shop is the best all-around Mini resource in the area (and maybe in the galaxy).

Dan

[Nimbits]

Erica, Good luck with the repairs. Chuck would be a great place to start. He's so good rumor has it he can diagnose a car problem over the phone. all kidding aside hope to see you and your mini at a meeting. What colour is your mini? We'll keep an eye open for it over here.

Tim

[ericah]

Thanks for the follow-up guys! I will certainly be emailing Chuck as it seems he is the Mini-god! I would love to come to a meeting with my new "baby"...when is the next get together?

Oh and here are more specs on my car: Black with grey checkered interior cloth seats, all original gauges (all two of them...speedometer and gas/engine temp), right hand manual drive (4-speed, 1.3L fuel injection engine), a/c, heat and no rust or rot. So it is a really pretty little car. I get more looks in this car than I do in my Infiniti G37 S!

I am going to try to upload a pic with this...tell me what you think! I got a really great deal ($7K)...or at least I think that is a good deal?! Would love any feedback from you all! Thanks again...

Erica

[Swondpooping]

Congrats on becoming one of the few, the proud, the tiny car drivers. I look forward to seeing you at the next meeting which is the White Elephant meeting in January. This is a great club to be a part of and these guys are an endless resource of knowledge and advice. Sometimes welcome, sometimes you can't shut them up. HAHA.

Very cute car, where did you find him? What do you know about his background (when was it brought here, previous owners "upgrades" etc.) I can't wait to see you this year and maybe your car can make it into next years calendar.

Karynne

[DaveB]

looking at your car, and knowing how busy chuck gets sometimes, if he's in the middle of a project, you can contact james thompson who is also a master mechanic, does some spot welding and such and also travels to do this stuff as his garage is in graham. he'll be at the next meeting which is our white elephant. (although right now, i think they are both pretty busy with projects)

[A8ked]

The Maaco shop on 132nd NE in Bellevue has done body work on many Mini's including mine. You might stop in and talk with them about body work that you want done. I was very pleased with their work.

[James T]

Welcome Ericah,
Thanks Dave, but I would hardly consider myself a "Master" mechanic. I'm just a guy that has rebuilt a couple of minis from bonnet to boot and has paid attention when tech questions come up. I am an aircraft mechanic by trade and do enjoy working on fellow members cars for a (I feel) a reasonable price. E-mail with any questions.
If your car seems to be running well and you don't mind waiting. Chuck offers a free (for paid up club members) Mini Clininc in ( someone help ) March? or April? That will give you a good idea of the over helth of your car. Dave was correct, I am totaly swamped with a FULL, bare shell rebuild on a '61 Morris.
Hope to see you at the W.E. and again welcome. That's a nice looking '93-I mean '74 mini.

[ericah]

Hi all...ok, guess I got bamboozled on the year of my new car! Chuck emailed me and already dated it (just by the pic as well) as an early 90's car. Oh well, at least it is a bit newer and hopefully has less problems.

I am also thinking of buying another Mini I saw online...my husband is freaking but I saw a beauty on Ebay that I just might HAVE to have!! It is in much better condition than my current car so I may buy the other and sell the one I have now. But I am going to take it to Check to see how much it would cost to do the upgrades I want to do...so we shall see!

These cars are ADDICTIVE...

[DaveB]

and we are your 12 step group. we've all got the same sickness!!

[bull]

welcome... Sammamish citizen here also..

[ericah]

Hey all, just wanted to let you know that I met Chuck today and he gave my Mini the super check-up! A HUGE thank you to Chuck who is just a great guy and made me feel much better about my purchase!!

I have a list of about 15 things that need minor work but overall the car is in really good shape. He even said I got a good deal on it ($$ wise) so I may be buying another one soon...! Gosh, I am starting to get obsessed. I really want this little electric blue number from the UK but I may have to sell to buy first...big decisions...but I don't think from here on out I will ever be "Mini-less"!

Looking forward to meeting you all on the 26th...

Erica

[Swondpooping]

These cars are ADDICTIVE...

They are like Lays Potato Chips, nobody can have just one.

[Skwidspawn]

They are like Lays Potato Chips, nobody can have just one.

So amazingly true, every time I take Marlisse off the road I start getting withdrawals. Every other car seems so boring to drive.

Anyone taken a look at MINI's new '08 Clubman? I'm curious to see how it handles... maybe make it my second Mini?