FOM The Clubman Estate

[stuvy]

im guessing you did that as the replacement parts are really hard to come by or overpriced!

My mate used some LR window parts to fab up the new bits of his. Im pretty sure tich is a member of this club,http://www.tyredandexhausted.co.uk/

 

[Tupers]

im guessing you did that as the replacement parts are really hard to come by or overpriced!

To be honest I just did them because I like making my self more work and I've never seen it done before.

So I linished all the welds down the on of the seat pans. I think these could looks good in body colour what every that ends up being.

I also added a gusset to the standard hinges for the seat back and the they looked a little sketchy.

Seen as I've got suspension on now I though I'd try a set of Ronal R8's. I'm really on the fence about the at the moment.

 

[zx9]

The Ronals look good to me, they remind my of my old Audi Coupe.

 

[Tupers]

The Ronals look good to me, they remind my of my old Audi Coupe.

When I put them on me and my brother where talking about how the big wheels change it from looking quite retro and muscle car-ish to more of a modern euro look.

I think I'll end up sticking with 10" wheels because the 13"s make it look quite tall and slab sided from some angles.

 

[Tupers]

I got the other seat pan buttoned up as far as I can go before seeing the upholster.

I also got a pair of harder red spot cones in the post. Should make the ride a little sportier.

 

[Tupers]

I'm not using the air vents in the flitches so I made a pair of plates and butt welded them in.

I've been undecided on how to position my gauges so I made two little hoops for them to sit in. These will eventually be part of the dashboard that I've yet to make.

They look pretty good from here although I may move them a little higher?

My Dad's been nudging me towards a quad headlight set-up for a while and I wasn't convinced until he handed the these bezels today. They look so much nicer than a just two standard lights, just need to figure out what to put in the middle now.

 

[triumph]

Very smart with that light setup think whole project looks good doin a reliant kitten meself pain in the harris but will get there hope yours goes ok cheers craig.

 

[Angusdog]

Really liking the look of those headlight surrounds. Looks stock - different but not unreasonably so. Incidentally, check out some pics of estates/vans rolling 10" wheels. I reckon the extra length makes them look too small. We went for 12" Revos on ours and I like the proportions. Up to you ultimately obviously.

 

[Robotstar5]

I did the 4 headlight conversion using 2 standard clubman grilles "cut and shut" but as it was about 30 years ago I can't remember how I filled the middle bit!

 

[Tupers]

Another day at the grind stone, I got the plenum bolted up to my inlet manifold and used the centre of a HIF44 to stand in for the throttle body.

Then I decided I needed a mock up engine in the car to check fitment of a few things. This is where working at a Mini specialist comes in handy.

With the engine lifted in it seems I should be fine with the new plenum.

I also lent a Metro radiator in, this wont be the exact type I'm using but it'll do for now.

After nailing a few pieces of wood together as an impromptu mount I got the SC sat fairly close to where it'll end up.

The inlet to the plenum will need a little working to clear the clutch master cylinder but that's no problem.

The belt set-up should be fairly simple as well, the pulley nailed to the wood represents where the alternator will sit.

Ground clearance is one thing I'll be lacking, that's a AA battery.

 

[Angusdog]

This is where working at a Mini specialist comes in handy.

You lucky, lucky fella - explains a lot about this thread, although having said that you've fabricated almost everything anyway!

Ground clearance is one thing I'll be lacking, that's a AA battery.

Is understatement a compulsory quality in the UK these days? Still you'll be alright driving over AA batteries if they're lying down...

Great work and a great read, as usual.

 

[Robotstar5]

Are you going to beef up the head steady to cope with the increased power?
I've had a couple of problems with "rocking" mini engines in the past

 

[Tupers]

You lucky, lucky fella - explains a lot about this thread, although having said that you've fabricated almost everything anyway!

Yeah it helps to have 10 of almost everything on the shelfs when I want to mock something up. The trade discount on parts is quite nice as well.

Is understatement a compulsory quality in the UK these days? Still you'll be alright driving over AA batteries if they're lying down...

The understatements are essential, they make my work seem all that bit more impressive.

Are you going to beef up the head steady to cope with the increased power?
I've had a couple of problems with "rocking" mini engines in the past

The clutch side one's already beefed up and the bulk head and I'm going to add another one on the water pump side to keep everything nice and steady. I imagine I'll probably end up with another two on the gearbox as well.

 

[Spot the welders dog]

Show or go is the choice on the wheels...Me, I'm a fan of 10" wheels:


some others have a different view:


Enjoy popping in to see how far you've progressed

 

[Tupers]

Yeah I'm definitely sticking with 10" wheels.

 

[Tupers]

Thought I'd have a tinker with the engine steadies today. I wanted rose joint on the engine but a bush at the bulk head to try and keep a little damping so I set to work on a standard steady bar.

First I chopped up the standard engine steady.

Then I tapped a 5/16 UNF thread into the end of each one and cut down a pair of bolts to act as studs for the turnbuckle.

A bit of hose to stand in for the turnbuckle and it looks like it should work. It will also allow me more clearance for the dry deck pipe work around the core plug.

I'll be using the other end of the steady for the water pump side of the engine so made a couple mounting tabs up quickly.

This is roughly where it will sit using another small turnbuckle and a rose joint going to a bracket on the water pump.

 

[Angusdog]

It will be easier to adjust if the threads are opposite, i.e. left hand thread one end and right hand thread the other, but left handed taps might be a bit hard to come by. But I'm guessing you know that...

Also, loving the van in the pics, the ute, not so much. I cannot understand the appeal of those wheels.

 

[Spot the welders dog]

Have you though about picking up on these points ^^ alongside the use of the rose-joints & a bit of 'creative metalwork'?
It would make a stronger steady not relying on one single load point

 

[Tupers]

It will be easier to adjust if the threads are opposite, i.e. left hand thread one end and right hand thread the other, but left handed taps might be a bit hard to come by. But I'm guessing you know that...

Yeah I going to use a turnbuckle with left and right hand threads tapped into it and a rose joint with a left hand thread on the engine side.

Have you though about picking up on these points ^^ alongside the use of the rose-joints & a bit of 'creative metalwork'?
It would make a stronger steady not relying on one single load point

I've got a nice double shear bracket to make from 2MM plate that will pick up two mounting points and should stop the bolt through the rose joint flexing.

Thanks for the comments guys.

 

[Epicyclic]

Could you modify a bracket, as the existing one, or find a LHD bracket to keep it symetrical?
It would look cool....
Cheers, H.