1100 Clubman Project

Hi All,

 

So, I bought a Mini.  Why?  Well, I sold my VW T3 van and left a hole in the garage - plus I wanted something to tinker with.  I had originally intended to buy a Fiat 500, but the prices of even basket cases were far too high.  My Dad suggested a Mini as an alternative and it made sense.  Just about everyone in my family has had at least one at some point, so it's almost a tradition!

 

Being hopelessly impatient, I didn't look for long.  I fancied a clubby as I like the look of them.  After a perusal of the Car and Classic website, I found what seems a good basis for a project.  I spoke to the seller who was hugely helpful.  We agreed a price, I hired a trailer and we brought it home.  So, what did I get?  It was a car that was running well but had some body issues that meant it was failing MOT.  The seller bought it as a father and son project, but the son wasn't interested so the Dad did loads of work and then decided that as the father-son part was lacking, he'd shift it on.  It has had:

 

* New floors

* New sills

* New front panel

* Painted underneath with Jenolite as an anti rust treatment, plus three coats of acrylic enamel 

* 99% of welding done

* Head skimmed and new unleaded valve seats

* Completely rebuilt carb

 

It came with most bits to rebuild (although I've got plans as to what is going back in and what will be upgraded).  It needs the bodywork refinishing and complete respray, then rebuild.  It came with 7 alloy wheels (he bought 5 for the car - including a spare - plus two more for a trailer that never happened) and the original steels.  I'm selling the alloys as they are 12" and I am going for 10".

 

I'm writing up the project plan to get everything down in the right order - if anyone can link me to a guide to the right order to rebuild a Mini, that would be great.  I have the Haynes Manual and bought the Haynes Mini Restoration Manual.  I also bought the excellent A Series DVD by Bill Sollis.

 

So, here it is as it stands today:

 

https://lh5.googleus...857-no/2014 - 1

 

 

 

I'll share the vision for how it'll hopefully end up soon - as well as documenting progress here.

 

Cheers,

Stu

Edited by StuM, 30 July 2014 - 02:56 PM.

Looks like a good project, what year is it? is it going to stay the same body colour?

Looks like a great project.

 

I will be following with interest.

 

I had a 79 1100 clubman in yellow. Loved that thing but at the time, it was too much work for me.

 

Good luck

 

Ben

Thanks guys,  

 

It's a 1977 model.  It's going to be a colour change, but to a period-specific alternative - pageant blue.  

 

One of my first jobs is to install the C pillar seatbelt mounts but, despite having a welder and being happy to have a go at some things, I think I'll get a pro round to weld these in.  

 

I can't promise quick progress as I'm fitting this in around about a million other things, but will definitely set a target date soon.

 

As for the plan.. when I realised that I had one of these in my loft, it had to be the inspiration:

 

 

That said, I'm already waivering on the wheels as the Mad Hatter is on Revos (I think) but I prefer Mambas!

Edited by StuM, 11 July 2014 - 02:02 PM.

So, as I feared, this is likely to be a slow project in fits and starts.  

 

I've managed to sell the KN Meteor wheels that came with the car.  I now need to decide on Mambas or Revos (6x10) as the choice of wheel.  I prefer Mambas, but the Mad Hatter sports Revos.  Decisions, decisions.

 

I've been buying bits and bobs - a hammer and dolly set for a couple of bits that need straightening out, some nice sanding blocks and a bumper package of Bilt Hamber products to tackle a couple of small areas of rust.  Plan is to do the body work in sections to try to tick bits off.  The first of these is the boot lid.  It was pretty solid, but had suffered a ding at some point and an appallingly bad repair/spray.  So, having stripped the furniture off and gone mad with the marker pen, I was left with:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After attacking it with a polyabrasive disk:

 

 

 

The lumpy bit to the left of the number plate recess is the ding.  I'll flatten out as much as I can with the hammer/dolly then get some filler on there.  Then, it'll be a case of keying the rest of it and applying some acid etch primer.

 

As I said, small steps!

 

If anyone has tips (as first post) for order in which to rebuild a Mini in bits, they'd be much appreciated

 

Cheers,

Stu

Looks a great project. Especially as clubby's are really starting to get thin on the ground now.

Finally got time to have a bit more of a play with the boot lid.  Using this as the test piece really before turning my hand to the rest of the body.  Used hammer and dolly to get the worst of the dent out, then filled and sanded before spraying with some etch primer.  Still a couple of low spots to apply a little more filler to, but overall pretty happy with the result.

 

Well, another small update...

 

I've been trying to remove the hinge nuts from the inner wing - all of them are inevitably seized with years of road grime and rust.  One of the hinges is bent, so definitely has to come off.  I have tried Irwins nut and bolt grippers, but no joy so far so they are soaking in penetrating fluid awaiting another attack.  If that fails then I'll have a go cutting them off with a Dremel.  

 

I had a poke around the offside front wing and found a lot of filler, so am now going to take that back to metal and do a proper job of it.  No rust in it, which is good.

 

Slightly more exciting is that I have now decided on the wheels.. and bought a set!  They've been blasted and primed, so are ready to paint/polish:

 

 

Cheers,

Stu

Nice to see another clubby getting some love :) watching this one... have you a time scale or just going to pic away at it as you go...

Nice to see another clubby getting some love :) watching this one... have you a time scale or just going to pic away at it as you go...

 

At the moment just picking bits off, but trying to put together a proper plan so I can set a target date. Hope I'll have more time in the garage as the nights draw in

Just a tiny update - still going and still very much planning to complete this Clubman.

 

My first parts purchase arrived this week and I had to mock up for curiosity..

 

 

Fitting will obviously require drilling the wings, so thought it was best to get these as soon as possible.  They are Mini Sport Group 5 arches - to cover the 6x10 Mambas.

 

I've now allocated one evening a week to the Mini, so hope to have more regular progress soon.

 

Cheers,

Stu

Nice project........

Well, inspired by this thread, I have decided for a change of plan with my Clubby.  No longer will I be going for the Mad Hatter replica as referenced at the top of this thread, I'm going Willow Green.  The thread inspired me not in colour (in fact, I'd decided on that as a potential colour anyway - and found the thread when search the forum for photos of it), but in the fact it can be done at home with time and patience.

 

so, I've now bought this:

 

 

I've a lot to learn, but will get there.. :)

Edited by StuM, 12 May 2015 - 10:04 AM.

Well, this is proving to be a super-slow resto/rebuild - very frustrating.  I have now decided to take a different tact - rather than start on the body, I'm going to do smaller jobs that I can find an hour here and there for.  I'll start with the engine, get that ready, then build up the front subframe.

 

Some good news - the original seller found, and kindly posted through, the original VIN tags, something I was keen to have - even if I ultimately get some more made up.  Not sure I will now though as the patina on the originals is part of the cars story.

 

No new photos to share, but some potentially exciting news.. 

 

So, I've decided that I don't want a car that is going to sit for years in my garage - I want a car that I can use!  Given my constrained time, I have been in touch with a bodywork/paint guy that I know with a few to him collecting the shell, doing the remaining prep and then painting it.  It would then come back to me for the task of re-building everything.  His initial assessment of cost is in line with what I am prepared to spend, so he's coming over to take a detailed look.

 

He also expressed interest in buying the project from me - but the prospect of getting the body done and me starting a rebuild has renewed my enthusiasm! :)