'lucky' The '62 Countryman Build Started Today - Dec. 1St

Have the new ASH kit fitting almost completely finished - just the short links from the rear wheel arches to mid-rail to do.

A few days off as we wait for the extra E-Z LOK brass inserts & SS Allen keyed cap screws to get here.

NOTE - we saved the thin strips removed from the rear uprights and were able to use them to shim the tenons as mortises needed to be moved to get alignment right.

Something really went for a walk on the multiple posts without any photos.

How can I delete the copies??

This is coming along really nice I like the colour to :)

Something really went for a walk on the multiple posts without any photos.

How can I delete the copies??

 

Sorted for you.

Thank you for addressing the 'vacant' posts!

Work continues slowly on the Woody build. My body/paint man wants to see all the bolt on bits before final body paint, so we have been addressing the new wood, new grill & suround/moustaches, fitting 3 gauge pod etc. etc. His view is get it all together first...no drilling holes in the fresh paint after the fact. I'm happy with that.

We have also traced out a complete set of new Newton Commercial panels as NC does not have colours to go with 'Lime Squeeze Metallic'. The new panels & carpet set will be made here. The chap doing that work did the interior & seats for my 1380 powered Pooh & Hunny Pot (the trailer) 10 years ago.

I obtained a set of good used TR7/8 seats at a big 'garage sale' in May and they will be rebuild & covered as part of the interior package.

Timing of work has been affected by our 3,500 mile return trip to San Diego, Calif. for Mini Meet West 2016 in early June. We drove the Australian Window Van...ran like a top!

This week my man has been away trout fishing with his Mom & Daughter. Back at things next week!

Back from a fishing holiday, Nick, my body/paint man & I spent a few useful hours fitting the barn doors - now with rebuilt hinges, new gaskets & hardware.  A little patience and several modest adjustments and we got good gaps with only a bit of wood removal to address (yellow tape in photos but could not upload photo).

 

Still waiting on the arrival of a few bits like new door mirrors & plinths before last of holes drilled into steel before body/paint.

 

One oddity showed in the shop light...one of the doors was discovered to be from an early S with stainless surround...I just happen to have stainless surrounds from a 1964 S 1071...will look to see if they might polish up well. Would be an attractive addition to a non-standard early Woody.

 

Over the weekend, Nick & his brother will address the limited amount of metal work needed...e.g. a wee bit more to improve the gap on the passenger doors, removal of ashtray bracketry in the rear parcel bins.

 

 

 

[NOTE - We are not going at LUCKY full time as there is a 1964 Canso and a 900 horsepower street machine (former drag racer) also in the shop.  Time gets shared based upon flow of components...today Nick will also be helping put a high horsepower inboard speed boat back together.]

 

 

Got some 'new to me' shelving from a neighbour who is moving east to Ontario.  Timing was right to set out new bits to go onto the LUCKY build when the Woody returns from paint.

NEED - One (1) "C" shaped bracket to attach nylon block to door - part of door support on B Pillar.

Have FOUND needed "C" bracket for nylon block, part of door support at B Pillar.

Well then, I've posted nothing for a long time.  Sadly my daughter-in-law was diagnosed with cancer and went through 3 serious bouts of chemo with first good then not so good news.  Tragically gone from my younger son and only grandson's lives in September 2017.

 

And other things got in the way, first a return trip to Australia to cross the Gibb River Road in Western Australia's Kimberley.  And, since a friend pointed out an OEM 12G295 head For Sale in California, I could see a Russell Engineering inspired power unit built off the factory 1098 in the Australian Van.  So...I took the head across the Pacific Ocean, on a bus to Sydney and Rivercat to Parramatta, New South Wales where Graham Russell met me at the dock.  5 hours later I had a modified head (hardened ex. seats, seats cut for Paul Ivey race valves & Graham also cleaned up a little under the seats), had a fresh RE 266S cam grind, RE +100 piston/rings/pins, RE intake, RE faced lifters,...back to Sydney for bus to Brisbane.  Then the trip north & west in a Toyota 100 with camping trailer.

 

The Cooper head buy & RE inspired build followed a challenge from a friend in California to enter the ALCAN 5000 Summer Rally in August 2018.  So, early 2018 saw the front end of the OZ van cleaned up painted, new steering rack refreshed front subbie, rebuilt wiper motor, recored rad, etc. etc. and a +100 build of the 1098 with the RE bits.

 

A friend from Sweden came to Co-Drive and we had great hopes for an adventure...well we got that & more but brought the Mini back from the Yukon on a tow dolly (details of the bearing failure on another post).

 

The 1098 is being rebuilt again with all new engine & tranny bearings and both replacement case & housing & new drop gears.

 

And, my body/paint man took a break from autos & boats to concentrate on his art...then got sick.

 

Now, we expect to have LUCKY in paint in April (after a big boat project is completed).

 

Lastly, in this 60th Anniversary year for the Classic Mini, we will head for Colorado, USA for Mini Meet East Meets West in Snowmass Village...and...to England for a Vancouver Mini Club tour centred on IMM in Bristol!

 

After that I will spend the fall/winter/spring building up LUCKY...and LUCKY will go to my son & grandson.

Really enjoyed reading this, sorry to hear about the family illness, its certainly hard. Keep up the great work!

I am also restoring a woody (1964) and am hoping to have it ready for IMM Bristol, look forward to seeing you there. Colour looks great.

Edited by Bradchap, 16 February 2019 - 11:29 PM.

Okay,  IMM in Bristol was interesting for this Canadian...a first timer...could not believe all the campers grouped by country, vehicle etc.

 

Did find some bits and a new oval binnacle with new gauges, got inspired by Newton upholstery demo...

 

Long story short got back onto the Woody build after the failure of the shop in Abbotsford where the Mini had been 'resting'.

 

Shell has had final body work finished by RWM & Co. in Delta, B.C. and will soon be in full colour.  Last report, the wood kit would be offered up one more time after primer.

 

Sadly, with the failure of the Abbotsford shop a number of bits went missing including a new "- 850 -" barn door badge in script.  Have been able to order all the door latches, lock assemblies, dovetail kits etc. that were also missing.

 

Any help in locating a NEW badge is greatly appreciated.  Have looked and looked but see nothing...and the mounting holes are in the barn door.

 

A bit of humor...I ordered all the interior bits from Newton panels, carpet, seat rebuild kits...and delivery was promised in 4-6 weeks.  Well they were being delivered by DHL in 3 weeks!  So, paid the Taxes owing to Canada Customs on the Friday with delivery promised by 8 p.m. Wednesday.  Son of a gun, DHL said goods were released from Customs for delivery on Tuesday.  I suspected a late delivery on the Tuesday BUT left a note on the front door at Noon, "I'm at the Barber...not far away.  Call me (mobile number)"  Well the phone rang as I'm under the cape at the barber shop.  DHL driver asked for the address and within 5 minutes pulled up outside.  The cape was ripped off & I went out to get the 2 BIG BOXES...into my Jeep.  Little Chinese woman driving the DHL Van and all she had inside were the 2 boxes.  The boxes just fit inside the Jeep and got home!

 

Push is on to get the Woody to Mini Meet West 2020 in Victoria, B.C. June 29-July 2.

 

Cheers!

 

PHOTO:  this is the badge 

Edited by Hunter2, 03 March 2020 - 11:15 PM.

Any & all help in finding a NEW 850 badge is appreciated

 

-8-5-0-  badge in script is needed.

Worst case scenario, can't you have one remade in 3d printing and chromed? Not a definite solution but might be better than holes in the boot.
Or have one cast in pewter...
Try asking MiniJosh92 on here, trader section, 'classic mini spares' topic.

Ben