907 replies to this topic

[AustinLeonardAutomotive]

I maaaay be a little biased   .  I look forward to seeing what you have in store for the Clubman's  future!  I just finished pulling the starter on my car and man, what a pain!  Lots of respect for how quickly you can pull an engine and slap it back in just in time for the next rally.  I've got a feeling Little Austin will love Minis just as much as you some day.  His first car better be a Mini!!! Haha 

 

-Austin

[rally1380]

His first car better be a Mini!!! Haha 

 

-Austin

 

It may well be already on the driveway parked next to the garage.....a 1968 Austin (of course) Mini 998 Super Delux......although i do like the idea of turning it into a stage prepared rally car rather than wrecking the clubman.  Either way, when i gets built it will be strong as anything so if it goes in the forests great, or if he chooses to drive it, i will at least know it will be strong.  That said, in 17 years time, cars like these might not be allowed on our roads.

[rally1380]

Here is a photo of the little man that has taken all mine and my wives time of late and also the reason for the serious lack of mini development.  I have a few bits waiting to go on or get refurbed, but an engine build for the Ibiza is first on the 'to-do' list.

 

 

 

[keefr22]

Brilliant!!!

 

A very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you all Dave!

 

Keith

[rally1380]

Brilliant!!!

 

A very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you all Dave!

 

Keith

 

And a very Merry Christmas to you too Keith.  You got that clubby working properly yet?

[keefr22]

Afraid not Dave, it's not working at all at the moment - dead battery & a whole heap of stuff in storage in front of it means it can't move anyway! I've not had the energy to work on it recently & with Phil now having a new job that involves a fair bit of travelling, finishing off their house extension - & of course our 8 month old grandaughter - he can't get over to work on it either. Still, I've been buying some nice new bits for it, so hopefully the New year will see it fighting fit again!

ATB

Keith

[rally1380]

Yikes.....it's been a while since I posted anything on here.....better do an update.....oh, and happy new year!!!!!!

 

Obviously fatherhood has meant I don't want to spend any time in the garage and all of it instead with my little son, but seems he likes the feel of the mini's bucket seats, so we might have a driver on our hands!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As for events I've got coming up......Tour of Cheshire is a couple of weeks away and the original plan was for Jen and me to do it together.  But for Jen, the thought of leaving little Austin with someone for the full day was just to much, so she pulled out of the event.  This left me with a spare seat in the car!!!!!  Luckily, Matthew's (from the Vale of Clwyd Classic) father suggested that his other son Philip might be free (he was) so we're going out as a new crew and just seeing what happens.

 

Two weeks after that we have an entry in on the North Yorks Classic with Matthew back in the hot seat.  Matthew's father Mike has kindly offered to trailer the mini all the way 'oop north' for me and even sorted out digs at his mothers (apparently does a mean bacon butty!!!  ) so fingers crossed I don't lunch the mini on the ToC!!!!!

 

Then in April we have the Ilkley Jubilee (again with Matthew) that I need to sort out car transportation for.  Anyone got a car transporter for hire?????

 

 

As for jobs on the car.......

 

Primary gear seal is weeping oil due to the bush in the gear not being fitted correctly......remember that from a couple of years back????   It isn't anything serious, but the gear runs ever so slightly off centre so it has ovaled the seal ever so slightly and is allowing a little oil past.

 

I knew when I watched the bloke doing the bush he wasn't doing it right as I could tell the gear wasn't fully true in the lathe......but he was adamant it was right......at least I now know I was right.

 

So i'm planning on leaving the engine in for now 'as is' and keeping an eye on the oil leak.  If it gets bad I will replace the seal, but for now, being so close to the rally I will leave it alone.  I have contacted a more trusted engineer and mini engine expert (a true expert this time!) to do this bush for me, and while i'm at it, he is going to cast his eye over my spare 1293 engine so I can build that up over the summer and have a spare on the shelf.......Oooooo errrrrr.....get me!!!!!!!

 

Brakes have felt a bit wooden of late, so I've got myself a second-hand servo/master cylinder of fleabay for £35 and i'm setting about refurbing that to within an inch of it's life and will replace mine when I get time.  For now, and for the ToC the current setup will do the job.

 

Other than giving the car a full spanner check I think it will remain unchanged for now.....but in the near future the big valve head is making a reappearance along with some new fancy rockers to replace the worn pressed ones currently rattling away!!!!

[keefr22]

Good luck on the ToC Dave, full event report to follow I hope! And are you getting soft in your old age? Trailering the car to events indeed....??!! 

 

As to that servo you're going to fit, be very grateful if you could take some piccies when you do it, as fitting one is on our to do list - if ever the Min gets to see the light of day ever again.

 

ATB

 

Keith

[rally1380]

Good luck on the ToC Dave, full event report to follow I hope! And are you getting soft in your old age? Trailering the car to events indeed....??!! 

 

As to that servo you're going to fit, be very grateful if you could take some piccies when you do it, as fitting one is on our to do list - if ever the Min gets to see the light of day ever again.

 

ATB

 

Keith

 

Eh up Keith.

 

Soft!!!!!.......it's a 160 odd mile round trip without even doing the event so I think i have every right to become a trailer queen this time.....ha ha.  Although finding a transporter that is local is proving tricky so might be driving anyhoo!!!

 

As for servo.....I already have one fitted and this latest one is exactly the same sort.  I have bought it as a spare that i'm fully refurbing and will swap it over with the one in the car and keep the old one as a spare.  The plan is to maybe stage rally the car in the future so a spare on the shelf / service truck might come in handy......that, and the spare rear trailing arms, front Tie bars and top arms that are already in stock   ....oh and the spare engine that is in planning!!!

 

I will however document the full swap over for you.....but it is super simply and very easy to remove / fit them.....almost as if someone at Rover had designed it properly and made an alright job for once!!!!  ha ha

[keefr22]

Cheers Dave, are you sure it's a Mini you'll be fitting the servo to, something designed to be an easy job on a Mini....never....??!!

 

Keith

[rally1380]

You really can't write this........

 

 

Off I went to fill up with fuel today and put a few miles on the car ready for the Tour of Cheshire in 2 weeks time.

 

On the way back, doing 50/60 along a super straight bit of road an 84 year old bloke decided that i was invisible and pulled out from a side junction with me about 30 yards away!!!!!

 

No amount of braking or evasive action could stop the inevitable.  I actually missed the bloke who caused the accident, but the Peugeot behind him had a close encounter of the British Leyland kind.

 

Car is a mess, engine and bulkhead way back from where they used to live and my neck, head, eyes,and back feel a wee bit sore to say the least.  I think i will feel it tomorrow.

 

Got the insurance to deal with in the morning so until they are happy i won't post any photo's, but i'm sure you will all understand........i'm gutted.

 

Might need some help with valuations and maybe even getting a shell in the near future once my head stops spinning.

 

I'm sorry, but this might be the end of this story guys and girls.

 

 

[Richard19]

That's terrible Dave but thank goodness you are okay. I hope you feel better in the morning, Hopefully it's not the end of the 'Clubman'.  Chin up!

Edited by Richard19, 21 February 2016 - 08:45 PM.

[Cooperman]

Dave, I'm so sorry to hear this. You built a super historic rally car and to have it wrecked like that through no fault of your own really is s**t.

 

If you crash whilst competing it's different, but on the road with a 3rd part at fault is entirely different.

 

Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. Also, why not come out and marshal on the ToC - it's always fun.

 

Pete

[72clubman]

Now that's s**t, I really empathise with you. When I had mine smashed into it was heart breaking.

Joe

Edited by 72clubman, 21 February 2016 - 08:59 PM.

[sonikk4]

Completely gutted for you. BUT the main thing is you are still around for your little boy that is the primary thing.