221 replies to this topic

[Vinay-RS]

Your clubby is gorgeous! It is perfect. 

 

It looks like the paint above the wheel wells is a little flat. Could it use a polish?

[Jared Mk3]

'70s brown for the win!

[podifold]

Hmm, the brown is starting to grow on me

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

I must admit, clubmans have grown on me over the years. I think they look like they are leaning forward saying, "lets av it!"

[andrewmini67]

Really like the brown, used to own a brown GT in the 80's and a brown Mayfair in 90's. The clubman's in the loud 70's colours look mint and carry it off easily. 

Edited by andrewmini67, 21 March 2016 - 06:16 PM.

[podifold]

Update time - I fitted a new seat!

 

 

Er, and that's about it.

 

However, there's lots on the way as I've finally got everything sorted for the new engine build and should be starting in the next week or two.

 

Standby for update overkill 

[podifold]

Got to test out my new, super comfy seat on a 3 hour round trip to pick up this excellent condition MPI fuel tank.

 

£60 cash.

 

Bargain.

 

[DannyTip]

Is there an easy way to identify an SPI tank over an MPI? I got one off ebay for £35 a few years ago and ive no idea what it is.

[podifold]

In general MPI tanks have a shorter filler neck and sound proofing pads on the outside. There is some cross over though.

 

I think the only definite way is to check the serial number on the pump.

[minimissions]

Love this little build, how is that recaro seat fitted? standard cobra style mini frame?

Edited by minimissions, 12 April 2016 - 01:15 PM.

[podifold]

I got a "universal Mini subframe" that someone was selling singularly on eBay as I only needed one and then had to make an adaptor plate to line it up with the holes on the bottom of the Recaro.

[minimissions]

Wicked thanks was just checking that I had done mine the same... just need to finish the other one and I am sorted. Yours looks great in there :)

[podifold]

This week I started mocking up some parts that will eventually be fitted to the Clubman when the engine swap takes place.
 
I'll be using the front subframe I modified a while back for my pick-up. The tie bar mounts have been reinforced, It's been fully seam welded, triangulated with 2.5mm steel and plated under the jacking points with 3mm steel. 
 
Most importantly though the bump stop mount has been moved up by 30mm as well as the top arm position being moved up by 25mm and inboard by 8mm.  The upward movement was to allow a flatter top arm angle when the car is lowered as well as being a bit kinder on the upper ball joint. The inboard movement was to eliminate the positive camber gained from fitting Metro hubs.
 
Why Metro hubs? I just like the sealed ball joints.
 

 

 
In the pick-up this all worked fantastically with a pair of coilovers but in the Clubman I'd quite like to go back to rubber cones even though I know that top arm position's gonna cause me some issues.
 
In the mock-up I've used a hydrolastic top arm. These have the knuckle joint moved outwards by about 6mm which stiffens up the suspension slightly but, more importantly, corrects the inboard movement of my arm to keep the knuckle, trumpet and cone in vertical alignment.
 
To get everything to fit I had to completely remove the adjusting screw and lock nut from the hi-lo, so the next job is custom pair made 20mm shorter than standard.

[podifold]

I was going to work in the garage again, but it's National Drive it Day. So that's exactly what I did.

 

[andrewmini67]

Nice to see your getting everything ready first and not pulling the car apart. That way you can still enjoy the mini instead of it just being sat in the garage.

Is it me or does your clubby blend into the background....