221 replies to this topic

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

So, after some testing the clutch spring isn't giving anywhere near as much assistance as I need.

 

I know why. It's to do with the length of the lever arm on the ring welded to the pedal. On the VW Golf pedal it's a good 30mm longer but my issue was space was limited and the amount force the spring would exert was always going to be unknown until I built and tried it.

 

I could start again with a redesign, and I'm fairly sure I could get it to work, but I think I'll go back to using a remote servo on the clutch line. It worked really well last time and the only reason I didn't want to use it again was because I wasn't happy with it mounted under the wing. However, I've done a trial fit and I think if I'm careful with the positioning I can get it mounted in the Clubman's engine bay and get it to clear everything.

 

Bad luck mate, at least you gave it a go. Why bother with a servo anyway?

[podifold]

Made a trip out today to visit Chris at EFI-Parts and discuss mapping and ECU options.

 

[Will16]

 

Awesome craftsmanship of all of this! Did you raise the the front shock mounts higher? If so, how much was it by?

[podifold]

I did raise the top of the shock absorbers, but only because the bottom of the shocks are raised as they're mounted in a coil-over style bracket rather than being mounted to the top arm.

[Deathrow]

Managed to spot this yesterday in Stockport. Took a minute for the penny to drop that it was yours. Can't imagine there's too many Clubman's that colour in Stockport.

Looked great as I drove by.

[podifold]

Thanks dude.

 

I gather you weren't in a Mini yourself? I hardly ever drive past any round here.

[Deathrow]

Nah just in the Astra, the Mini is still stuck in the garage waiting for the weather to turn so I can paint it. Been a disappointing summer so far!

I've only seen a small handful maybe 5 or 6 (including your clubman) around the Stockport/Didsbury/City Centre areas in the past 2 years or so. Seems to be a much rarer occurrence these days unfortunately.

[podifold]

The big swap over has begun. Wish me luck!

 

[Vinay-RS]

Best of luck with the swap, I'm sure you will crush it :) 

[wingnut]

I'm loving this and the pod is awesome.What wrinkle finish paint did you use?

[podifold]

This one:

 

http://www.ebay.co.u...9QAAOSwVFlUEvUc

[Domeo_Jones]

Good luck... altho im sure it will be a doddle for you. Interested in seeing some piccys..

[wingnut]

Brilliant,thanks

[podifold]

So, the week I book off to get all this sorted turns out to be the hottest heat wave we've had in ages! Which means I've had 3 very sweaty and uncomfortable days grafting away on the Clubman.
 
But at the end of it all I was paint spraying, so the ridiculous heat finally paid off   
 
First up, after completely stripping the boot an engine bay area, I did a trial fit of the engine with some spacer plates added to allow for the different width of the automatic subframe.
 
From my early measurements I knew I'd have a problem fitting the Radtec Extreme radiator. It fouled on the metal shroud so I marked out a section where I'd need to slice it and weld it up again later.
 

 
Next up was the servo for the clutch line. It does fit but man is it tight between the intercooler pipe and the slave cylinder. I might need to make a new flywheel housing breather too as I don't think this one will clear.


 
Amongst some other minor body modifications was making the right shape cut out in the boot floor where the MPI fuel line grommet goes. This was easily done by punching 2 holes with a 40mm Q-max cutter and removing some metal to join them up.



With that done the engine was removed along with the complete front and rear subframe assemblies. All the underside was then given a thoroughly good clean. Everything was in amazing condition due to having had some sort of wax or bitumen treatment by the previous owner. Any flaky bits were removed before it was masked off and sprayed with Dinitrol 4941.
 

 

 

 
With that done I decided that with everything stripped bare now would be a good time to respray the boot and engine bay areas. Que a long, hot, miserable day of cleaning, sanding and spraying.

 

At the end of it though the paint dried rock hard in no time at all and I got a pretty good finish. It really shows how badly faded the bodywork is too but sorting that is a job for next year.

[podifold]

Oh, and it looks like the brown is staying