'72 Mini Clubman Estate

[Tupers]

So I've now pulled the mock up engine out and swapped the empty gearbox case for a full working gearbox to get the remote linkage set-up.

I also got my engine steadies bolted back up and tack welded the crossmember in.


You can just about see the 2nd bush on the inside of the cross member here.


I do like how these steadies sit.


I found a use for the old record tube vice that I picked up for a couple quid recently and tapped the R/H thread onto the other end of my gear selector rod.



And welded a 3/4" nut onto the rod as it will essentially be a turnbuckle.


The selector mechanism has been moved back by around 6" to better suit the new seat position and the linkage is fitted up again. Now I just need to adjust it up and welded the selector mechanism bracket in .

[Tupers]

After removing the original seat cross-member and fitting the gear selector internally it became apparent I need to to shuffle the handbrake around.
I decided the simplest option was to copy the original mountings but slightly redesign them to mount the handbrake an inch higher.


It now sits around 10CM further back and is nice and high behind the gear selector.


I also finally got around the finding a drive belt the right length for the engine.


The latching mechanism for the tailgate has been bugging me so I decided to have another try using an original estate latching mechanism and my own rods.


The handle will lay flat on the inside of the tailgate and the rods will push out into the vertical section of the rear door frame. Now I just need to mount it.

[StanceDatSucka]

Nice work! This has turned into one of those builds that i just can't wait for to be ''finished'' because i want to see how it turns out

[MattHatCat]

Bloody awesome build! just sat down and read the whole thing

I'm overly impressed !

keep up the intense skill!

[Tupers]

Thanks for the kind words guys, I'm pretty keen to see it one the road as well.


I made a plate for the latch mech to bolt onto this evening and cut the tailgate frame out to fit it.


It will be flush from the interior side of the tailgate.


And the mech it's self will fit inside the frame.

[Tupers]

I got the mech and rods bolted up to the tailgate and it all works quite nicely. I just need to sort of a couple new bushes for the rods.





Locked


Open


I'm having trouble with the brake pipes out of the pedal box at the moment. I'd like to run bango joints but the thread in the MC is tapered and I can't find any bango bolts that will fit.


The headlamps still needed sorting so I abused my bank account and bought a full set of lights with H4 bulbs.


Unlike the Ford ones I was going to use these have proper bowls on them and look much tidier.


After a lot of measuring I came up with the shape of the headlight mounting plates I need to make.




It's gonna be cool!


I also messed about with the camber on the front again, maybe too much?

[850 Tim]

Looks good.
Awesome work

[MattHatCat]

I also messed about with the camber on the front again, maybe too much?

Perfect!!

good work with the headlight surrounds, they're gonna look mint.

[NathanE-94]

Hey man! I believe I've seen this floating about on TMF, yeah!? Looks sick, great work, many inspirations for all us Mini peeps!! Great stuff, keep it up can't wait to see the end product, gonna be one of the coolest Clubby's around that's for sure, it'll be different from all the others

Nath

[Tupers]

Thanks guys, the camber's a bit crazy and I can't wind it in anymore at the moment so I might just buy lots of spare tyre.

You're right Nath I've got a longer build thread for this on TMF, it should definitely be one of the most unique Clubman's out there.


I spent my lunch brake transfering the card template onto 1MM steel added a few folds and got a pair of headlight backings made.


Both fit very snugly, I just need to pop some holes around the edges for plug welds.


It is looking pretty sweet with all 4 lights mounted.


They sit a little further back than standard 7" lights so I should be able to get a nice sunken look with some deep headlight rims.

[NathanE-94]

YES!!! Makes me wanna keep mine, but I'll prob have to sell for something else due to finacial shit!! Keep up the good work man, I shall look forward to the updates!!

[RattyCabby]

any progress lately? im hungry for more!

[Tupers]

any progress lately? im hungry for more!

Nothing on the estate at the moment, I've been busy playing with some other cars.

I bought this one a couple month ago but it needed some work.


I ended up replacing both door skins, passenger wing, inner sill, outer sill and a few bits on the inner wings.


I've been doing the prep and had my Dad paint it in Island Blue last night.


I also got two more estates, an Austin 1300 Countryman and an Austin Allegro.

[MattHatCat]

Just a few more projects!
All looks fun

[Tupers]

It's been far too long since I last did any work on this but it turns out that buying yet another set of wheels was just the jolt I needed to drag it out from the corner of the workshop and start tinkering again.

The wheels in question are a set of 5x10" ATS Classics. I've been on the look out for a set for years but never managed to bag any until now.


It only seemed right to dust the poor estate off and try them on. I've been fairly uncertain about what wheels where going to end up on this but I'm pretty sure these are the ones.






In my regular trawling of ebay I also for this Innocenti steering wheel. It had to come all the way from Italy but it was well worth it and should compliment the muscle car style interior I'm planning.


I also dropped a hefty chunk of my pay packet on this Lucas 608 rear view mirror as fitted to various '60s Jags, Astons and coachbuilt Minis. Totally worth it not to have a plastic one fitted.


I haven't just been buying parts though. After Christmas I realised that the front seat weren't able to slide & tilt forward enough to allow access to the rear seats. Kind of a problem on a estate car although I doubt I'll be letting many people in it.

To remedy this rather fundamental issue I've knocked up this pair of hinged seat brackets.


Their mounting tags will be welded onto the new seat crossmember and hinge the seat forward to allow people to get into the back.




I even got all fancy and fitted a nylon bush to each hinge to make sure they don't lock up.






Just to make sure they're nice and strong I also added a gusset to the front.