Clubman Estate Barn Find - Co. Galway

[Billy]

Good night's work. Rear subframe replaced and 1 radius arm in place.

[Billy]

No prizes for guessing what's in this oversized box but here's a clue, it's shiny!

[Billy]

[Billy]

Must be getting near the end soon.

[Billy]

Crank her up there, Johnny

[Billy]

It lives! No exhaust fitted but it does run. Thanks to Johnny and Alan at Cork Mini Centre for persevering with it over the weekend. Here's the video of the first start-up.

[keith]

brilliant build billy.. lazarus of a car that!

[keith]

Did not call Keith ,I thought he was the expert on Clubman front mounted rads

Very bold, Ro. Keith's custom rad got us to Germany and back for IMM2010 (once he changed the thermostat on MTM2010!!!)

see http://www.irishminis.ie/forum/viewtopi ... =25#p78780

[peterdmorrissey]

Fair play Billy it looks the part ,it's a great story in its self

[Billy]

Bit of a setback the last night but may be of use to other Mpi owners. I was tidying the wiring from front to rear so had undone a few connections and put them back together once the wiring was re-routed. Anyway when Johnny & Alan came along to get more work done, we tried to start it and while the engine would usually start once the fuel pump is primed, this time there wasn't a geek of it. So obviously it must have been me who was the plonker who disturbed the wiring.

Thankfully it wasn't but there were a lot of fecks flown and time lost before the guys figured that it was one of the four relays into the black control box that sits on top of the brake servo. The particular relay controls the fuel pump and once the box was opened up and the relays examined, it was clear that one of them was not looking too healthy. Thankfully a clean-up got it sorted and I've ordered a new one from MiniSpares to replace it.

https://minispares.com/product/Classic/ ... .aspx|Back to search

This is my third Mpi and it's the first time I've ever seen this problem. One to be aware of.

Work still to be completed:

Bleed brakes & clutch
Adjust handbrake
Fit exhaust properly once fitting kit arrives
Finalise routing of wiring
Fit rooflining
Fit windscreen
Fit carpet and seats
& loads more....

Time is ticking if the Clubby is going to make the ferry for the IMM in exactly two week's time but the Hornet is on standby if required.

Billy

[Billy]

Inside the black control box, showing the four relays. The one which controlled the fuel pump had failed. New unit arrived last night & old one (now working) will be carried as a spare.

[kerryminigringo]

(New unit arrived last night & old one (now working) will be carried as a spare.)
Does this mean you are travelling to the IMM in it,be a shame not to after the big push to get it finished.

[Billy]

The original grille cleaned up well with a load of baby wipes

[Billy]

The estate headlining comes in two pieces, similar to a Mk1 Mini. When I stripped it, I discovered a rat's nest but thankfully there were no rips. It had gotten stained with age so I decided to change colour and go with Halfords Flexible Vinyl Paint in light grey. It took 3 cans at €15 a can so it's not cheap but I'm happy with the results.

Before:

After:

[Billy]

Time for the annual update on the Clubby estate.

Got a parcel delivered to work last week:

[Billy]

And since at my rate of progress it would be 2027 before it would be finished, I loaded it on the trailer and sent it off to Cork Mini Centre for Johnny and Alan to get stuck in.

[Billy]

Lights working for the first time in 23 years:



Original grille cleaned up, new halogen headlights and new chrome bumper:

[DaveC]

Good work lads!

[Billy]

As Eamonn Murphy pointed out to me this morning, this build thread was never really finished off so to bring the past seven years to a conclusion, here's some photos which show the finished project.

The gold Superlites fitted:


Front numberplate:


Leather seats from a late 90s Cooper altered to allow folding rear seats:


The front seats:

[Billy]

Tracking down at JD Tyres, Mitchelstown - they can track Minis


And finally, 570JIM on display on the Irish Mini Owners Club stand at the RIAC Classic Car Show 2018 in the RDS, Dublin


Over 400 miles done this weekend alone and it didn't miss a beat. Roll on Portugal!!

[woody]

400 miles , sure that will be just the first day
Car looks well.

[DaveC]

Great to see it on the stand in the RDS

[Billy]

I was delighted to be asked, Dave but to be fair, all four Clubby estates looked great.

[DaveC]

I was delighted to be asked, Dave but to be fair, all four Clubby estates looked great.

True, they did all look great

[Billy]

Picked up a 52mm Burlen throttle body and a ported inlet manifold recently on eBay. I had already fitted a big valve head so it made sense to improve the breathing.