I'm now at a cross road
When I bought this clubman it was to satisfy my mini urge as I couldn't find a round nose. My plan was to get this clubby on the road enjoy learning more about them in the process (which I have), then sell it to get a round nose. My plan was clear if the clubby was to need a new engine or gearbox I wasn't going to go down that road as this wasn't my 'dream car'. Unfortunately I became emotionally attached to it and decided to fix the gearbox thinking that's all I need to do and I would finally get it on the road. Now I'm being urged to do things to the engine while it's out. I really don't want to over capitalise any more so I'm now going over the choices I have.

1. Spend bucks on the engine, get it on the road and registered and sell it complete.
2. Put the engine how it is (it was running strong, no smoke) back on the new gearbox, back in the car without spending too much more.
3. Sell the car as a rolling shell. Do the engine up and find a good roundnose shell and put the engine and new gearbox in it.

Any thoughts or other avenues I could take?

Is it a 1275 or small block?

Well you won't get much for a bare shell for a start, plus if you buy a roundnose it may have an original engine and the gearbox will not be the same (remote vs rod change which I am guessing you have now).

You have to really ask yourself this: do you want to keep this clubby or do you want a roundnose? if you want to keep the clubman then fix the gearbox and engine. If you want a roundnose (ie. clubman will be sold anyway) then just get it running with whatever your gearbox needs and that's it.

No sense in spending money on something that you will eventually sell anyway, esp since it is as strong as you say it is.

There are lots of roundnoses out there for sale, are you looking in the right places??

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

It is the old "How long is a piece of string?" issue and ultimately it will be up to a couple of factors and your own intuition:

1. Are you prepared to spend the money in the first place(you have to admit the old mini sucks up a lot of funds...); and
2. Mitigate the risk and re-mate your block back on your gearbox only having to rip it back out in 12 months to rebuild it anyway. This is a decision only you can make but be prepared to accept a more busted engine in the worst case scenario if you go this track.

It is never an easy decision. For example I have a Leyland that has gone around the clock twice on the factory motor while I have a totally rebuilt engine sitting idly on my garage floor waiting for the working one to give up the ghost. I am itching to get it in but I also dont want to do it unnecessarily as this motor I have is sweet as a nut(even with the very high K's on it...).

I am not trying to be the purveyor of doom and gloom but IMHO the top bit of the motor should be at least checked thoroughly and given the OK before you put the thing back on the gearbox. If it wasnt blowing smoke then I would risk it but try and replace what you can easily(thrusts, main bearings and check all tolerances where you can) and replace any seals you can get to while you have it in this state. If it was working well before you separated it, I think you could be ok(my opinion only...).

Again it aint all bad - you may find it will not cause you any grief for years but remember Murphys Law - what can go wrong will go wrong(Murphy was a pessimist and I wouldnt trust him anyway!!)

Good luck with whatever you do mate and I hope it works out for you. REMEMBER!!!! to replace the oil pick-up O ring if nothing else - otherwise there will be no oil pressure and once the box and motor are back together, there is no way to get it back in there unless you separate the motor again. A 10 cent rubber o-ring will give you a coronary if you forget to put it back...lol

Hooroo

Rob Forsyth
Miniot!!

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Rob Forsyth
Miniot!!

68deluxe,

I spent the best part of six months looking for a round nose, it's a long story but I put a deposit on one, the seller changed his mind, I got p'd off, spent the money on my house, but the mini bug wouldn't go away so I ended up with a cheaper clubman.
I definately know I need a round nose and in hindsight I should have kept looking and saving, with the amount I've spent already and the time it has taken to get the clubman almost on the road.

It's one of the earlier clubmans, 1100 motor with rubber uni's and remote change so it should bolt straight into a round nose.

I've just spent seven hundred dollars on the gearbox.

Rob,

I now know that minis can soak up alot of cash but it has always been about learning more about these cars so I can maintain it myself. I do want to drive a classic and aren't about to thrash it like a lot of poor minis cop. I think this is why I'm at this crossroad realising the clubman doesn't quite cut it, (nothing against clubmans beauty is in the eye of the beholder) and if I'm going to spend lots of money and time it has to be on a car I love.

I do have that 10 cent O-ring along with a complete set of gaskets and seals.

I heard about an older guy with an original 850 van from new that's done over 150,000k's on its original motor and still going strong because he regularly does the maintenance.

Reverend Tim - as I said I would probably do the same thing(I am half Scot as well).

Looked after these things will run forever(like any car) and I reckon you will be fine to do what you want to do. Personally I like Clubbys as there is more room in the engine bay(but means you can stuff more crap in there!!).

I wasnt taking a personal dig at you - what YOU want to do and want to achieve is entirely up to you. Dont let anyone else tell you otherwise...

That bloody O-ring...what a pain in the arse!!!

Hooroo

Rob Forsyth
Miniot!!

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Rob Forsyth
Miniot!!

Rob, no 'dig' taken

Right now I'm thinking I'll do the engine but if I put in new pistons and rings will I then need to do the head up. I will be putting new main and big end bearings in as a minimum, regardless of what I decide. I think I'll go and pull the head off to see what the story is up top, a new headgasket won't blow the budget.

Hey Tim, I was like you, was looking for a roundie but settled on a '77 Clubman LS but as far as I am concerned it looks like a Mini, drives like a Mini so must be a Mini.

I found after I bought it that the clutch and gearbox was stuffed so have had that fixed, then I got it repainted, fitted 12" wheels and soon to have disc brakes fitted and a reworked 998 going into it. Still to do up the interior completly. The amount of money I spent on it already scares me (and the wife) but if it's a passion and any passion you have will cost time and money...

So no matter what sort of older Mini you buy, it will need work done to it, especially if it was a cheapy in the first place.

My advice is if you are happy with the car, do it up to what you want and enjoy driving it..

except for korean cars...they break as soon as its outta warranty viva la ssangyong!

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Bling me up Scotty!
"wait till it grows into a plant...then bunny rabbit THE PLANT!"

1966 Morris Mini DeLuxe FOR SALE

Hey inazuma_x, I just bought a new Hyundia Elantra so I have 5 years before it runs out of warranty...

just keep tellin yerself that maybe oneday you'll believe it yerself



thats where i started with my 998...chatting to poee last year saying "what can i do to get a bit more outta my deluxe?" then i thought "hmmm...998...why dont i just do it up to be a real nice 1275?" then i thought "for that money i might as well just go modern...what seems to be good...this 4efte thing seems like a good idea" then last week the awd civic presented itself and well...thats where i am at this stage...its gotten a bit out of hand

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Bling me up Scotty!
"wait till it grows into a plant...then bunny rabbit THE PLANT!"

1966 Morris Mini DeLuxe FOR SALE

will be the best 5yrs of yer life...then the car will fall apart...you can set yer watch by korean cars...atomic clocks've got nuttin on em

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Bling me up Scotty!
"wait till it grows into a plant...then bunny rabbit THE PLANT!"

1966 Morris Mini DeLuxe FOR SALE

Guys, if this was a round nose I wouldn't be having this conversation.
It's not that I mind spending the money and time, it just seems that it's on a car that I'm only 95% passionate about, if I could easily bolt on a new front I would.

It's a great little car, I think I should get the engine right, I can then drive it around for a while probably for in love with it totally or, look for a round nose and swap engines.

you could just cut the front off it and replace with a flip-front or roundie front panels...would require engineering though...the only difference is the front panels...essentially...

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Bling me up Scotty!
"wait till it grows into a plant...then bunny rabbit THE PLANT!"

1966 Morris Mini DeLuxe FOR SALE

As I said 'if it was easy I would'