Some AUSMINI people may have noticed that I haven't posted any progress on my cooper replica. The car below is what I have been up to, the car belongs to a customer and it has been fun (and frustrating) playing with someone elses money. I was introduced to the customer (Garry) by his brother in law (I put together a 2CV for him amoung other car jobs) and was shown a battered sorry 1978 clubman S at the back of Garry's transport business and told "I want it to have a body kit, chrome, and be yellow, and it will be used as a sunday fun car. Am I interested in working on it? Why not, I put a quote on the car in two halves, paint and pannel, and the rest. A week past and I thought nothing of it, Garry then rang "when can I drop off the car, a pannel beater will be doing the paint and pannel. You can do the rest". The project was on, but I was a bit nervous about my very broad brief (I've had some customers who are so particular they almost tell me the brand of tools they want used). The last thing I wanted to do is build the wrong thing, so after dozens of questions I had a clear idea of what it had to look like, I will make it usable for everyday. I stripped the car in a week down to a rolling shell and away to the pannel beater it went. For 9 months leaving my with a fridge box of parts plus a motor and gearbox filling space in my shed. In that time I found a motor and gearbox (built by my former boss pete), 1100 with sports cam designed for maximum torque, the seats and all the other bits.
The car eventually arrived from the pannel beater, wow was my first impression, followed by crap this is going to be a pain to work on as I will be very nervous about damaging the body. The car came together quickly due to the fact I pulled it apart (wiring labeled correctly and everything in labeled and boxed). There was problems however, new lower engine mounts that didn't fit, a fuel pump that failed once in the car (mechanical), a missing oil pressure valve, filled in holes for mounting the fuel tank, and a hole for a second fuel tank cut without a tank to fill it.
At this point I'll leave you with the photos, I think they speak for themself. Enjoy.
The car still isn't finished it now must go to the trimmers for the door trims to be made and fitted (the trimmer wouldn't do them without the car), the exhaust fitter, front end alignment, and roadworthy. Then I get it back once registered for a final tune and once over.
The car once finished should be a comfortable, eye catching car that can be used everyday. Perfect, a great first mini.
The people responsible:
Paint and pannel: Micky D, Albert street Moolap
Windscreen and fitment: BR windscreens, Geelong
Trim: Westcoast trimmers, Ocean grove
Motor: Peter Parry
Camshaft: Clive Cams, Sydney
Gearbox: Frank, Geelong
Front seats: Motor shed, Newtown
Electrical components: Ashdown Ingram, Geelong
Brake components: Geelong clutch and brake, Geelong
Odds and ends: Repco, Geelong
The assembly and other parts: Lindsay Palmer (me), Portarlington
And of course Garry for paying all the bills.
The car will possibly be at mount cooper in november for its first outting.
