I haven't put a lot of information up from my build, nor a lot of photos.
But I acquired a 1975 clubman with a morris 1500 motor in it, about 18 months ago, probably 75% complete.
Custom subframe, custom exhaust, custom front brakes, custom fuel tank, custom intake, the list goes on... The person I bought it off had been the owner and builder of it for almost 20 years, and it hadn't been touched in about 12 years when I got my hands on it.

Long story short, and ignoring all of the questioning why the 1500 motor, the motor was fairly well stuffed; busted valve springs, busted piston rings, busted head and gasket. After about 6 months of waiting impatiently I finally have the motor back from the builders after having it bored, the cam ground, the crank ground, the head serviced, and a few other goodies.

Anyway, the good news is that the motor should be in and hopefully running on the weekend. And now for the progress shots!







Feel free to question or comment anything.

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Does the motor fit?
How are you getting power to the wheels?

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Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

Motor fits, as per image below



Extractors rub slightly on the firewall but, aside from that, it's actually a nice fit.
Power to the wheels is from custom front drive shafts.
It has run and driven before but, because the motor was shtuffed, this weekend should be it's rebirthing.

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Interesting conversion - that's a B-series engine, correct? I though that the 1500 was older that your average A-series engine, and had less power than a 1275! Will be interesting to see what you can get out of it.

The 1500 motor isn't a B series, its an OHC variant. E series from memory. They are pretty heavy for their power output.

Terry, who runs the Moke forum, has a 1500 Moke.

Tim

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1951 Morris Commercial J Type Van
1955 BSA C11G
1961 Morris Mini Traveller
1969 Triumph TR6R
1977 Leyland Moke Californian

One of the most interesting things about it is that the way it is set up from the previous owner is to run twin 45mm webbers.
Intake comes from a scoop on the drivers side behind the grill that has been built to run a VS commodore air filter, runs through roughly 3" stainless piping over the tappet cover to a chamber at the back of the engine bay that feeds the webbers...

There a lot of carby there, so we are curious to see how it handles that

Here's a pic of the intake set-up. This pic was actually a comparison of polished tappet cover to corroded, but you can still see the intake

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Thanks for putting your pictures up. That engine bay looks great. A unique project too.

Did you do the painting? I like the colour. I've heard they're heavy, but with the rebuilt engine and the twin 45s (and whatever else you have done) whats do you expect the outcome to be? At least it won't be a stressed over bored and stroked engine unit!

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Thanks Mick

I have resprayed the engine bay, sub-frame and all of the accessories while the motor has been out. I just figured there's no better time to get it done than while the engine is out... And I don't intend on having the engine out again any time soon.

I have no idea of what to expect from the end result. I did give the car a quick few bursts around the block when the motor was still in it and not running too well, and it was pretty surprising... After all the hours and money spent I just hope the result is twice as surprising as it was the first few times!

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Thanks for the pics and the info. What brakes are you using to stop the extra weight?

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Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

Hey Ryan,
the front brakes are actually a 10" disc brake combination from an astra and a gemini.
Caliper from one, disc from the other. I do have the correct information in a book of modifications written out by the guy that built it somewhere... I will do a proper write up of modifications when i find it.

also it has stepped rear drum brakes too, so she should slow up nicely.

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You running the 5 speed box?

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The bitterness of poor quality (or Crappy Workmanship) remains LONG AFTER the Sweet Taste of Low Price is forgotten.

Yeah, TK, running the 5 speed cable change gear box.
Have slightly modified gear box and shifter assembly/ cables to stop problematic oil leaks that seem to have been a common problem with them.

wont know the outcome until its together, full of oil and running though.

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I'm looking forward to seeing it running. It should be a very neat thing. (maybe even better with a 1750 crank?)

Front Brakes


Drive Shafts


Under car/ subframe/ exhaust


Dash


Boot/ Fuel tanks


Roof/ Light and accessories console


Parcel shelf/ rear window


Motor ready to drop in

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Admin might like to move this thread to build thread, seeing as it's getting a little more involved now... But this is the weekends progress (odd sort of word for it)

Motor ready to go back in


Motor in and almost ready


Webers


Webers Again


Everyting in and ready to go


Running video
View My Video

Motor back out after clutch issues


Thrust washer on the clutch was back to front (Though we had no idea there were 2 separate sides... What a difficult way to figure it out!)

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