Is it worth it?

[sagalout]

Went to look at the g/f mothers old Clubman at the weekend. I can have it if I want it, but, whilst it has a nice shiney paint finish (over poor prep), it's rusting badly where the inner wheel arch meets the rear wing,(crumbled away), rear corner of rear wing, front lower corner of front wings, and whilst I couldn't get near it for garage rubbish (it's been in there since 1998), the o/s scuttle top (at the corner of the windscreen) feels like it's cracked (Filler presumably). Will get a better look at it when I pull it out the garage but initial thoughts are leave it there. Repaired Minis before and know what to expect.
It's a 73(M), a year older and it would be tax exempt.
Comes with 2 spare doors (current ones rusty) about 70k miles tidy interior.
Could make a reasonable road car or a hillclimber I suppose if I can get a decent engine in it.
Expect to be told I'm wasting my time and could buy a good shell for peanuts.

[plotloss]

Can you weld?

Nothing there that doesnt sound too bad, flip front perhaps to replace the rusted front and you can get scuttle repair panels...

Also, if you are considering a hillclimb car a VTEC engine will fit under a clubby front with out panel modification.

If you fancy a project I reckon its worth it but there will probably be a bit more than is obviously apparent.

Hows the rear subframe?

[sagalout]

Hi plotloss, yes I can weld. Always wanted a flip front Mini from way back in the 70's, but that would put me up into a higher class, as would the vtec conversion. Original body/engine would probably be cheapest(or would it). Is VTEC an easy (relatively) job? Read a report on someone fitting a K series Metro and he was making a right meal of it.
Could only see about half the car cos of rubbish. Better (possibly worse) view later. Subframe was replaced (apparently) as were sills (one seems solid, couldn't reach t'other). Cheers.

[plotloss]

VTEC seems fairly straight forward. There are a couple of companies that produce a modified Metro subframe, suspension and drive shafts which bolts straight into the clubby then its just a case of finding the VTEC lump and sticking it in. This can then be run off carbs (twin HIF44's), the original Honda ECU or an aftermarket part made by DTA (simplifies the wiring massively).

Even in standard tune, at the very minimum the VTEC is 160bhp!

This is what I am having done in about a month or so on mine. Mine is a bell nose though so will require panel mods, it will have an ever so slightly lairy engine though!

[sagalout]

That sounds a bit wild plotloss...
Any idea of cost, have the company who do the conversion got a web site?

[plotloss]

www.watsonsrally.co.uk and www.saeminivtec.com

Who to choose basically comes down to which bits you prefer (slight differences) and whether you are closer to Southampton or Leeds.

MiniWorld KYMA4 has details as well...

[minimax]

sagalout said: That sounds a bit wild plotloss...
Any idea of cost, have the company who do the conversion got a web site?

try www.plminis.com - I seem to remember you're in newky so this is a bit closer (p&l are just outside rotherham) p&l are also the original mini vtec converters (allegedly) and this is where I bought my mini from

[andy_clap]

It's a 73(M), a year older and it would be tax exempt.

Remember, the exemption is based on when it was BUILT, not registered. May well be a '72 car, those nice people at the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon will tell you if you have the chassis/engine numbers.

Cheers
Andy

[Paul V]

If you need a shell I may have a clubby one I’m getting rid of, it’s surprisingly solid but would need painting and probably running gear etc.

[sagalout]

Thanks AndyClap, you haven't got a number/address/webthingy to contact have you?
Thanks PaulV, but if this ones not worth revamping I'll probably not bother at the moment. All happened 'cos g/f suddenly said "my /my mams old Mini is in the garage at mams house and it's in decent condition". We've been together for 2 and a half years!

[andy_clap]

[phone]

Heritage Motor Centre, Banbury Rd
Gaydon
Warwick
CV35 0BJ

If it is a '72 car you may have to buy a letter of proof (about £10) or a Heritage Certificate (about £25) from the Heritage Motor Centre to proove to the DVLA that it should be exempt, but it's a small price to pay to be tax exempt. The DVLA may try to tell you it's not exempt as it was registered in '73, but just write them a snotogram saying apparently you know their rules better than they do as it is based on the build date.
The certificates are very interesting anyway, they tell you the original colour and trim options, the dealer it was delivered to, the dates between which it was built, etc.

Good luck.
Andy

[sagalout]

Well, got to look at it properly on Friday. Its had new front wings (fit is atrocious) new sills, rear valance and sub frame. Thats the good news. front inner wings are patched/bodged, there is a hole through the inner wing to the under wing area in front of the driver. Front scuttle/screen corners bodged. Rear wings only joined to inner wheel arches by crumbling rust, the horizontal surface above the rear sub frame front mount is holed. (Only fix a subframe out job?) The rear corners of the rear wings poor as is the lower part of therrear wings where they "join" the sills. " spare doors. Interior a bit tatty but thats the least of my worries. It's a 998, that hasn't run for 5 years but had a misfire/died occassionally then. The brakes work (possibly), all the suspension is heavily rusted, the clutch is free. Doesn't look too good, but thinking about it.

[annodomini2]

Sounds like a lot of work to me, but depends if you like a challenge!