Back to the build....

Rick: how are you supporting the shell? In the pics there's no rotisserie but the car seems to be tilted for the floor panel installation and level in other photos.

Interesting side-chat about mirrors and barn door vision. In my first car (back in the 70's), being a Countryman, it was a problem. Add-on mirrors were few and far between. I found a flat-glass add-on (probably intended for a visor) and hung it on the stock Mini mirror. It mostly gave me a better view of the barn doors. I also had wing-mounted side mirrors, which were more useful.

I do the same with the OZ Van Chuck...rotate the rearview mirror to better see the left rear side traffic, obstacles etc.  With a steel sided Van I would have switched to LHD but the glass greenhouse of the Window Van and mirror tweaking works just fine.

The Woody was originally and will remain a LHD Mini.

Dan's comment regarding rear visability because of the barn doors, is certainly a valid one. The problem is biggest with RHD in a LHD country (and visa versa). The solution is a 4th rear view mirror to go with the inside mirror and two outside mirrors, one for each door. Add a sick-on one to the windscreen off center towards the driver and lower, just above the driver's shoulder. Use it for the rear view mirror. With a RHD in this LHD country I then turn the regular inside mirror so that helps viewing on the left side of the car. For a LHD car in this LHD country, move the inside mirror where it does you the most good.

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DAY 2 - in the bag...a good day.  Left half floor fitted, with closing panel repaired & rewelded...will weld up floor half tomorrow.

Rear lip cleaned up...a little left side steel repair necessary and two small closing panels need replacement.

Awaiting arrival of full length right side half floor.

A good day!   I'm thinking having an eager owner on site helps!

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DAY 1 - in the bag.  Lucky on Roof Racks & upside down.  Front subframe addressed (I had 2 to choose from), captive nuts & gussets up front and a few extra stitch welds on the tower.

Front subbie bolted into place and rod change tunnel piece welded in from toe board to existing crossmember - shell stable toe board to heel board.  When new crossmember goes in over new floors...the old crossmember will be cut out around the rod change/square end and the new round tunnel crossmember will be modified to mate to the rod change.  Seeing the pictures might help visualize.

So exciting!

I delivered all the new steel for Lucky's build today...we start 10 am Tuesday! 

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3 Minis or at least parts of 3 Minis moved in 4 hours today...

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LUCKY goes on the trailer tomorrow and the steel work will begin!  Only 2 bolts to pull out and the rack can swing down to the trailer.

Have all the steel replacement panels (may need to fab part of the rear door step), extra smooth roof, extra rear quarter panels, extra barn doors...just need to focus on getting the bits to fit right.

Have the new wood set aside...found a new repro Oak & Oak veneer Rokee Dash...forgot I bought it in 2007.

The photos of the wood and other bits includes a new heel board (picked that up from you Sean at Vanc ABFM a few years ago).  The Maniflow freeflow header and twin box exhaust (in the big cardboard package) will be Going on the 1293 to go in ROO.

Some of the 'new' rubber is still in the original packaging...dated 1982 (came with the shell).

Excited now....will update as we go.  John (Miniman) Goolevitch will also be updating his steel work (I'll be his helper): //www.miniman.ca/

May go and look at a '68 Traveller project tomorrow....

Have confirmed that the steel work can begin not later than end of the month...have all the new steel needed - floors, heel board, wings, bonnet, early apron and a spare smooth roof and external tank rear quarters, extra barn doors, new Wood.

Also confirmed new rear sub frame with fully built up rear trailing arms for install, good front subbie that will get gussets on the ears, new upper arms, new HD adj lower arms, new HD control arms/tie rods, new hilos (2 sets), new steering rack, new fuel tank, all glass but will need new windscreen, new brake master (need clutch master & slave), 2 sets of front hubs & 4 pot calipers for rebuild...and Metro turbo block & head, intake & sealed SU, 2 turbos, turbo plumbing, turbo wiring harness, new custom crank, new A+ rods, some pistons on hand but will need to confirm or acquire new, new never built A+ tranny, complete new gear set, new vernier adjustable cam timing gear.

Biggest expense going forward will be steel/paint followed by interior (though we have templates from fold down rear seat to cards), followed by wheels/tires.  Labour...there will be a lot of that (mostly mine) - cleaning, inspecting/prepping, painting, some machine shop, additional hydraulic, cooling rads & fan(s) and electrical...e.g. boost retard dizzy, temp sensors/gauges to fund.  Hope to debut at Vancouver ABFM May 2017 or MMW 2017.

Will post progress & photos as we go along.

Over the last several years I bought two of a bunch of things - racks, rod change shifters, arm sets, and so on.  Some of the HD adjustable suspension bits went into ROO, some engine bits have gone into the 1293 build for ROO.  Recently, I got the needed bits from OZ to rebuild ROO's steering rack when the power unit swap out occurs.  Glad since I retired almost 5 years ago that I had squirreled bits away.

Hi Scott, Squashy was the minisprint project. Still got it up in the rafters waiting its turn. Never enough floor space for my projects amongst customers cars. We Are currently doing a full resto on a Crayford convertible which is looking pretty darn good compared to how it started out. Should be ready for paint in the next few weeks. How about your fleet?

Lee,

What ever happened to squashy?  And your sprint project?

Scott

Wood & 10" wheels was my preference when I did up mine. Wheels are 4.5" Cooper offset as I also fitted front discs & cooper rear drums but did not want wheel arches. Body was all steel originally. Car was very late also being a 1974 which I think was the last year they sold then here in NZ. Several years after they were discontinued in the UK.

Interesting how the wood makes the one on the left look bigger.

My first car was a 68 Mini Countryman (non-wood). Second car was a 69 Mini Saloon. It always seemed to lack.... something. I would go back if I could. The only thing I didn't like was the rear-view mirror visibility through the barn doors.

If you have the time, the wheels, and the inclination, take the brake calipers off and fit some 10" wheels and step back and take some photos for comparison.

12"s are better than 13"s, but fat 10"s with a spongy sidewall give a much better ride and look better imo - just something to think about before setting the spec in stone.

Alex, your comments & advice will always be welcome.  Rick

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Well I have 12s on the OZ window van...but maybe that's OK for a non-Estate/Countryman LWB.  They fit comfortably over the 8.4 discs... 

Wheels before & after strip and refinish.

Or booted.  Really wouldn't like to have to choose between one of my Elfs or the Estate.

Though the estate might just shade it...

And two are better than one: