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Jul 16, 2011 12:18:55 GMT
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Hi all, I'm Mel and I have recently become the proud owner of a Mini Clubman Estate, bought for me by my other half. His name is Norris and he is very much a project which will require quite a lot of welding, new panels and an engine rebuild. He's spent the last couple of years in a garage and his engine has spent the same amount of time in a garden under a tarp. Here is Norris... he hasn't moved since I got him yet as I haven't found him somewhere more permanent where I can work on him. Once he is moved to his new home the first thing he will be having is a wash! Then I will be starting on the engine first. Full rebuild, a few mods to improve performance and a funky paint job is what I have planned for that. A bit of history; Norris was my other half Phil's first mini, after a year he sold it to his sister for £20 (he couldn't bring himself to take any more money off her after the first instalment) and she stored him for about 3 years where he is now. She wanted rid a couple of months ago and I wanted a project so Phil bought him back for me for £200. His sister didn't seem to have the same issues taking money off him I have big plans for this little car, so far I am sure he needs new rear floors, almost an entire new front end, a new rear door, new sills and a few patches here and there. I will take some pictures of the rust once he's all cleaned up! Well I hope you like him it should be an interesting build. Cheers Mel
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Last Edit: Jan 6, 2012 15:04:05 GMT by 7M.elody
You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
1989 Austin Metro 1994 Harley Davidson hardtail bobber
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Lawsy
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,615
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Jul 16, 2011 12:57:43 GMT
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Norris looks like has the potential of a great project
Keep us posted on developments and Welcome to the world of RR Mel
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Jul 16, 2011 13:17:31 GMT
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Looks a great project any work done yet
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Jul 16, 2011 13:19:54 GMT
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Brilliant, I'd love one of these. Where abouts in the country are you?
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1989 Mini MG 1275 ~ 1987 VW Polo ~ 1989 Citroen 2CV ~ 1998 VW T4 ~ 2006 Volvo XC70
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Jul 16, 2011 16:18:56 GMT
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No work done yet I'm afraid I need to find him a more permanant home first. as you can see from the pics there isn't much space to work round him I am starting to collect engine parts though. I hope to have the 998 engine up to a meaty 90bhp with a lightened flywheel, roller rockers, bike pistons, etc etc I also have a toyota supra that needs attention so to start with it may be a bit slow going but the supe should be done for winter leaving all my free time for norris. Oh and I'm in Chesterfield
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You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
1989 Austin Metro 1994 Harley Davidson hardtail bobber
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Jul 16, 2011 17:01:04 GMT
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That is one dusty mini! Should be a good project and well worth it when you get to drive it
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Jul 17, 2011 18:57:17 GMT
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looks like a good project, looks very similar to mine when it was standard good luck with the build, will be keeping an eye on this to see how it turns out!
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Ian
Part of things
Posts: 977
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Jul 17, 2011 21:35:32 GMT
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Goodluck with th project! my first mini had a similar registration AKD 120X
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Jul 18, 2011 11:36:44 GMT
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arr they must have been only a few cars seperated on the production line Driving it is a far thing at the moment but it's good motivation to get started!
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You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
1989 Austin Metro 1994 Harley Davidson hardtail bobber
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Jul 18, 2011 13:37:31 GMT
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looks like a nice little project.....
wouldnt bother buggering around with the 998 too much to be honest, if your looking for 90hp, then you'd be better off starting with a 1275.... be a lot cheaper to get to that sort of level, and higher if you so wished...
90hp from a 998 is doable, but its not easy or cheap (unless you're budget turbo'ing, in which case reliablity might be an issue!!)
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Current fleet: '58 A35 (half mine) '67 11 window splitscreen vw (half mine) '77 mini 1000 (not quite 1000 any more!!) '86 Armstrong MT500 '89 XR4X4 '94 Corrado VR6 Some sort of sevenesque kit car (no age yet!!) '01 Mondeo estate 2.0 (engine eventually destined for kit car!) - scrapped, engine only left! '98 E300 estate, rusty but seemingly reliable, fast-ish tat hauler. eventual engine donor A35 van, or whats left of it after it lived in a field for many years
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Jul 20, 2011 12:47:23 GMT
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Comment's appreciated, however even if I don't hit 90HP keeping it a 998 is more important for me. I don't have any intention to turbo charge it so reaching that figure will be a challange. Some parts I realise will be expensive but I'm not in a rush, also last year I rebuilt my Supra's engine just back to stock and after the cost of that even the more expensive Mini performance parts seem very good value for money
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You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
1989 Austin Metro 1994 Harley Davidson hardtail bobber
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Jul 20, 2011 18:03:04 GMT
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Good luck with the rebuild - I am in the process of (slowly) raising a '77 saloon from the dead - Be prepared for some rusty surprises and take plenty of pictures!
Just for the record, I am with you on the 998cc thing - I have always found them to be sweeter than the bigger bore 1275 albeit at the expense of power.
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1950 Ferguson TE A20 1971 VW Beetle 1300 1972 VW Beetle 1302S 1977 Leyland Mini 850 1983 Austin Metro 1.0 HLE 1984 Honda Acty TN 550 1989 Rover Mini 30 1990 Rover Mini City E 1990 Mazda MX5
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Jul 21, 2011 10:10:54 GMT
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Cool have you got a rebuild thread too? I have been promised that last time the engine was running it was a strong reliable little thing so I have a good base to start with it turns over easy as anything and is still really clean inside apart from the odd sneaky leaf despite it long hibernation in the garden! I will make sure lots of pictures are taken for you all to oogle at
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You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
1989 Austin Metro 1994 Harley Davidson hardtail bobber
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Mar 27, 2012 19:23:16 GMT
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Finally I have got Norris to his new home the worst of the dust has been blown off and his tyres pumped up. Here are some pictures for you all! I'm so excited to get started on him, to begin with I'm going to refurb a few bits that I don't want, to sell and raise some cash for panels and then I'll get cracking. The Supra still has a little way to go before I can properly start but it'll not be long now Woo hoo!
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Last Edit: Mar 28, 2012 8:13:55 GMT by 7M.elody
You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
1989 Austin Metro 1994 Harley Davidson hardtail bobber
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luckygti
Posted a lot
I need to try harder!
Posts: 4,912
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Mar 27, 2012 22:05:22 GMT
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Cool, love a Mini estate. And on wolfies too look forward to progress.
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Jun 23, 2012 21:15:09 GMT
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Well the Supra is back on the road now and although I'm not entirely finished with it I thought it time to give Norris some attention. I started stripping all the interior to have a look a the extent of the rust I must say things weren't as bad as I thought they would be! Here are some piccies of what I found Just cause I'm keeping the back seats even though some mice have been living in them, I'm gonna get them some new foam and leather covering. I found a really funky steering wheel in him which I forgot to take a pic of but it's a red/pink leather Mountney one with 4 spokes and I'll get some black dye round it and use that. The original jack and wheel brace were in there which is cool and I have a nice leather covered center console which will be up for sale soon along with the original SU and manifolds for the engine and all the bumpers. I'm pretty much going to bin all the dash, so if anyone would like anything let me know. I think I'm gonna make a frame to weld into him to hold his shape whilst all the floors and sills are replaced and I'm gonna try and make it so he can be tipped on his side on castors to make life easier when welding. It's nice to have made a start anyway
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You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
1989 Austin Metro 1994 Harley Davidson hardtail bobber
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Aug 30, 2012 19:34:02 GMT
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Been busy today. Seeing as I haven't figured out how to get enough power up to the garage to use a welder yet, I started on the front subframe! Phil and I dragged him out and unbolted the subframe which went easier than I imagined Here he is on a load of old wheels... We had a good look underneath, the bulkhead doesn't look too bad hopefully it's all surface rust I want to get the steering rack off and the engine bay clear so I can get cracked on with rust proofing what hasn't already succumb to rust. The subframe seems in good nick, we did start stripping it down but we only got half of it done cause all the carrying a mini around knackered us out! It will be off for powdercoating in gold and then refitted with poly bushes, cooper discs, highlows, uprated tie bars ect. Here he is looking a bit too low! perhaps we should put the wheels back under lol
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You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
1989 Austin Metro 1994 Harley Davidson hardtail bobber
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timmo
Part of things
It's supposed to do that
Posts: 20
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Aug 30, 2012 19:38:09 GMT
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Awesome - love clubby estates.
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Dave
South East
Posts: 74
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Aug 30, 2012 21:16:33 GMT
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Looking forward to following this. Got a lot of love for the estates.
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luckygti
Posted a lot
I need to try harder!
Posts: 4,912
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Aug 30, 2012 21:32:02 GMT
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Good to see something happening on this, my brothers and I were having a chat about when my Dad had one of these. My brother and I used to sit in the back with the dog, Mum, big brother and Gran in the back seat and Dad and Grandad in the front :0 I kid you not! Anyway, I digress, looks pretty crusty!!
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