Reunited with an old friend

[Pandora]

MASSIVE PROGRESS UPDATE.

I removed the wiper motor with a view to stripping off the horrid yellow overspray and also bought a steering column shroud off a guy on Facebook as the one on the van was broken.

And whilst looking for something else, I opened my copy of Parnell for the first time in years and out dropped a note saying '105mph speedo in van: SN 4417/04 1376'

Maybe I'll look it up later and see what it all means, as it's lost the speedo it had and has a later one with a rounded bezel now. I doubt it ever read correctly as it has the engine and box from an MG1300, but I never knew if the diff was changed for the mini wheels......

I wonder what other bits of info about it still lurk around the place

Obviously I haven't actually made any real progress.

Al

[Pandora]

Major progress! The van has seen the light of day. If only to chuck more stuff in and around it, but still, It was nice to see it was still there.

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I have got as far as thinking about it (and bought a nice seat for it - priorities!) so had a look back through my panel list and I was struck by a question - the heel board panel on a van / pick up is deeper than on a saloon, but are the rear arch assemblies the same or different? I can't see any different panels listed in the Mini Machine catalogue, which makes me thing not, but I'm not sure

Anyone any ideas?

Al

[mini_surfari]

The rear arches are actually different in vans and pick ups, slight taller and wider if I remember?

Saloon ones do fit those, we had to get fairly heavy handed to get them to get the lined up with the m-machine floor though.

From Somerfords site -

[mk1]

At least your van is looking dry & at home. It's not doing any harm there!

[Pandora]

I know I said no more projects...... But it's been quite the 24 hours!

Al

As it begins, so it ended........

This popped up locally this morning and while I messaged my Pal Robb, hoping he'd dissuade me, he messaged me to say what I was thinking - Buying a car that works is what I need at the moment, rather than knowing it will be a long time until the stars align and I can put the money needed into the van (work, life, separation, houses etc) So my day has ended with me owning another Mini van, and the need to make a mini van spaced hole for it to go into!

It's far from a concourse car, more like a decent home resto with a couple of years use, but that suits me, I don't have to be too precious about it, Plan is to keep the engine and box from the yellow one to rebuild and drop into the green one, and maybe swap the wheels and tyres over , but basically sell the original (yellow) one as a project. If anyone is on the look out for a van (as we all know, far rarer and more desirable than those funny two tone saloons) let me know. I'll put an ad in the for sale section soon, but the details are all in this thread.

I'm sort of sad, but also really looking forward to doing the few wee jobs needed on this one, then over time doing the bigger ones, like the engine!

Al

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[GraemeC]

Looks a nice, honest, useable thing - good buy!

[Pandora]

Well Al, I hope this won't be another abandoned project ! Is this the fifth or sixth

Brace brace brace!

[wantafaster1]

Looks good, get out and enjoy it

[Exminiman]

Looks good, sensible move getting something you can use straight away.

Not many good vans around

PersonallyI think its good that its ply lined, are you going to do the floor as well ?(I would)

[Pandora]

I am thinking I will fit the folding rear seat from the yellow one, makes it a far more practical usable thing. I'll offer the 'cut' to the buyer of the yellow one. And yes, some kind of wooden lining on the floor, I think. As much for the drumming noise as anything.

Al

[63monte]

I think I know where the drumming noise was coming from

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[Pandora]

Badum- tish! (Pardon the drumming pun)

Al

[Pandora]

Would the concensus on raised peak number plates be that by '67 it should be white on black, rather than silver on Black?

Al

[Pandora]

I'm delighted to say my Pal Steve has bought the yellow peril, and will likely restore it as a tribute to his first ever car. This was a high '70s custom van with loads of 'personal touches', so no factory fresh resto

I'm equally delighted at the pile f goodies that were not included in the sale

Al