1972 Morris Mini Van

[mini_surfari]

Well, it should be at Beaulieu on Sunday!

Few bits to finish off this week, but most of it is done. Needs a good tune up too!







MOT yesterday, typically had to rain all day didn't it... But it passed with no issues so happy with that.







Hopefully meet some of you Sunday!

[Peter Laidler]

VANtastic work. Hope to see you on Sunday

[Old English White]

Looks GREAT!!
You need some mirrors on it

[Peter Laidler]

Mirrors........ But DON'T drill holes to put them on. If it means drilling holes, do without 'em or look over your shoulder!

[Andrew1967]

Looks superb .. hope to get to see it in Sunday

[Grant 111]

Awesome work Olli, can't wait to see it Sunday!

[mini_surfari]

Well, its been a few weeks since we 'finished it'.

After its MOT we managed to squeeze in a 'quick tune up' on the rolling road JPR tuning in Yate. Which turned into an all day affair and rebuilding one of the carbs as the choke was sticking open. But after we had a HUGE 50bhp. Really does drive well now, and just wants to rev and rev.

So that left us with a few parts left to trim, we didn't like the short cards and exposed door frame, so took inspiration from the estates, and made our own set.



A nod to the styling behind the Van.



Beaulieu was an excellent day, barely saw much of the show as most of the day was spent waffling. Also came away with a few awards which was a surprise, as there was some excellent cars on display.










A big thanks must go to the members of this forum supplying parts and giving out more valuable advice! Just need to find some NOS rear door seals if anyone has any

[UHR850]

Please tell me about your bonnet badge, did you make it your self ?
I am thinking for some time to have one for my Mk3, I have a brass badgering.

Kees.

[mini_surfari]

Please tell me about your bonnet badge, did you make it your self ?
I am thinking for some time to have one for my Mk3, I have a brass badgering.

Kees.

Kees, no I had it made, it’s a deep gel printed one, rather than enamel.

[UHR850]

Thanks for letting me know, it's looking very nice and well done.
The whole project is great congrets with the result of your lovely VAN.

Kees.

[Pandora]

I'm sure I've asked before, but what shade of grey is that?

I'm pretty sure it's the same as my '71 (Austin) van was originally, and I'd been swayed to keep it yellow, but that does look very good in the grey.

Al

[mini_surfari]

Thanks Kees!

I'm sure I've asked before, but what shade of grey is that?

I'm pretty sure it's the same as my '71 (Austin) van was originally, and I'd been swayed to keep it yellow, but that does look very good in the grey.

Al

Al, it’s Tweed grey, GR4, wrong for the year, but my dad decided it had to be tweed grey when we were first looking for the project, and we’re both very pleased with the colour!

[Pandora]

Ah, that'll be why it looks good!

Think mine was a shade darker, but not to worry, that stage is some way off!

Al

[Gsu754]

Stunning van.

[mini_surfari]

Well it was time for a little maintenance on the Van pre MOT, developed a nock from the steering rack so a new Bush was fitted, we do have a new rack for it, but decided to give the repair a go first. Was that bad a job in the end, used the wood screw method seen on here!



I assume the oil just ate away at the bush.



Getting tracked up



On the MOT ramp, I gave it a wipe down while they tested it



And managed to pick up an award at a local classis/ modified show!



Looking forward to Beaulieu at the weekend now!

[rolesyboy]

What a great looking van. Really nicely put together
Re the rack repair I am Interested to know what the wood screw method is?
I re-bushed a steering rack off the car recently but I am guessing you wound a wood screw in to pull the old bush out of the rack with it in the car??
If so how did you access the cross head screw to secure the new bush?
Thanks a lot. Mark

[mini_surfari]

What a great looking van. Really nicely put together
Re the rack repair I am Interested to know what the wood screw method is?
I re-bushed a steering rack off the car recently but I am guessing you wound a wood screw in to pull the old bush out of the rack with it in the car??
If so how did you access the cross head screw to secure the new bush?
Thanks a lot. Mark

Thanks Mark!

You can access the small cross head screw through the whole in the subframe (by the bulkhead mount), and then once the bush is pushed home you can just put the screw back in and it'll self tap.

As you say though, you can wind the steering all the way left hand down, screw a self tapper in between the rack and pinion and then turn the steering wheel full right hand down slowly and it dragged itself out.

Hardest part was undoing the steering tie rod, as it was extremely tight, although we did it on axel stands, we only had room for mole grips as apposed to some big pipe grips etc.

[Old English White]

Your van looked really good at Beaulieu
Even in the rain

[cabrio1275]

Thanks for the photos of your very special van. What size tyres are you using, mine are 165.70.10. How does it handle using the 5mm spacers at the rear and the additional 1" each side with the 7.5" discs?

[mini_surfari]

Thanks for the photos of your very special van. What size tyres are you using, mine are 165.70.10. How does it handle using the 5mm spacers at the rear and the additional 1" each side with the 7.5" discs?

No noticeable handling difference with the 5mm spacer on the rear.. off the top of my head we fitted it to get the tyre away from the shock (using 165 70 10). No issues on the front either, although I don't have another standard car to compare it directly to (the others have 12 and 13 inch wheels).

But it is still extremely nice to drive, but doesn't really get hammered as that's not what it was built for.