Curtis

[wilp99]

i first got curtis in 2007, bought him off ebay for 1300 pounds. just had a restore, and a few other things done. but basically a stock 1985 mini city even with the brown houndstooth interior.

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/City/5ba8_4.jpg?t=1263935896
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/City/5ba8_4.jpg?t=1263935896
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/City/5ba8_4.jpg?t=1263935896
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/City/5b41_4.jpg?t=1263935896

its alot more red than it looks in the pics.

after i started going to mini events, i noticed almost every mini was red with white roof, so i went for something different.. so i thought.

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/City/mycitysnewpaint001.jpg?t=1263932515
this was the day i got it back from the body shop, so i didnt have the alleycats on yet.

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/City/DSC00966.jpg?t=1263936960
thats better
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/City/DSC00967.jpg?t=1263936960
i know, looks like a 4x4, but i just cranked up the hi/lo's as i didnt know how much bigger the wheels were gonna be.

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/City/DSC00971.jpg?t=1263936960

along with the facelift, came a 1275, stage 1, etc. "wow, tons of power" i thought to myself. until about 6 months later, i got used to the "extra boost" and it was slow again. still fun as hell to drive, but slow.

so i started looking into supercharging, makin it a 1380, and so on. and thought to myself, what if i get used to that extra boost. thats it. the a series is pretty much tapped out, and its still only gonna have about 100 hp. plus its not reliable. soooo..

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/b18tomini001.jpg i picked it up for a bargain 780 pounds, had 142k miles 1 years road tax/mot, the lady who owned it loved it, and even cried when i drove away, she told me to "take care of it" as it was such a good car. so with this in mind.

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/b18tomini010.jpg

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/b18tomini045.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/b18tomini053.jpg notice curtis and pumpkin (the wifes estate) in the back ground.
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/b18tomini060.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/IMG00063-20100304-1315.jpg notice the airbag. it was as much fun as it looks.
so after this it was curtis's turn.

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/IMG00063-20100304-1315.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/021.jpg
then came the hard part http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/hondaswap046.jpg

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/hondaswap055.jpg
the origional plan was to make it a clubman and re-paint the front red but...http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/mini001.jpg as i poked around i found this. both sills were shot.
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/mini004.jpg

my new blue toy i got for $40 (about 28 pounds) at the base naf sale.
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/mini008.jpg
new rear subframe front support panels
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/mini017.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/mini017.jpg

new clubby front almost done
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/001-1.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/004-1.jpg

got a few goodies in the mail. exeedy clutch, and lightened flywheel
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/th_009.jpg
new aebs intake manifold
[http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/hondaswap031.jpg

and now the sanding starts

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/june006.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/june010.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/june014.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/june017.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/june018.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/june011.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/paint2026.jpg i litterally sanded my fingers to the white meat.

[wilp99]

finally some color
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/paint1014.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/paint1011.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/paint1012.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/paint2004.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/paint2002.jpg[img]
[img]http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/paint3006.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/paint3008.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/paint3001.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/paint3002.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/paint4019.jpg and some clear coat (which sucks to apply)
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/paint5006.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/paint5011.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/paint5012.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/paint7008.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/paint7007.jpg

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/paint5003.jpg now how about some sound deadning? 100 sq feet
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/comingtogether015.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/comingtogether009.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/comingtogether012.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/comingtogether008.jpg and now the subframe goes in..
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/comingtogether002.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/comingtogether003.jpg then we broke out the shoehorn..lol
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/comingtogether020.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/comingtogether019.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/comingtogether018.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/comingtogether024.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/comingtogether023.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/003-2.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/comingtogether029.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/comingtogether030.jpg
test fit of the rad
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/IMG00065-20100706-0721.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/IMG00064-20100706-0721.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/IMG00063-20100706-0721.jpg
everyone knows this overwhelming pose lol
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/IMG00059-20100706-0720.jpg

as you can tell from the paint pics, i had ALOT of wet sanding ahead of me due to the orange peeling of the clear. that took me another 3 straight days of sanding.

[wilp99]

unfortunatley i kind of just wanted to get the car done so i didnt take many pics from this point. i only have the ones of the completed product

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/IMG00067-20100718-2129.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/IMG00068-20100718-2129.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/IMG00070-20100718-2130.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/IMG00073-20100718-2131.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/212014.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/212017.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/212019.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/IMG00072-20100718-2131.jpg over all it only took a few months. broke it down in october 2009, and finished in april 2010. i always told myself i would never do another vtec conversion. guess what.?

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/D16%20clubman%20estate/127004.jpg round 2.

[monkey]

Awesome, tidy install!

[apbellamy]

tidy

[Mini502]

Nice work. Love the color!! How much did the clubman front run you? Also where did you buy it?

[wilp99]

all genuine panels. the front slam panel came as a complete assy,(slam panel, headlight rings, lower panel and support bracket all pre-welded, it was about 175 pounds. each wing was about 75 pounds, and the hood and inner wings were ones i used off a mini we got that was an estate converted to a pickup. we called it the monstrosety, and we put it out of its misery. (the thing was truly horrid). i only used the parts of the inner wings that was different. started at the top of the little bump where the windshield wiper motor is recessed up, then from the front of each top shock mount forward position forward. i did think about extending the round nose but to me it looks like a clown foot.. just awkward. and at the time there was a debate on using fiberglass flip fronts and thier legality in the uk, so i didnt want to fall under that evil and use a clubman flip. so i used a steel solid mounted front. i got all my parts from dsnclassics. theyre local ish to me and they have great prices. they also ship stateside on a regular basis.

[minidream94]

Hiya mate, Nick here, spoke to you at ace cafe tonight (tall blonde, wearing the black italian job t-shirt) just read through your build and im truely impressed with the work you have carried out :D fancy coming and doing all the bodywork on my clubman estate :L

[Mini502]

all genuine panels. the front slam panel came as a complete assy,(slam panel, headlight rings, lower panel and support bracket all pre-welded, it was about 175 pounds. each wing was about 75 pounds, and the hood and inner wings were ones i used off a mini we got that was an estate converted to a pickup. we called it the monstrosety, and we put it out of its misery. (the thing was truly horrid). i only used the parts of the inner wings that was different. started at the top of the little bump where the windshield wiper motor is recessed up, then from the front of each top shock mount forward position forward. i did think about extending the round nose but to me it looks like a clown foot.. just awkward. and at the time there was a debate on using fiberglass flip fronts and thier legality in the uk, so i didnt want to fall under that evil and use a clubman flip. so i used a steel solid mounted front. i got all my parts from dsnclassics. theyre local ish to me and they have great prices. they also ship stateside on a regular basis.
hey wilp, I am really interested in the clubby front you used. I do not like the look of the extended front as well. Are you saying pounds as in money or weight?? Also is there anyway you could measure from the distance from the fire wall to the front of your panel on the inside for me? I am wondering how much room is available in there. Thanks

[wilp99]

pounds is money. ill pop in the garage and take a few measurements in the am. tho i will say, you will have all the room you need in a cubman front. and im using unmodified 4-2-1 headers.

[wilp99]

Hiya mate, Nick here, spoke to you at ace cafe tonight (tall blonde, wearing the black italian job t-shirt) just read through your build and im truely impressed with the work you have carried out :D fancy coming and doing all the bodywork on my clubman estate :L

hell no. i think im done with the body work part. especially on estates. we didnt get home till 1:30am by the way. and we (me and theo) also got in a 30-110 mph race with a r8 on the way home (we went to a closed circuit shhhh).. lets just say it was fun having alittle traction.. lol. then i hit a big ass cat.:mad: about 30 mins after that. so some was good some was bad.

[Kam]

Love it, alot of hard work in this build, you have literally done everything, bodywork, paint and install :cool:

Whats that super cool table in the background? :beer:

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/chellwil/b18%20to%20mini%20swap/b18tomini010.jpg

[Keoman]

Great build man.
Did you ever go and show that lady pictures of how you "took care of her car"? LOL

[wilp99]

couldn't thought it would be alittle cruel.

the table in the background is whats left of a clubman estate that we bought for 100 pounds. it was a failed attempt to make a pickup (not by me) i just wanted it for the extra parts. we called it the monstrosity. looked like frankenstein... poor bastard.

[Mini fab]

I always wanted a Clubman! Nice build!

[wilp99]

thanks for the compliments.