"Mutant" project - 69 Mk3 Riley Elf

....... maybe !

Finished making and covering the 2 underdash panels today .........

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Passehger side panel

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Drivers side panel

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Something like how they will look when fitted in the car.

Still to make the securing brackets and wire up the various bits but that'll come another day.

Hello Again,

Boris, Love your blog so far and as an Auto Electrician I have to agree with you on the changes you are making and if I would have one criticism the switches you have used, I would have used original Lucas switches to match the cars existing switches. I intend to keep my dash as a veneered dash and incorporate my additional switchgear and instruments similar to you. I do like the idea of the under-dash panel as my car has a "magic wand" gearchange which I would like to keep.

I know what you mean about the 'Lusas' style switches Bryan but these days there are so many other types available that I thought I'd go for something a little more modern for the under dash's.

I have used the 'Lucas' style toggle switches and seperate indicator lights on the main Dash but the "Under Dash's are more for practical purpose than the main Dash which I wanted to keep as much in keeping with the original dash style as possible.

My original dash laquer was very badly split and chipped and I already had some left over Cream Vinyl which I thought might work and just be that little bit 'different'.

With all Minis its always down to individuallity and the possibilities are endless which is why, even today, Minis Elfs and Hornets are still very popular.

Did some more on the Elf today. .........

Replaced the broken Heater cable - existing cable was sheared off at the heater valve.
Lowered and re-routed the Bonnet Release cable/handle to make it more accessable from beneath the new "Underdash".

talking of which .......

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Getting there !

That setup looks so neat! I like it Good job!

Thanks Jared.  
Theres still some "tweeking" to do with the Dash and I'm not totally happy with some of the vinyl which I may re-do at a later date but Its turned out not too bad for a first attempt ....... so far !
I usually work with grained and darker or Black coloured vinyl for the dash's which is more forgiving than this lighter coloured Cream vinyl.

boris

Regardless of some of the imperfections, I really like what you've done. It's different to the norm and the cream colour is 'cleaner' and appropriate for the green of the car

I've got water ingress problems at the moment ! Its officially British Summertime now so the rain is a little less cold !!!
So far I've tried 2 new different sized drivers door seals, fitted a new drivers door weatherstrip and a new passengers side rear opening side window seal !
The joys of Minis and wet weather ! ........ and its not even "Winter"" yet !!!

Hi Garry,
Are you sure the water is coming in from the door? It may be coming in via the plenum chamber or bulkhead just a thought?

Thats possible Bryan - never say never - but I've stuffed dry newspaper all over there and removed the front carpet completely so I'm pretty sure its the doors and rear side windows that are the problems !

Well the day has come!

I've done all I need to do to the Elf before getting it running on the road locally to see what falls off or breaks down !

Not added all the extra items on 'My list' yet but all that is still to do can be done while I'm running it around to find out just how reliable (or NOT!) it is.

Finding out what else needs to be done is all part of the fun

As it stands today .......  

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....... still loads "to do" though !!!

Lovely, just lovely! Green is just so perfect on these cars.

Thanks Jared.

Just a little difficult to find when parked in a field though !

Had a good delivery today of a 'Fleabay' item, NOS (New Old Stock) and brand new in its box.

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Well come on, get it fitted

Hahaha!
Give me a chance !!!

Its not gonna be a permanent fit and will probably spend 90% of the time hanging up in the Garage but at least it'll be ready when needed.
The big secret with this type of roof rack is to NOT leave it on the car in the rain in this country cos it'll rust away quicker than you can say "Riley Elf" !!!  Thats also the reason that these original items are now few and far between !

We went to The UK National Motor Museum at Beaulieu yesterday for The Mini Cooper Register's annual concourse Show and display, and a great day it was too.  I bought some odd bits and pieces for the Elf from the many Traders that were there including the correct size Rubber Gear Stick Gaiter - a larger sized item (Mk2 Mini) than the present one (Mk3 Mini onwards) which should cover that hole in the floor properly. Looked for, but couldnt find, a securing ring for it so if anyone out there has one I'd be very interested ???  
Also got a new chromed Speedograph air filter, a couple of Union Jack 'A' Panel badges and a used Mini Mk2 switch panel and chrome surround that I can cover in the same vinyl that is on the dash and then swap with the existing panel to improve the dash looks.    The Wood & Picket firm were there and I had bought a new Heater cable off them a while ago which broke the first time I pulled it out, so I wanted to ask them if they had heard of that problem before and if they knew the best way to cure the problem - they did - they gave me a new replacement Heater cable FOR FREE !!!   I'll probably remove the broken cable now and Araldite/bond it to effect a strong joint then keep that as a good 'spare' !

Busy busy, busy !!!  

Here you go Jared !

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Will have to go and take it back off now !

I appreciate the effort

It looks good. Makes a change over all the white ones etc. Please change that aerial though!

Whats wrong with my "Bendy" aerial ???

I have a retractable chrome one waiting to go on - when I get round to it !
I also have a chrome, fully automatic ELECTRIC aerial that may end up on there at some point !

How 70's is that !!! ?

Started driving it around locally today and put some Petrol in it - All is good !
Few very small 'niggles to sort but it runs and drives very well for a 46 year old !

Will start running it further locally now to build up some confidence in it and see what sort of MPG I'm getting.

Just checked out a website:https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/ and it would appear that last year there were only 12 1966 Riley Elfs left? My is currently on a SORN and I understand from the previous owner that it was on a SORN when he sold it to me. I don't know if this is genuine but I can't believe so few are left?

boris710 wrote:

Whats wrong with my "Bendy" aerial ???

I have a retractable chrome one waiting to go on - when I get round to it !
I also have a chrome, fully automatic ELECTRIC aerial that may end up on there at some point !

How 70's is that !!! ?

What do I even say to that??!!

Be classy and put the electric aerial in!

Bryanthemercman wrote:Just checked out a website:https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/ and it would appear that last year there were only 12 1966 Riley Elfs left? My is currently on a SORN and I understand from the previous owner that it was on a SORN when he sold it to me. I don't know if this is genuine but I can't believe so few are left?

I don't really agree with that site in terms of figures. They seem to be quite far off a lot of the time.