MARSHSEIS "Classic Mini Challenge" Creating a Time Machine.

Objective-11 Establish Some Foundations.

That's the Steering Wheel in and looks pretty good to me and that was one major hurdle to overcome before progressing on to the next which was of course to see if the rest of the new mini interior especially the centre console was going to fit and tie in. I must admit at this time we were proceeding with a certain degree of trepidation but the more we measured, and offered up, the more we coaxed and cajoled, the more confident we became that things were starting to come together.

All we had to do now was to see if we could get a foundation solution in place so we had something to build on, something to fix everything down to and for this we had quite some task ahead. The new MINI foundations were all pretty much an integral part of, and built into the centre tunnel which is practically double the width of the old mini tunnel. So to use an old Marshseis maxim "With a welder and a grinder you can fix anything" and using this old adage combined with a liberal application of Marshseis magic the game was on.

Mission Accomplished.... All the foundation points we need in and fettled to allow fitting of the new MINI gear change assembly. This pic also gives a good visual indication of how we got round the very different way the gear change assemblies transited through the body shell. We had to weld up the old linkage penetration and cut a new one further forward, making it the correct size and shape to accommodate the new MINI linkage weather seal. Here there is also a little sneak peak at the new front seat mounts but that's a whole different story which we'll leave for another day and another blog.

And.....There it is at the end of a pretty full day, the first fit of the centre consul with the gear change assembly fitted in-situ, connected and working all the way forward to the gear box and with everything exactly where it needs to be. Looking just as if it had been designed and made for the classic Mini, it goes almost without saying..... "We just love it when a plan comes together" ;-)

That's about all for this blog....All the best and take care and be sure to keep an eye out for our next blogs where you'll find out exactly how we got on with "Creating a Time Machine".