1006 replies to this topic

[grahama]

Hi all,

My lad is 16 in two weeks and this is a project for the next year so he has a car ready when he is let loose on the unsuspecting public !! The intention is to do a full nut and bolt rebuild of his blue 998 mayfair, repaint and hopefully not scrap !!

It cost 750, probably 150 more than I should have paid but it looked pretty solid, the car drove even after being off road for 5-6 years and the mileage state only 10K. Still a bit dubious about this as DVLA have no records but the condition of the interior is outstanding for the age and although grubby the engine runs great and the cable clips still have the BL anodising colour to them. Also the wheels are original I think, carpet not too shabby and all seems very genuine. Could be wrong though but like it anyway, and hoping to find some records at a later date for the mileage.

Anyway, it arived, (Matt not named it yet), and all the neighbours were out looking at it in a mixed state of shock and respect for the classicness, but mainly shock !! We explained the project and now there is no going back.

As it arrived....









Usual problems at start...






ALmost mint boot tho..





Interior at start...





Engine at start...







Ok the start sort of documented and at 8 am Matt came downstairs in his boxers an T shirt and said 'are we starting then' !! Told him 9 was respectable and had some more coffee and toast, well you can't work on an empty stomach !!

We started in stripping the interior and then got to the sound deadening stuff, nasty, nasty bitumen crap.

Interior out


Matt learning how to use a spanner


Amazed at BL not snapping off rivit tails, wow


Sound deadening proving tricky and first 'kevin' moments from Matt


All but back seat off


First not spotted holes appear with a little prodding, mmmmmmmmmmmm !!


Floor turned out great, cross member great, only a light surface rust near the 'stupid' drain holes, and boy are there a lot of those!!


After 6 hours we stopped, skin lost on the poor lad's hands and oily bitumen rubbed in, a good first day. He even came over at 6 and asked for something to polish !!!!!!

regards,

Graham and Matt

Edited by grahama, 22 May 2010 - 07:20 PM.

[oldman]

Hi,
Great start, will be good to see if that mileage is correct.
When was it last on the road? Perhaps you can check it through the old MOT's on line.
Will keep looking to see how it's coming on.

Regards

John

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Looking good!

[liirge]

That floor is amazingly solid!
looks like a great project to start with!

[grahama]

Yea, was very pleasantly surprised with just how good it was, waxoil underneath seems to have done it's job. Looks like it has been well loked after which is a bonus.

[grahama]

Hi all,

well another day another load of scraping and lost skin!! For the second day in a row Matt was up and ready to go at the project. WE nearly finished the floor yeaterday so another few hours today and we had it cracked. It's so rewarding when it all turns out well.





The rot in the inside I saw on inspection and knew that it probably required some new panels at the front, however I think that both sides it has only been caused by someone screwing mud flaps into the wheel arch and leaving the holes/screws open to the elements so hopefully not too bad.









The bulkhead looks fine to as do both rear bins, have I really got a bargain car ???? We'll see !!

Next the headlining, again mint really so we took it out carefully and cleaned the glue off ready for storage for a year or so.



I have however started to think less favourably about the sill repairs previously done. They look solid enough but the sealant that has been put in now has a rust colour to it suggesting the worst inside!!



Hope you enjoy and it's not too picture heavy!!

Graham and Matt

Edited by grahama, 24 May 2010 - 08:01 AM.

[maryquant]

Hii Guys,

I feel that a project thread can never be too picture heavy! You are making excellent progress, great to see a team working on a mini (if im lucky I sometimes get my brother to help for 30 minutes before he loses interest again.)

Ive subscribed to your thread - so keep the updates coming - it does look like your coming along really well, and you have got a bit of a bargain there - not too much rot from the pictures.

Sam

[chadders15]

How did you get the soundproofiing off?

[grahama]

I used a large flat blade screwdriver at a shallow angle to cut through in sections and then repeated till the section completed. Trying to do a large area at once proves too hard for the driver and your hands !! Keep plodding away at the channels and then clean up un the floor 'flats' inbetween. Not a pleasant job but as you can see sooo rewarding. After scraping clean up with a decorator's shave hook and wipe with white spirit for that 'as new' look !!!

Only took me 6 hours or so with a bit of help from Kevin, errr I mean Matt !!!

Good luck,

Graham

[xBR4DLEY]

Your mini is in amazing condition , and its nice to see another father and son project , theres not many on TMF
Please take some time to go on my project thread and see the condition of my 1983 mini and if you want to join the 1983 mini register
Cheers

[stevede]

Hi Graham looking good, I'll be keeping an eye on this one.

If I can be of any help, give me a shout.

Cheers

Steve

[Shifty]

Looks a good project, and its a local(to me anyway car) the reg is from Shropshire.

Also, if you use an air chisel the sound deadening can be removed in minutes!!

[grahama]

Blimey Bradley, thought my mini was bad !!! Will follow good luck.

Graham

[grahama]

Thanks for the replies and offer of help Steve, I will be calling at some stage I'm sure !!!

Oh for an air chisel yesterday !!! done now tho.

Graham

[mini-man-dan]

Looks like you two have your hands full! I've just turned 17, you can tell him it's definately worth all the agro and effort (oh, and money!), although the car I've been working on isn't quite on the road yet... That's what the other Minis for though

Good luck!