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Austin Mini Mk2 850 Restoration

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#1 Tefflar

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Posted 04 April 2014 - 05:25 PM

Hello everyone,

 

My name is Jeroen, i'm 42 years old and live in the Netherlands (Holland). I work in the ICT sector and like most technical things :)

I've been a member of this forum for a couple of years now but don't think i ever posted before but i've been watching you guys and enjoyed it!

 

I'm currently restoring my 4th Mini, which hopefully will be the first one that does get finished.

 

Mini #1

When I was 17 I was gifted a Austin Mini 1000 from 1976 with no MOT I think you call it here? I was VERY (to) ambitious. My goal was to rebuild the MK3 body with all the MK1 features.

Including the (lower) doors with sliding windows and the smaller back window. Needless to say the project stranded and the Mini got scrapped when I ran out of funds.

 

Mini #2

At 17 I had several friends who had Mini's so I had a blast with them and going to meetings. The Mini, being my first car at that age left a big impression.

Years later I got the itch again (this was in 2011) and I bought an Austin Mini 1000 from 1986. Again, no MOT. I was going to fix it so it would pass MOT and drive it for a few years before doing a restoration.

 

I started treating the rust and taking it apart until i found a note on the Mini. I was remembered that the garage beneath my apartment was a parking space, not a workshop.

This meant i could not fix him up myself. So i contacted a body shop and had them asses the Mini and make an invoice.

It turned out just the body panels and labor would roughly cost me 4-5 times the amount i bought it for. I didn't have those kind of funds...

So i took the Mini completely apart (with consent) so i could buy a better shell.

 

Mini #3

I found a very hard replacement shell with no nose, an Austin Mini 1000 from 1977. A car in Holland from before 01-01-1978 is allowed to use the old blue license plates, way cooler!

It also needed welding and a new nose so it went to the body shop. When i told them some plans i had: plastic sliding windows, external hinges...

 

They asked me: 'Wouldn't you prefer a real older model?'

To which i replied: 'Sure! But where do you find one of those?!'

 

I turned out they knew of an Austin Mini MK2 850 Basic, which i then bought instead. They liked my shell from 1977 too so i traded it in.

 

Mini #4

The MK2 was very incomplete. No engine, doors, nose, interior, sub frames, lights, boot lid or wheels. You get the idea.

It's been stripped, sandblasted and all the welding is done. It's currently being prepped for paint!

 

Because of my ICT background and love for Mini's i build my own website dedicated to my Mini's. I'm also take care of the server and it's hosting.

It's in Dutch and all the MK2 pictures are in this topic too now, but my previous Mini's are show only there:

 

http://mini.tefflar.nl

 

Looking forward to your feedback here!

 

Regards,

 

Jeroen aka Tefflar


Edited by Tefflar, 14 July 2015 - 06:08 PM.


#2 Daz1968

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Posted 04 April 2014 - 06:01 PM

Site looks very good and work is spot on

#3 Tefflar

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Posted 04 April 2014 - 06:30 PM

Thanks Daz1968! Although i can only take credit for the website at this point since the bodyshop is doing al the work so far... :shy:

 

Oh by the way: It's a very late MK2, registered in 1970. It already has some MK3 features like the double wiper position and larger hole in the backseat.

 

Ps. Hope i didn't make some silly mistakes, English isn't my native tongue :proud:



#4 jpw1275

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Posted 04 April 2014 - 06:32 PM

Hi, what a fantastic project you have there.... And very good work by yourself .....:0)

Thanks james

#5 jpw1275

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Posted 04 April 2014 - 06:34 PM

Thanks Daz1968! Although i can only take credit for the website at this point since the bodyshop is doing al the work so far... :shy:
 
Oh by the way: It's a very late MK2, registered in 1970. It already has some MK3 features like the double wiper position and larger hole in the backseat.
 
Ps. Hope i didn't make some silly mistakes, English isn't my native tongue :proud:



I have a 1973 mk3 and mine doesn't have the hole in the back seat.....:shy:

Cheers james

#6 Daz1968

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Posted 04 April 2014 - 06:44 PM

Some very late mk2 minis had mk3 type bootlids I believe but still retained the mk2 style number plate.

#7 Rocket.

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Posted 04 April 2014 - 06:49 PM

Nice project ! will be watching this



#8 Tefflar

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Posted 07 April 2014 - 07:30 AM

Purchasing

 

So, did some translating for you guys! These where the first pictures i recieved:

1.jpg

 

4.jpg

 

3.jpg

 

2.jpg

I was told immediately that all the loose parts in the pictures where not included!

The previous owner had bought this Mini for spare parts for his MK2 Cooper.
This was a shame since i had all the parts of a MK3 and the MK2 needed different parts like the doors, boot lid and bonnet.
It wasn't completely stripped out but it was hard to say what was included.

Since the Mini was so boxed in you couldn't really tell much from the photo's.
So we decided to have it pulled outside for a better view and see what's included.

11.jpg

 

12.jpg

 

image004.jpg

 

13.jpg

 

14.jpg

 

15.jpg

 

image018.jpg

 

image019.jpg

 

image013.jpg

 

image014.jpg

For a car that's over 40 years old i thought it was pretty solid! Although it missed a lot of parts i decided to buy it.

What parts where included:

  • Windows (Front, rear and rear quarter)
  • Steering wheel and colomn.
  • Switch panel
  • Instruments
  • Headlining and sun visors
  • Wiring loom
  • Heater
  • Steering rack
  • Handbrake

Your own Lego kit, fun right? He would never return to his original state. Since it was so incomplete, a lot of details where unknown.
Especially since it's a transition model. It already has some similarities with the MK3 model, like the double wiper positon and larger hole in the back seat.
Also, i mean to use it as a daily driver. Imho an old 850 can't really keep with modern traffic and i would like some more comfort then the Basic model had.

 

Edit: Typo's


Edited by Tefflar, 08 April 2014 - 11:24 AM.


#9 Tefflar

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Posted 07 April 2014 - 07:53 AM

Stripping

 

After purchasing the MK2 was completly stripped to asses the bodywork needed.
It looked pretty hard but i decided to have it sand blasted anyway.

Before sand blasting:

foto.jpg

 

Stripped.jpg

After sand blasting:

21.jpg
 

22.jpg



#10 Tefflar

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Posted 07 April 2014 - 11:02 AM

Body Work 1/2

 

I don't have acces to a place where i can grind and weld so this had to be outsourced.

The Mini is in the good hands of Jeroen Klomp and Joe from 7Heaven.nl

They can also spot weld and copper weld, while i only have MIG experience.

 

 

 

Since there where no doors and boot lid i bought some used ones.

Here's a photo with most of the panels used in the restoration.
Missing in the photo are the inner sills, wings, front, hood and replacement drip rails.
The right side A panel and boot floor repair piece weren't needed after all.

plaatwerk.jpg

Beside the hand you can see rust pits after sand blasting.

31.jpg

Even though you would never see this once the door skin is replaced we're putting in new metal.

32.jpg

Like new!

33.jpg

The bottom part is in a far worse condition... But not that hard to fix.

34.jpg

New bottom in place.

35.jpg

Inside now protected with sealant. Afaik this was never applied from factory.

36.jpg

New door skin fitted. The door is now as good as new!

37.jpeg

Door placed loosely in the door frame. Already fits nice even when not hanging from it's hinges.

38.jpeg

The other door is done too.

39.jpg

Starting at the drivers side (LHD!). Outer sill and A panel already removed.
The inner sill is in a pretty poor condition.

41.jpg

Towards the back it's not as bad. Still replacing it completely!

42.jpg

Now the real work begins! Frame put in place to prevent unwanted movement.

51.jpeg

The inner sill is mostly removed.

43.jpg

The metal near the rear subframe mounting was to thin after rust and sand blasting, so will be replaced.

44.jpg

Also part of the rear seat turned out to be to thin.

45.jpg

Here you can see hand made replacement panels in place.

52.jpeg

New profile made on front wheel arch.

62.jpeg

The front floor is also replaced.

60.jpg

All the spot welds drilled out to minimize damage to the other panel.

61.jpeg

The new inner sill in place.

64.jpeg

Jack point mount and and seat belt nut welded in place.

66.jpeg

The rear part of the inner sill.
(Yes, that's some surface rust on the replacement panel)

63.jpeg

New front floor and top sill part replaced.

65.jpeg

New A panel fitted and aligns nicely with the sills.

74.jpeg

The top part also has a nice fit

75.jpeg

Inner sill surface rust removed and sealed with weld primer.

76.jpeg

After fitting the outer sill this side is finished!

84.jpg

Now work starts at the passenger side (LHD!).

81.jpg

Also on this side the inner sill and front floor will be replaced.

82.jpg

And from the inside.

83.jpg

This side also done!

91.jpg

Rear quarter window frame was rusted through.

92.jpg

Hand made replacement panel welded neatly in place (note the propper spot welds).

93.jpg

Now the paravan corners are tackled. First the bottom part.

71.jpeg

The the top part.

72.jpeg

73.jpeg

The same was done on the other side.

94.jpg

Edit: Typo's


Edited by Tefflar, 08 April 2014 - 11:33 AM.


#11 Tefflar

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Posted 07 April 2014 - 11:08 AM

Body work 2/2

 

Next up is the boot floor. It was in better shape then initially thought so only a few pieces needed.

103.jpg

Left side.

105.jpg

New corner piece placed.

104.jpg

Replacement metal welded in and new 'banana' spot welded.

106.jpg

The boot is now done!

109.jpg

Last phase of the body work: the nose.

New hood, since i couldn't find one.

107.jpg

Nice tight gap between hood and paravan.

108.jpg

Nose done!

111.jpg

Super tight! Very happy with that.

112.jpg

Hood nice and level with the paravan.

113.jpg

Hood als fits very nicely to the front wing.

115.jpg

The hood lays nice and flat on the front. Sadly the wing was dented a bit during transport.

116.jpg

Both doors mounted on the external hinges, so cool!

IMG_0565.jpg

Some more photo's. The body work is almost done now, just waiting on the replacement drip rails.

118.jpg

IMG_0563b.jpg

IMG_0564b.jpg

I insisted on some changes to the boot...

IMG_0932-300x225.jpg

Finally the drip rails have arrived!

image.jpeg

Drip rails replaced, body work is FINISHED! :D
 

image1.jpeg

 

Edit: Typo's


Edited by Tefflar, 08 April 2014 - 11:36 AM.


#12 rally515

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Posted 07 April 2014 - 11:28 AM

Very very nice work, just one question though....did you/ the repair shop protect the cavitys like under the scuttle panel and sill cavity ?

 

I have a mk2 too, although has to be said it doesn't look as good as this one just yet.

 

Keep it up,

Cheers,

Cliff



#13 Tefflar

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Posted 07 April 2014 - 12:19 PM

Thank you Cliff/rally515!

 

A layer of kit only found on modern day cars will be applied. This kit works as stone chip prevention, rust prevention and a bit of sound deadening.

Also, it can be painted over! It will be applied on the outside only. The complete underside, wheel arches, front panel, battery box... will be covered in this prior painting.

 

Once painted i do intend to treat the cavities with waxoyl.



#14 rally515

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Posted 07 April 2014 - 12:47 PM

Nice, never heard of "Kit" before. May have to try and source some of that to use myself.



#15 Tefflar

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Posted 07 April 2014 - 01:03 PM

I thought it was a normal English word but i put it in a translator.

Best translation i guess is 'sealant', so maybe not be as exotic as you thought ;D


Edited by Tefflar, 07 April 2014 - 01:04 PM.






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