43 replies to this topic

[Tupers]

I've been doing a lot of bodyshop and mechanical work recently which has only strengthened my love of cutting things up and welding them back together.

 

As I have decent size project coming up soon I decided make my self a Mini fronted sofa to help get myself back into fab work.

I've seen these made from FG flip fronts but they always seem too bulky for a single seat so I'm making mine from a steel front and stretching to make a 2 seater.

 

 

My first job was to remove the bumper lip and number plate brackets. I've also removed the subframe mountings from the rear. 

 

Then chop down the middle! I guess this panel wont be going onto a car anymore.  

 

I settled on adding 50CM to the centre of the valance which will result in a 120CM seat base, just a bit wider than a Mini rear seat. I haven't got a slip roll so I formed the curve over a few different tubes and a giant roll of paper. 

 

Before I went home I decided to see what it looked like with wings clamped on and I must say I'm pretty pleased so far. The seat is just for reference and the finished article will be higher off the ground and have A-panels and scuttle corners fitted to tidy the back edge up.  

 

[sonikk4]

Liking that little Project Chris.

[Tyred-and-emotional]

Will you be adding wheels and lights? 

[Ben_O]

excellent idea!

 

You could make an armchair to match!

[lyndseyp27]

LOVE this

[leadly]

Now that is pretty awesome!

[tomb1992]

liking this!      you could cut away  a small bit off the top of the wings so you can have them as arm rest with a bit of cushion in them . or just keep it as the wings. Don't forget to put a Licence plate on it when your done  

[Alex_B]

Now you need headlight fronts that fold down 90 degrees with a space in the inner wing for tv remotes and a cup holder in the headlights. 

[Ben_O]

Now you need headlight fronts that fold down 90 degrees with a space in the inner wing for tv remotes and a cup holder in the headlights. 

Liking the idea of the false flip down headlights 

[Alex_B]

 

Now you need headlight fronts that fold down 90 degrees with a space in the inner wing for tv remotes and a cup holder in the headlights. 

Liking the idea of the false flip down headlights 

 

I had the idea last summer when I was planning on making a mini fronted bbq and use the space in the wings for the tongs and bbq tools. 

[Tupers]

Thanks guys (& Lyndsey), I've got a few potential ideas floating about in my head regarding internal storage. Working head lights and arm rests on top of the wings are definitely on the list. 

 

I'm thinking about putting shelfs in the wheel wells although I'm not sure yet. There will certainly be plenty of room bellow it to hide crap. 

[MrBounce]

I would love one of these. I think I would have trouble convincing Mrs B though...

[Tupers]

I would love one of these. I think I would have trouble convincing Mrs B though...

Just sneak it in I'm sure she wont notice. 

 

 

Here's todays lunch time and evening progress. 

 

I'm using the vertical portion of the the wings inner flange to mount the frame but needed a little more of it so I elected to flatten out the section that would normally be welded to the inner wing. 

 

It took a fair amount of planishing and a little shrinking but it's now nice and flat and will give plenty of surface area to mount the frame. 

 

With the wings done I welded them to the front panel and trimmed the rest of the slam panel down and put a nice curve at the bottom. 

 

The edge was a little too flexible so I folded and stretched a nice lip to continue down from the wing. 

 

 

 

Last on the list was a lip to run cross the bottom of the old grill opening. This need shrinking to match the panels curve. 

 

[Jase71]

Really good, you want to sell it when completed??

[Tupers]

I would sell it to you but then I'd have no where to sit.