159 replies to this topic

[Chappers]

I watched a guy rebuild a pickup in the UK, by the time he was done the only panel that was original to the truck was the roof, but then he had to replace it too!     

Haha! Thats hilarious. And pretty amazing that we can get the parts to rebuild these cars! Imagine if youre trying to rebuild something obscure and they dont make new panels, we probably would think more than twice before cutting...

[Chappers]

Did a bit today, decided to fit the toe board.
I got a new 3M paint stripper disc and took the lower bulkhead back to bare metal inside and out.

Removed the primer from the new toe board at the lap joint and painted the 2 surfaces with weld thru primer.


After I plug welded it I dressed the welds down and then etch primed it all.



Feels good to get some new metal in and a good start point to rebuild the front area and tie the floor in.

[Chappers]

Spent a few hours in the garage today cleaning up the back panel outside and inside.
It looked like this



To get down to bare metal I bought a couple of the paint stripper discs for most of the surface area.
In the tight areas I used my wire cup which took a lot longer as the original paint was stuck on there!



The surface rust around the lights had pitted the panel quite bad, but its very solid. It polished up with the wire cup and I will just treat it with rust converter.
I spent a lot of time on the back side of the rear panel as I had great access without the boot floor.

Then I just etch-primed inside and out.


The bottom of the panel will require a repair panel at some point. But for now Its enough to offer up the boot floor.

[jomaoliveira79]

I can't believe the amount of bodywork in that project, you are a brave and very skilled man. Much respect from me!

[g111mds]

Great work.

[johnR]

A technique for lightening a shell for competition used to be to remove the paint, leave it outside to surface rust all over, grind back the rust and re-paint. This should be quite a racer!

[Chappers]

I can't believe the amount of bodywork in that project, you are a brave and very skilled man. Much respect from me!

Nah Im just stupid and a damn romantic, I like to believe I can rescue this old rust heap.

I actually messaged the original owner the other day, and showed him the pictures. He seems excited that it is getting the floor replaced and all his mid 70s bodge jobs cut out.
Im trying to keep on his good side as he still had the woody traveler Id like to get my hands on at some point...

[Chappers]

A technique for lightening a shell for competition used to be to remove the paint, leave it outside to surface rust all over, grind back the rust and re-paint. This should be quite a racer!

Wow really?

Well the previous owner must have been the master of this technique! Haha

[Chappers]

Great work.

Thanks! This is my first restoration, so Im just following some ideas from other people on TMF, and hoping I dont make a balls of it.

I read your pickup thread, thats quite an undertaking right there! I love a mini pickup.
Good luck mate, should look great!

[g111mds]

Thanks! This is my first restoration, so Im just following some ideas from other people on TMF, and hoping I dont make a balls of it.
I read your pickup thread, thats quite an undertaking right there! I love a mini pickup.
Good luck mate, should look great!

That's much appreciated - thank you! Certainly enough to keep me out of mischief for a couple of weeks or so... :)

[Chappers]

Ive got the MIL over for Xmas, so I naturally spent more time in the garage.
I finally finished taking the underside of the roof to bare metal. What a tedious job that created so much dust, Im glad its over.



I used Loctite gel rust remover, a pink gel that I just slapped all over and into the edge where the roof skin meets the side panels.
Then washed it all off, dried it, blew compressed air into every nook and cranny, then dried it some more.
I dont know if it worked amazingly, but it definitely looks a lot shinier!


I usually leave the painting until Im done for the day, so its the last thing to do before I close the garage door and turn off the lights.

I still wanted to do some more today, so I offered up the boot floor, it went on really nice, a great fit.
I just need to address a few areas before I can fit it properly.







I need to rebuild the rear bulkhead flange area where it meets the boot floor. Not sure how to do that exactly yet.
And I need to repair the lower part of the back panel, Ill get the repair panels from mini mania or m machine, whichever works out less including the shipping.

[Chappers]

Then I offered the new floor up to see how well it all fit.
Not too bad, but will need a little fettling where it meets the toe board.



Speaking of which, Im not sure which way I want to have the overlap, I think on these early mk1s the floor sits under the toe board? But I didnt like how badly that fit, so I think Id rather have the floor on top of the toe board. Any objections or advice from the TMF community?




The subframe holes dont really line up that well with the toe board. Is that a normal occurrence with M machine floors?

I then offered up the new A Panel I had previously chopped out to see what is all involved in this area.


Before I do that, Ill fit the floor and then I can remove the door bracing to fit the door and get the a panel right.

To fit the floor in the right position for and aft I will need to fit the rear subframe to ensure the heel board is in the correct position.

[minimans]

On my March 1960 the floor is on the top of the toe board. I think that changed sometime in late 59

[Chappers]

On my March 1960 the floor is on the top of the toe board. I think that changed sometime in late 59

Thanks mate, mine is also built in March 1960 so Ill do the same.

[minimans]

 

On my March 1960 the floor is on the top of the toe board. I think that changed sometime in late 59

Thanks mate, mine is also built in March 1960 so Ill do the same.

 

Mine was 4th to 7th March 1960............ Yours?