96 replies to this topic

[spraybeater]

Hi folks, bought this on eBay this time a year ago, whilst enjoying a extended break in Cyprus!

so thought it was time to share my project so far,at his time I am on another extended break in

same place.

I was purchased as a full rebuilt project so was aware of rust and other work that needed doing,

plus having spent most of my working life in the trade new that it was well within my capability,

although now in my 69thyear maybe not as quickly! but HeyHo its supposed to be a hobby

So strip down starts rust in all usual Mini places 

Both inner wings broken of probably due to poor previous repairs and Subframe mountings being 

split ,

After becoming a TMF+ member always like a bit of discount HaHa !seriously though new that the spend

on parts would be a good amount and used to trade discount for years well worth the £5.er and having

moved to Yorkshire from Scotland lost all my trade contacts!

Asked on here best places for parts as hadn't worked on Minis for about 30 years after a trip up to

mMachine picked up this lot to get started

 

Next instalment to follow now its swimming pool time.

 

 

[Cookiez]

Looks a good project

 

Looking forward to what your going to do with it.

[minimissions]

Looking like a great project good luck with it :) Keep the pics coming.

[spraybeater]

Thanks for the comments so far, re plans for it! bring it back to original condition and colour 

and some mods, already has 1275 A+ so no real mods in the department .

Although I have done many resto jobs over the years have never done one for myself !

I had already decided that it would be a complete nut and bolt strip down and rebuild

so the strip down started 

didn't take a lot of photos at this point! most no whats involved at this stage , purchased

some 1"x1" box section for bracing and started cutting out rusted parts

rear subframe refitted to aid lining up heel board 

floor section with sill fitted all made by mMachine fitted save a lot of work with sill, all parts were acid

etched and seam sealed before fitting ,

tacked up and flitch repair section lined up 

hmm made lower quarter repair panel.

O/S floor, sill, foot,well,flitch ,shower mount and A panel fitted .

I had already made a Roll over frame to ease work ,can't do crawling around under cars so 

easily now 

ready to start N/S it was worst side wing was held on by 4 tack welds to inner wing and fibre glass and an

ally plate plate riveted to door post.

and fitted with cover sill nasty things,I do however admit to having fitted some back in

the day for other people to keep them on the road , hindsight would be a blessing seeing

what some MK1s are fetching now,

More to follow later

[spraybeater]

Started removing N/S sill !all the usual hidden rust! at least when I have a long time ago fitted cover sills,

I always removed all the old rusted metal and cleaned up inside,

 

 

After cleaning up and preparing got new floor section and sill trial fitted,

 

 

 

When I picked up parts from mMachine they only had this one on the other side I fitted included to the first flute so a

little bit of fabrication required,

 

 

 

 

 

Had a quick visit up to Minispares Harrogate to pick up Heritage panels for door steps,Apanels and rear sill clossing

panel after arranging TMF+ discount of coarse!.

 

 

More to follow later.

[minimissions]

wow you didnt hang about this is looking great nice solid good steel going in there :)

[spraybeater]

Thanks for that, although haven't actually done a full resto job on a mini before have repaired and

painted 100rds over the years ,last actual car that I restored for someone was a 1972 XJ6 4.2

Jaguar and you think Minis rust!!!!!

 

Anyway on with the story

 

 

 

 

as it was nice weather decided that I would take it out of garage and tidy up,turn it round ,

 

 

 

next order of parts for boot floor and battery box from nMachine,

 

 

after removing all rusted parts from rear started winning up rear subframe temporarily fitted to aid winning up!

 

 

rear wheel arches from Minispares made by Heritage ,

 

 

corner of rear quarter will be cut out and replaced,

 

 

Decided to give welder a treat to a new torch& Euro fitting old one was about 20 odd year old ,

and with gas valve on trigger my old hands were getting sore ,

 

 

Floor and underside painted up and ready for rear valance fitting,

 

 

 

back onto trolley and rear rollover frame removed ,inside boot etch primed ready to fit rear panel

 

More to follow later, thanks for looking !

Edited by spraybeater, 17 May 2016 - 01:15 PM.

[spraybeater]

An other instalment of this build, hope its not to boring not showing weld by weld detail,

 

 

added some extra welds to inner wheel arche/floor seam along with plug welds along flange,

 

 

rear panel prepared for fitting,

 

 

clamped up ready for welding,

 

 

welded and dressed up,

 

 

booted trial fitted,

 

 

back half of shell all metal work finished ready for paint prep,

can't wait to get all the Black crappy Fred the shed cellulose paint removed some parts aren't 

even keyed just peels of !!

At this point no work done for 6wks of to the sun for holiday

[domdee]

all i can say is, roll on retirement! Great project!

[FlyingScot]

Great thread, loving the detail!

FS

[Carlos W]

That rear 1/4 repair is superb

[minimissions]

Great work this is looking sweet! Lovely detail with the welds etc

[slidehammer]

Really enjoying the project, I think you must be taking speed in your retirement, the amount of progress you have made! The next job I have to do on my Mayfair is fit 2 M-Machine half floors with sills and jacking points attached so it is handy seeing how you went about doing yours. The only thing I have thought is that due to the way the sills are made you can't get paint on the inside of the jacking points as they are already sealed. I will have to try and get cavity wax in once assembled and painted. Last time I did this I fitted inner sills and painted and welded on jacking points before fitting the outer sills. but my current shell has more rot so wanted to have better datum points on the new panel (just my ramblings)

[Macker2]

Enjoying reading this thread. That is some class work you are doing there.

[Beatie]

Love that ,great to see someone doing a proper job .
That's going to give you many many more years of pleasure !
Well done and keep it up 😀