40 replies to this topic

[bobbym18]

Hi Guys, 

I took my mini for an MOT after a long time sitting in a garage and its failed MAJORLY! Mostly a lot of corrosion. I'm going to list it below, can you please give me some advice if you think this is just not worth doing, or worth getting done? 

- Nearside Front (floor) suspension component mounting superscribed area is excessively corroded

- Offside Front (floor) suspension component mounting superscribed area is excessively corroded

 

- Nearside rear suspension component mounting superscribed area is excessively corroded

 

- Offside rear suspension component mounting superscribed area is excessively corroded

 

- Offside rear (outer sill) suspension component mounting superscribed area is excessively corroded

 

- Nearside rear (outer sill) suspension component mounting superscribed area is excessively corroded

 

- Offside rear (Quarter) suspension component mounting superscribed area is excessively corroded

 

- Nearside rear (Still end) suspension component mounting superscribed area is excessively corroded

 

- Offside rear (Still end) suspension component mounting superscribed area is excessively corroded

 

- Offside (outer sill) Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded

 

- Offside rear suspension component mounting superscribed area is excessively corroded

 

 

So thats all the welding, plus a few other smaller bits and pieces. 

I dont know if the guys that did it were trying it on, as I've had a few corrosion issues in past MOT's, but not quite to this extent.

Any advice would be welcomed! 

Thanks,
Rob  

- Nearside rear (Still end) suspension component mounting superscribed area is excessively corroded

[Northernpower]

That's not unusual, what model and year is it?

[bobbym18]

Thats promising to hear! Its a 1986 Mini City E

[mk3 Cooper S]

Time for a rebuild or a patch up. Budget may determine what you do.

Where was this MOT'ed out of interest?

[bobbym18]

Well I had in mind to completely strip it and get all the body work sorted properly, then slowly re-build. I was also hoping to remove the engine while the bodys getting sorted and strip and rebuild that.
Theres no real rush to get it back on the road and for the past few years its been constant little repairs here and there and muddle through. 

I took it to Chelsea Road Garage in Portsmouth but they took it to Semens of Southsea for the actual MOT. 

[waddle]

bare shell job by the sounds of it,  I'd, get a bare shell,  do all the work on it and just swap it all over 

[bobbym18]

That would be ideal, but unfortunately I barely have the space for one, let alone, getting a second

[tiger99]

waddle, as has been discussed here many times, shell swapping is illegal, unless you mean a new Heritage shell. Have you seen the price of those lately? Not worth it for a City E, surely?

The thing to bear in mind is that the MOT rust test is basically useless as it fails miserably to deal with some serious issues outside of the "prescribed areas", but, more annoyingly in this case, does not actually state where the problems actually lie.

We nay infer that this is going to be a floor/sills/inner wings/heelboard/Rear subframe job at least, but without seeing the car it is impossible to be more specific. But as it has apparently been patched for years to scrape through successive MOT tests the situation may not be good.

I would seriously suggest selling it to someone who has the capability to restore it properly.

[bobbym18]

Thanks Tigger99, I appreciate that the issues may be more extensive than first thought. 

When I spoke about the small fixes to pass MOT's in the past, these have been mechanical. I actually had the wings, A panels and front panel replaced around 7 years ago. 

From what you have said, it sounds like it may be advisable to completely strip the car to a bare shell in order for a full assessment to be made, would you agree? 

[Baldspeed Racing]

Thought I had posted this earlier but isn't there a Mini Specialist in Southsea? Southsea Classics or similar? Id pop in and see them

Edited by Baldspeed Racing, 17 May 2017 - 03:43 PM.

[bobbym18]

There is a mini specialist, Wimbledon Park Garages, but unfortunately, he doesnt do welding unfortunately. Though, I have found a classic car restorer, though mainly deals with VW's. 

Do you think a full strip down would be more beneficial? To ensure all areas get sorted? 

[Cooperman]

The way classic car values are increasing it is worth a full strip-down, body-shell re-build using lots of new panels and a professional paint job.

Then re-assemble it carefully and in the end you'll have a beautiful classic car to be proud of.

[inim_repooc]

waddle, as has been discussed here many times, shell swapping is illegal, unless you mean a new Heritage shell. Have you seen the price of those lately? Not worth it for a City E, surely?

The thing to bear in mind is that the MOT rust test is basically useless as it fails miserably to deal with some serious issues outside of the "prescribed areas", but, more annoyingly in this case, does not actually state where the problems actually lie.

We nay infer that this is going to be a floor/sills/inner wings/heelboard/Rear subframe job at least, but without seeing the car it is impossible to be more specific. But as it has apparently been patched for years to scrape through successive MOT tests the situation may not be good.

I would seriously suggest selling it to someone who has the capability to restore it properly.

End of the day, the model is somewhat irrelevant now days.. a mini is a mini to most - it could be rebuilt as absolutely anything the op wishes! 

 

As I understand it, re-shelling can be somewhat of a grey area? Although.. whilst I will not recommend it as I'm by no means in a position to do so.. it is VERY common and has revived many, many minis over time - people will use the original log book , swap the id plates over and build it back up. as long as its a shell of the same mark and roughly year.. whats different to that and replacing just about every panel as with large restos?  an entire new shell is even more un-original! 

[bobbym18]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think it is time for a full strip down and proper re-build! 

[Northernpower]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think it is time for a full strip down and proper re-build! 

Definitely worth it. If you don't do it yourself make sure you use someone who understands classic Mini's.