288 replies to this topic

[MacGyver]

Lovelydovely! You could just eat that! 😁

Ben

[Ben_O]

 

 

 

 

Wow, how many coats of paint on that Ben?

Three

 

Looks excellent, Is the paint 2k direct gloss or clear over base.

 

Thanks

It's Direct gloss

 

Sorry to be a pain but what brand is it, that's really flat glass like.

 

It's probably Nexa. As I had it mixed by my paint supplier, It came in a plain white tin with just a sticker to say the colour name and code.

 

I can find out for you

[cookie4343]

Thanks Ben, I've heard you mention octoral before and wondered if it's worth spending the extra compared to Ebay paint.

[rich_959]

Oh man. That. Is. Nice.

 

I think I'd be terrified to use my car if the paint ever ended up looking that good.

[InnoCooperExport]

Stunning stuff as usual Ben.

[johnR]

I don't think you need to apologise for the number of photos of a shell like that - you set a high bar!

[Ben_O]

Sorry for the lack of updates this past week. I have had lots of other jobs to tend to but a few bits have been happening on this one.

 

I wanted to get the headlining unpacked, onto the rods and hanging in the car so that the creases and fold's can drop out which meant installing the roof ariel and front/rear loom

 

 

 

 

 

As I bag and tag every single piece and fixing of the car during the strip down, I was going through the bags to find certain fixings so as I was finding clips, bungs and bits, I just put them onto the car as I went so we have some engine bay bits in

 

 

And the rear lamps

 

 

Unfortunately, things got a bit hectic due to a compressor break down and some delays on another job so I didn't actually manage to get the headliner hung but at least I am ready to do so now.

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[CharlieNZ]

That colour is such a great choice, I absolutely love it!

[Ben_O]

A few more bits have been added to the Mini this afternoon.

 

I ran the new front loom

 

 

 

Then I installed the dash rails

 

 

And the switch panel

 

 

And then I added a few more odds and ends under the bonnet

 

 

I did spend quite a lot of time working out exactly what parts I will need to do away with the walnut dash and go back to standard.

These include replacement eyeball vents, elbows and tapered covers. I have a frame for the instrument cluster but one of the instrument glass faces is missing and there are no retaining clips on any of them. I also have a replacement plastic cluster cover but no clips... I also need a new front shelf cover and boards

Ill get hold of everything necessary in the next few days.

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[Jgguinness]

Absolutely stunning!!

[minimissions]

What a stunning Clubman! As much as i loved the Poo Brown this will look so nice with the Gts stripes added.

 

This shell is something else.

[Vinay-RS]

I love those auxiliary switch panels by the driver. 

[mini_surfari]

Love your work!

 

quick question, on page 7 you show the before and after for filling holes, what technique do you use to weld these up? mainly stuff about aerial sized, like on the rear panel.

[Ben_O]

Love your work!

 

quick question, on page 7 you show the before and after for filling holes, what technique do you use to weld these up? mainly stuff about aerial sized, like on the rear panel.

Cheers.

 

The ariel hole in the back panel was the most involved as the hole had been hacked into the panel so I cut the area out leaving a neat square hole about 2"x2" and then cut a piece of steel to size and butt welded it in forming it to the curve of the panel as required.

 

The other random holes are just filled with weld using an 8mm thick piece of copper as a backer except for one of the rear bulkhead holes which was too big for that so I made a new piece and fitted it in the same fashion as the ariel hole repair.

 

Hope that helps

 

Ben

[mini_surfari]

 

Love your work!

 

quick question, on page 7 you show the before and after for filling holes, what technique do you use to weld these up? mainly stuff about aerial sized, like on the rear panel.

Cheers.

 

The ariel hole in the back panel was the most involved as the hole had been hacked into the panel so I cut the area out leaving a neat square hole about 2"x2" and then cut a piece of steel to size and butt welded it in forming it to the curve of the panel as required.

 

The other random holes are just filled with weld using an 8mm thick piece of copper as a backer except for one of the rear bulkhead holes which was too big for that so I made a new piece and fitted it in the same fashion as the ariel hole repair.

 

Hope that helps

 

Ben

 

 

cheers Ben! 

 

thats what i've been doing but wasn't sure if you were an absolute ninja at cutting round repair patches as they look so neat haha.