39 replies to this topic

[Innzy]

Hi, posted briefly in the intro section the other day but the car got delivered today so thought I’d start a thread here.

Quick back story, I’ve had my eye on this car as long as I can remember. It was owned by my mums neighbour, a nice old lady who bought it brand new. I always said if she ever wanted to sell it I’d be interested but she loved it so no chance...... Unfortunately she’s been ill and realised she won’t be able to drive again so I got the call from my mum a few weeks ago saying it was up for grabs. Now I hadn’t seen the Mini for years, but was hoping it was going to be a nice straight car as it was always garaged, genuine 42000 miles on the clock etc. Well it turns out it’s actually quite rotten! I went for a look whilst it was at the garage and said I’d have a few days to think about if I was still interested. It really wasn’t what I was expecting and is gonna need a lot of work. Anyway the next day my mum called, and the lady said she wanted me to have the car if I wanted it! She knows I “get” old cars, and just wants it to go to a good home not the scrappy. So decision made and today it got delivered. I’m excited?

 E4DFB7D2-ECA8-4C6E-82A7-8B95101BDB2D.jpeg   104.44K   3 downloads  DE626B06-6B51-4DFF-B8FA-8B6D5D0FB297.jpeg   54.65K   2 downloads  B398BCDE-0099-45BB-8C52-5CBF0B751752.jpeg   88.51K   1 downloads  0ECFF75D-DBC4-4E10-8559-5361B116EAFD.jpeg   97.5K   1 downloads  20F6098E-3EC6-429B-A4CD-34A0C4F84EC5.jpeg   98.36K   0 downloads  0BE89636-84CA-41A0-9366-C5BF43A7682E.jpeg   51.67K   2 downloads  95BE4846-7D30-42D0-A3FF-E6FBD244F139.jpeg   57.25K   3 downloads  93B1BD8D-B386-4ECC-9030-EA08899604B1.jpeg   47.62K   3 downloads  7A43BBAC-3429-4174-B57E-3C5678764E4C.jpeg   50.68K   1 downloads
And a few from the garage:
 E458D8DA-65F8-467D-92E6-A313A19FFD0B.jpeg   49.19K   2 downloads  3E8DD732-2E7A-494C-8098-26E3259C3C31.jpeg   67.85K   2 downloads  978303C4-A3D9-440D-A6C8-85A53B6E646D.jpeg   92.32K   2 downloads  65BF6673-93D9-4FE7-89BB-DBAA08BA7280.jpeg   42.95K   2 downloads  07255811-A035-4891-8459-075810A01980.jpeg   83.33K   4 downloads
So obviously first thing I did with a rusty Mini was give it a wash! Actually looks really good from a distance?. It’s also the first car I’ve ever had that fits properly in my garage, and my careful pre delivery measurements were correct and I can still get my bike in too so well happy.
 3E569E1C-7283-4F48-ABD0-95D6179386CF.jpeg   77.54K   3 downloads

So the plan is to get it stripped and see how bad it really is. I’ve always tinkered with old cars, done bits of welding but nothing to this extent. A new shell is a possible option eventually, but in that case there’s nothing to lose having a go myself on this one. I’m thinking I’ll start at the front and get the wings and front panel off and go from there. Will update once I’ve started :)

[sonikk4]

Good luck with it.

 

Once you stripped things down and whipped those oversills off you will know the full extent of what you have let yourself in for.

[phillrulz]

always was told newer the car the worse the rust. Cheaper metal 

[Retroman]

Welcome to TMF

  Don't be scared of asking anything on here even if its daft...most of us are anyway...hahah

 

You will no doubt have a few horrors, the oversills hopefully being the biggest one.

 

Petrol on here started out with a similar Mini bought in similar circumstances and condition and his is now mint, one of the very best, just finished the gearbox with him today.

Check out his thread, he is like me an oldschool perfectionist who knows what he is doing

 

http://www.theminifo...d-bolt-rebuild/

[jamesquintin]

you'll need a whole new floor. Don't muck about like I did, get the fully built heritage one with sills etc

 

Q

[Anthony30]

Hi, posted briefly in the intro section the other day but the car got delivered today so thought I’d start a thread here.

Quick back story, I’ve had my eye on this car as long as I can remember. It was owned by my mums neighbour, a nice old lady who bought it brand new. I always said if she ever wanted to sell it I’d be interested but she loved it so no chance...... Unfortunately she’s been ill and realised she won’t be able to drive again so I got the call from my mum a few weeks ago saying it was up for grabs. Now I hadn’t seen the Mini for years, but was hoping it was going to be a nice straight car as it was always garaged, genuine 42000 miles on the clock etc. Well it turns out it’s actually quite rotten! I went for a look whilst it was at the garage and said I’d have a few days to think about if I was still interested. It really wasn’t what I was expecting and is gonna need a lot of work. Anyway the next day my mum called, and the lady said she wanted me to have the car if I wanted it! She knows I “get” old cars, and just wants it to go to a good home not the scrappy. So decision made and today it got delivered. I’m excited

E4DFB7D2-ECA8-4C6E-82A7-8B95101BDB2D.jpeg DE626B06-6B51-4DFF-B8FA-8B6D5D0FB297.jpeg B398BCDE-0099-45BB-8C52-5CBF0B751752.jpeg 0ECFF75D-DBC4-4E10-8559-5361B116EAFD.jpeg 20F6098E-3EC6-429B-A4CD-34A0C4F84EC5.jpeg 0BE89636-84CA-41A0-9366-C5BF43A7682E.jpeg B855715A-91FD-45D2-9B0B-DBFEFBA69417.jpeg B855715A-91FD-45D2-9B0B-DBFEFBA69417.jpeg B855715A-91FD-45D2-9B0B-DBFEFBA69417.jpeg 25B8624B-1727-453A-B58D-6EBBC978E0B9.jpeg 95BE4846-7D30-42D0-A3FF-E6FBD244F139.jpeg 93B1BD8D-B386-4ECC-9030-EA08899604B1.jpeg 7A43BBAC-3429-4174-B57E-3C5678764E4C.jpeg
And a few from the garage:
E458D8DA-65F8-467D-92E6-A313A19FFD0B.jpeg 3E8DD732-2E7A-494C-8098-26E3259C3C31.jpeg 978303C4-A3D9-440D-A6C8-85A53B6E646D.jpeg 65BF6673-93D9-4FE7-89BB-DBAA08BA7280.jpeg 07255811-A035-4891-8459-075810A01980.jpeg
So obviously first thing I did with a rusty Mini was give it a wash! Actually looks really good from a distance. It’s also the first car I’ve ever had that fits properly in my garage, and my careful pre delivery measurements were correct and I can still get my bike in too so well happy.
3E569E1C-7283-4F48-ABD0-95D6179386CF.jpeg

So the plan is to get it stripped and see how bad it really is. I’ve always tinkered with old cars, done bits of welding but nothing to this extent. A new shell is a possible option eventually, but in that case there’s nothing to lose having a go myself on this one. I’m thinking I’ll start at the front and get the wings and front panel off and go from there. Will update once I’ve started :)

What a lovely old lady. Get it restored, and do it right. I'm sure she'll want to see it all nice and restored once finished.

[Bat]

Hi,

First useful bit of advice, don't jack a mini up anywhere other than the subframe!

Unlike the kind person in the garage picture, that floor was probably flat before they got at it.

Cheers 

[Innzy]

Cheers everyone, back in work today after a week off but hopefully make a start on Sunday and will have a look at the Petrol thread when I get home?
Like the sound of the whole floor with the sills, but not sure I’m up to that so would ship it out where as I’m happy to have a go at the front end and possibly the rear. Obviously until it’s stripped it’s hard to see everything, but would it make sense to get the floor/sills done before tackling the front end? Thanks :)

[Bat]

Hi,

Just check out the rebuild threads, you'll see everyone welds on brace bars first to keep everything thing square, then its cutout the old and weld in the new 

Cheers    

[sonikk4]

Do not consider a whole floor replacement until you have stripped the car first.

One, it’s bloody expensive especially if you cannot do it yourself. Two,it may not need it. Yes it’s all done in one go that I can agree with but it’s a very big job.
Get a spit as this will help considerably with the resto. Then once you have cleaned the underside of the car up you will see what needs to be done.

[GT Jimmy]

I would follow anything by Ben O or project paddy by sonikk. Excellent quality work and good for reference, got me out of trouble a couple of times. Good luck

[Bubblebobble]

Really worth doing well what ever you do on such a straight un-messed with car . 

 

Really worth spending the cash on or doing a a1 job .

 

Good luck with it .

[DeanP]

Like others have suggested, just go in with your eyes open. It actually looks no worse than anything else an unmolested Mini throws up at 20 years old.

 

Looks a lovely car by the way, a little sad at the moment, but that will change.

[Innzy]

This is going to be a keeper so I’ve every intention of getting it right, and I’d love to be able to take the lady out for a spin when it’s back to its best. Not in a rush though gonna take my time with it. Found the MOT fail going through the documents earlier:  16FD8677-6DC5-45E3-A7FE-94F4DCEF3287.jpeg   40.13K   4 downloads
The front subframe mount fails are where it bolts to the front panel not at the back end. It’s got serious rot but there’s a lot going for it. It drives, starts and stops perfectly, the interior is spotless apart from a dirty steering wheel and gear knob so mechanically it’s all good. No advisories on the MOT just the fails above. Can’t wait to get cracking if it wasn’t for the footy I’d be out in the garage now!

[Grant 111]

Good luck, looks a nice honest car.