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How Are You Going To Make A Car Out Of That? :o


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#1 Thelowrider

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Posted 02 July 2018 - 10:00 PM

So basically I bought this 83 mini off a local chap who originally bought it with intention of building it alongside his daughter but his daughter lost interest and I think partly because nearly every panel needs attention so they have probably done the sensible thing and are looking for a different shell.

The topic name is apt as this is what came out of my partners mouth when I bought it home for her, lovely hey! ?

Right I bought this for my partner who has always wanted a mini, and I plan on getting it fixed up, and hopefully doing all the work welding, reapray engine building etc all trades I’ve done just having the time and space.

So I’ll upload some pictures as I go along, it will be slow progress but it will be progress none the less and hopefully I can help others and likewise for you guys for me!

Edited by Thelowrider, 02 July 2018 - 10:24 PM.


#2 Thelowrider

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Posted 03 July 2018 - 09:48 AM

A few pictures of when we first got it.

375BDCA0-94AC-48FA-964A-B6DA5181DA9E.jpg

D9C63C9D-57C2-41EF-9377-A0B1018AA450.jpg

Just stripping the brakes so it would roll in and out of the garage until I got around to building a spit for it.

6D8B93C6-62B9-472C-951E-2B3729998D77.jpg

120BC2E0-1AB6-404C-BBD4-CD28CA08E991.jpg

Biscuit wheels!

3E13AE55-1BFB-43A9-A7CD-3947A17AB90E.jpg

#3 Thelowrider

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Posted 03 July 2018 - 09:21 PM

So it had been sat in the garage for months literally being pushed in and out when necessary, so I decided it best to book a few days off of work to make a start on building a jig for it. 

 

Also to give me a bigger kick up the backside i ordered repair panels.

 

2x Half Floors

2x Outer Sills

1x Front Toeboard

 

My main focus this week is to get the spit built and get it braced across the doors and from door to door to keep the strength there while cutting out panels.

 

A few pictures of the progress.

 

42463107274_e5132994b1_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

43181454941_ce1ca81597_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

29310037188_88b93f6ae2_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

42463104594_976bb8c367_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

43181386951_134d9f9d2b_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

28311863037_c86097ac18_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

43181437681_cc0d44cca0_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

 

42277290575_c3725fdfec_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

42277336385_ea50937a5f_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

43181424431_42e2bf2789_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

29309996078_f8259bdea5_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

42277314815_9d865527dc_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

41370893220_6dd9619f3f_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

43181445411_e2b0716927_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

41370897520_412f54c2db_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

29310018068_8dc63b1e5c_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

29310024938_cd41ee7be1_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

28311889337_1e1fd72279_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

42277302465_260ca74c0c_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

42277338115_52300a4347_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

41370886720_d3fd4f1722_k.jpgDonna’s Mini Project by james garner, on Flickr

 

That's as far as i have got in terms of building the spit. I have had a pilot error moment with the front framework being too high so I've adjusted that late last night.

 

In terms of finishing off the spit, i have got to build the two frames to carry the mini aswell being able to rotate it, I've also got to make bracing bars to go between the front and rear frames.

 

Hopefully more pictures tomorrow!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



#4 jamesquintin

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Posted 03 July 2018 - 09:31 PM

If you can, change your order and get the fully built floor with sills and whatnot already on there. Will save you hours and hour of work

#5 Thelowrider

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Posted 04 July 2018 - 09:35 AM

If you can, change your order and get the fully built floor with sills and whatnot already on there. Will save you hours and hour of work


Unfortunately I’ve already received the order with the following parts, I didn’t go for the complete floor due to not wanting to chop out that much structure in one go.

Have you done it if so what tips? As I can always ask to swap panels with MS

#6 jamesquintin

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Posted 04 July 2018 - 06:30 PM

I did two halves and it just takes forever, you have a LOT of welding to do, prepping the panels etc. removing all the bits you need from the old floor takes ages. I would never, ever do two halves again

Q
 



#7 Thelowrider

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Posted 10 July 2018 - 10:02 PM

I did two halves and it just takes forever, you have a LOT of welding to do, prepping the panels etc. removing all the bits you need from the old floor takes ages. I would never, ever do two halves again

Q
 

 

I'm committed now, so ill have to go for it the best i can. I must admit i was contemplating the complete floor as I'm going to need to repair the front tunnel and crossmemember captive nuts for the seats, also which would of made things easier also the lining things up would of been easier also. Like I've said though mainly a confidence thing as not confident enough to take out that much structure.



#8 Thelowrider

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Posted 10 July 2018 - 10:18 PM

Following on from my last update post. 

 

The weather has certainly been fantastic so I finally got both end frames built and made up. It now has certainly made the project easier as i can push it in and out of the garage at my own leisure and rotate the body to any position i desire. I've built it all for about £100 but i did have scraps of metal, bolts etc lying around so would cost slightly more if doing it yourself.

 

28460591797_a75d92d9d4_k.jpg. by james garner, on Flickr

 

41519696270_755293d139_k.jpg. by james garner, on Flickr

 

43329210851_cee40eb0b9_k.jpg. by james garner, on Flickr

 

42611986434_29e7b5804e_k.jpg. by james garner, on Flickr

 

With the spit complete i now set about stripping the remainder of interior and under floor parts.

Just a few photos of the condition of the shell and parts stripped.

 

42425730715_03f26a0cf8_k.jpg. by james garner, on Flickr

 

28460445787_defa34238b_k.jpg. by james garner, on Flickr

 

42611987994_691401868f_k.jpg. by james garner, on Flickr

 

42611988754_348b3b4298_k.jpg. by james garner, on Flickr

 

42611988754_348b3b4298_k.jpg. by james garner, on Flickr

 

42611851074_00d3d6e89d_k.jpg. by james garner, on Flickr

 

41519758760_220de8f8ce_k.jpg. by james garner, on Flickr

 

 

My next plan is to have a poke around and make a list of all the panels needed.

 

Also want to just fit the doors to make sure the structure is still okay with the mini in the air. Then i want to weld some braces across the door shuts and then from door to door.

 

 

 

 



#9 dasupersprint

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Posted 11 July 2018 - 01:55 PM

Nice project, will follow this. Love the title. The shell seems rusty in all the usual places but in my years of looking at restoration threads, it's the first time I see rust under the rear side window!



#10 Thelowrider

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Posted 11 July 2018 - 09:37 PM

Nice project, will follow this. Love the title. The shell seems rusty in all the usual places but in my years of looking at restoration threads, it's the first time I see rust under the rear side window!


Progress will be slow and steady but got to do this in stages and fit it in and around family life etc.

Yeah the title still makes me laugh everytime I read it when my partner said it as soon as I turned up at home with it

Yeah it’s definately an unusual place for it to go, I know that the chap I got it off said the previous owner had it stored outside against a wall or bush or something so I guess it just built up over time?

My main concern with the shell is the upper part of the bulkhead are rotten just trying to make a decision on what to do with that.

#11 minimissions

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Posted 12 July 2018 - 05:25 AM

This looks a top project and very easy can be saved, I look forward to seeing some fresh metal going in..



#12 Thelowrider

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Posted 12 July 2018 - 08:30 AM

This looks a top project and very easy can be saved, I look forward to seeing some fresh metal going in..


Hopefully I’ll get some time on it this weekend, I’ll try and get some more pictures of all the areas that need sorting and go from there then next step is to try and decide where I’m going to make a start.

Floor or both a posts?

If anyone is reading this and has advice please fire away!

#13 Junior Mini

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Posted 12 July 2018 - 10:24 AM

I usually start at one end and work forward from there.

#14 JonC

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Posted 12 July 2018 - 01:25 PM

I worked from the boot forwards. Got my eye in on the bits that don't get seen very much

#15 dasupersprint

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Posted 12 July 2018 - 03:43 PM

 

Nice project, will follow this. Love the title. The shell seems rusty in all the usual places but in my years of looking at restoration threads, it's the first time I see rust under the rear side window!


Progress will be slow and steady but got to do this in stages and fit it in and around family life etc.

Yeah the title still makes me laugh everytime I read it when my partner said it as soon as I turned up at home with it

Yeah it’s definately an unusual place for it to go, I know that the chap I got it off said the previous owner had it stored outside against a wall or bush or something so I guess it just built up over time?

My main concern with the shell is the upper part of the bulkhead are rotten just trying to make a decision on what to do with that.

 

 

My only advice is don't stress with deadlines and such. The whole point is to have fun, right? I got two kids , the Mini is far from finished. When I bought the car to restore it ten years ago I didn't even have a girlfriend... let's say car projects are not priorities in life






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