Hi all
I'm looking for advice on what to do with my unfinished mini bodyshell when I move abroad in a couple of months. I'd like to resume the restoration in a few years when I come back, but I'm worried about it going rusty in the meantime.
I have replaced quite a few panels and done a lot of patching, so now there is a lot of metal that just has the e-coat that the panels came with, or a quick coat with acrylic/hammerite spray cans that I put on just to cover the bare metal. I wanted to finish all the bodywork before I moved, so I could get the whole thing professionally painted. But it's become clear that that's not going to happen, and since it doesn't have a proper paint job on it, I worry about it rusting, undoing all my hard work. It is stored in a shed, which is better than outside but it isn't especially dry, at least not in the winter months. The car doesn't get rained on, but the shed floor gets damp.
I could pay someone to finish the bodywork and paint the shell, but I'm reluctant to do this, mainly because of the cost, but also because it feels like giving up... Here are the other two options I thought of:
1. Send it to the paint shop as it is, then finish the bodywork later and send it back to the paint shop to paint the new metal.
2. Spray/paint the unfinished shell with something like WD40, Waxoyl, used engine oil, or whatever, to keep the moisture off.
Are these workable? Is there anything you can just cover the metal with to preserve it, then scrape off later on? Do you have any other suggestions?
Of course, the 'ultimate' solution is to get rid of it, but that's my very last resort! Any other ideas appreciated!
Mikey