18 replies to this topic

[jonjosar]

So ive decided to put up a few posts on my 3 year resto of my 95 mayfair.This is my 1st ever complete rebuild. I,ve done loads of front end replacements, the usual doorskins, A panels, subbies and a few resprays. I've done this with Minis, Riley Elfs, Triumph spitfires, Triumph Heralds, L/Rover Defenders to name but a few

I bought this particular car in 2016 knowing it needed an engine and thought that a quick engine swap and a light body restoration would suffice. Case of...doesnt look too bad, couple of sills and boot floor repairs and it will be grand.

WELL>>>>3 years later, i,m just about coming to the end of the "light restoration" which ended up a complete restoration involving every nut and and bolt. A full floor, sills, boot floor repairs, lower valances, complete fron end, new sunroof, door skins etc, etc, etc.

I suppose this is true of most mini restorations, we start out with a car that looks ok but upon deeper investigation, many gremlins are found and more " Dee Kay" than you can shake a stick at. 

In saying that, ive really enjoyed the whole process. There have been many times i felt like just giving up but i'd just walk away and leave it for a few days and then dive back in.

[jonjosar]

I'm not sure how to go about putting photographs up so i'm going to have to do a bit of playing about on the laptop. 

[jonjosar]

This is the car aftyer the initial stripdown. I made up a spit using an old scaffolding bar and some wooden joists.

I know it looks shaky but it done the job for me.

[jonjosar]

Done all the boot repairs and fitted the new rear valance. I used a heritage item as well as the heritage closing panels but i made do with a rear repair panel which i cut to size. 

[jonjosar]

For some reason, IMGUR wont allow me to upload the photographs on my phone as it keeps saying the file is too big. Ive tried resizing them on the laptop but it then comes up that theres been an error. to be honest, its easier welding in a floor than trying to upload photographs on here

Here is the shell braced and the floor cut out. I took measurements of all the door apertures before i did any cutting, top of bottom seam to bottom of roof seam and then A pillar seam to B post seam. I must have done something right as both doors lined up really well for me

[jonjosar]

Left door to Quarter panel was a bit tight but as i hadnt fitted the A panel, i was able to give it a bit more space at the lip on the A post.

[jonjosar]

Rightly or wrongly, i decided to do all the floor and sills work including the painting and sealing whilst i had it on the spit. it was a bit of a faff masking off and painting bits inside and out but  i wasnt able to fit the wings and front panels due to my design of the spit as the bar got in the way of the front panel. I ended up priming, painting and fitting the rear subframe before i dismantled the car off the spit so it meant i was able to concentrate on fitting out the front. I used wings and panels from Minisport, not heritage, but these fitted really well with little or no fettling to do.

[jonjosar]

Cleaned up all yjr ancilliaries, fuel tank, radius arms etc.

[jonjosar]

My own compressor wasnt capable of giving me enough constant pressure so i borrowed a mates 200 litre and it was more than able to do the job.This is my first attempt at respraying a complete car although i have done bits and pieces in the past. I used 2 pack Tartan red with a clearcoat over base. 

I painted each panel seperately and made up stands and hung the doors from the roof trusses. Considering i didnt have a booth, i got away OK with very little contamination. 

[johnyj]

Looking very well. 

[jonjosar]

The original sunroof fitted turned out to have silicone closed and I couldn't find a replacement seal for it as it turned out to be an aftermarket one. Ended up buying a new old stock sunroof which was slightly smaller than the other one. Welded in a rib of steel around both outer edges. Took ages as I was very wary of warping the roof skin so I done the welding with a couple of damp cloths at the ready and cooled every bit of weld, them moved to the other side and do on. Didn't have too much filling to do.

[jonjosar]

The underside before i took it off the spit

Trial fit of bonnet after painting

Starting to come together, doors, glass all in#

[Homersimpson]

That looks fabulous, always liked the red and black colour scheme.

[jonjosar]

Thanks Homer,

It has taken me a while to get this far but it has been really enjoyable.Dont get me wrong, it can be frustrating but i have found the whole process very therapeutic. I had no deadlines so did it at  my own speed.

First time the car has been on its wheels in 3 years

[jonjosar]

A few more pictures of progress

Mini sport 7.5 inch disc conversion using original but reconditioned bearing carriers

Ebay purchased Maniflow system...bought about 5 years ago as i was collecting the bits