Allright guys,
So as discussed in my introduction post, after about 10 years keeping the mini as it is, I am now doing a little restauration / Light modification to it. I am now working on my own version of lightweight doors so I bought a set of rusty-crispy banged up mk3 doors from a local for a extravagant 50€, striped the sheet metal and I'm remaking the frame first. the plan is not to use the 2-tons window winder anymore but keep the original sliding window system. I'll replace the winder by leather strap, similar as what can be found on vintage racing 911 for instance. I think there is a guy in a petrolicious video who rides a Lotus Esprit with a similar system.
Anyway, while this is in the process, I though I would also give a custom look to those poor handles that came with extra crusty doors: the handles have been fully dismantled, passed through ultrasonic bath. I drilled those on my bench drill and I chamfered those in and out.
here is the result of the first prototypes:
IMG_20190630_185128-W1500.jpg 29.29K 20 downloads
IMG_20190630_185138-W1500-W600.jpg 29.42K 13 downloads
they have been sent to the chrome chop to get the right finish and level of protection and I'm expecting those back in september.
economically, let's face it: it does not make any sense: the new ones are so cheap that rechroming seems a-priori a terrible wast of money. Except two things:
- as we all know, new chrome remanufactured parts are just garbage. the chrome does not last. it's just plan crap.
- and they don't come drilled anyway. so if I want those like that, I have to buy some, drill and rechrome anyway.
thought I would share with you what i am doing. Let me know what you think, I might manufacture more of those if I get those durable enough. it won't be mass production however.
also, bit of information, good to know if you plan to have those chrome. I read somewhere that those handled are cast iron. well, they are not. it contains a bit of iron, so magnet will stick to it, but it does not react right to iron chroming. So it must follow the same steps as Zamak. I'm still not certain 100% if it is zamak: I used to have zamak parts from other cars, and they seem much less dense. So if someone know what it is for sure, I'm interested !
next on my list to share with you is a custom engraved rear licence plate. :)