575 replies to this topic

[jack_marshall]

Keep chopping and welding, it'll get there

[minivanman]

well, we made a new offside rear floor up and welded it in, replaced the rear subframe mounting point, made and fitted an inner sill, and welded in a new outer sill. Not bad for 1 days work. Then we reskinned one of the doors, got the other one still to do. I'm working at our unit tomorrow, so I'll get some pictures. Then we have all the same to do on the nearside.

[minivanman]

Finally got some pictures today. First is the floor repair we made, and the inner sill. Just need to give the gap between inner and outer sills a good coat of hammerite, then the outer panel can go on. Feels like real progress is being made! I'm picking up a floor panel for t'other side off dogmatix tomorrrow, so that side should be easier. Then the postman arrived, and made me a very happy man. Last 2 pics show what turned up.

Edited by minivanman, 09 September 2006 - 07:45 PM.

[minivanman]

bit of an update - I've taught myself to weld, and for the last few days I've been zapping up all the little holes that have been niggling at me, so I really feel I'm moving forward again. not really worth pictures, but it doesnt look quite so swiss cheesy any more I've also made a major change in direction with the look of it. I was planning to go for 7x13 wheels and big arches, but no more! I've already got some 5.5" revolutions , so I'll be putting them on instead, and having grp2 or wood and pickett arches. plus one day i'll be able to drop it onto 10"s when I can afford the brake setup. So now I just have to repair the front wings where they've been cut for sportpacks.

[guywithvan]

sticking with 10's is the best idea,better handling also if you park where your not allowed you cant get clamped cause they dont fit!!.i was contemplating 7x13 on mine,did't think they would fit in with the retro look im after.your vans lookin good though not too sure about the dash,think the centre speedo looks better on it's own.keep up the good work!

[minivanman]

Driver's side is getting there now!

next item on the agenda: turn it round and do the same for the other side - floor, heelboard, inner + outer sills and that side plate. I got some wood and pickett arches today from slyoldfox, that must have been fate! Got one door to re skin, and repair the front wings where they have been cut out for 13"s and the welding is almost over!

[minivanman]

Got her turned round the other day so I can start work on cutting the other side out. I've got the panels from tjenkos to repair the front wings, And I've trimmed the grille so that can be welded in (commercial grille) Should get that done tomorrow. I've plugged the unneccesary wiper holes and all the ones over the rear arches where it had had wide arches on. Removed the lip round the rear for bodykit mounting , thats all of that gone now. It really feels like I'm starting to get somewhere now.

Edited by minivanman, 30 September 2006 - 10:31 PM.

[minivanman]

Grille is welded in:

Just need to clean it up now. I made the final fillet I need for the body at the front end, its starting to come up really strong now. I've also started cleaning up the panels I got from Tjenkos to repair the front wings. I didn't realise how much had been cut out of them until I offered these panels up. I dont even think sportpacks would have covered the gap! Now I need to weld in a blank in the other repeater hole, and plug two small holes at the front, and the flip front is about done. (I think)!

[minivanman]

Added some more weld to the grille and welded up the holes either side of it. The I cleaned it all up with one of these . If you havent got any of them, get one or two, they are absolutely brilliant. We nick them from welders on sites but frost also sell them. Like a grinding disc but not nearly as aggressive - you dont leave huge marks all over the metal. Thats my advice for the day.

[mini93]

its looking great mate!! keep up the progress is all the welding done then? also what colour u chosen for it? or that not decided yet? and on that dash is it gona be scattered with gauges etc

keep it up!!

[tino]

only just read this thread after you mentioned it in the chat thing. its looking good an must be satifing to slowly win the battle over the rust. What colour you planning at the end of it? As I can't see that mentioned anywhere.

[minivanman]

Thanks for the comments. I'm really not sure about colours yet, but my mum did some photoshopping for me and I really like a dark red and a weird sort of green colour. since then I've changed direction a bit and i'm going for a bit more of a classic look so I'm still not sure. For the dash I'm planning on having a single 90mph mini gauge in front of me, and 3 52mm gauges to the left of it and a rev counter to the right. The unit next door to ours does all sorts of car electrical stuff so I'll be getting some bits from round there to finish it off. Ultimately I'd like to get a vauxhall C16se in there, but keep it looking innocent from the outside Then some 10" wheels when I can afford it, but thats way off in the future.

[mini93]

hey there anymore progress on this? or it been too wet!?

[minivanman]

Not been too much progress at all really. Working too hard, and been on holiday last week so I had to get my other mini sorted out for that. I have got my other mk1 door reskinned now, and I chopped out the side panel on the nearside to figure out what needs doing. Same story as the other side - floor, inner and outer sills and the corner of the heelboard. Thats the last major bit of welding to do, then I need to go round it and find all the little bits and pieces. After that its paint time.... I am thinking of having it done properly at the place which did the repair on my blue car. I've been thinking about the interior as well, and i've got some interesting plans I want to try out on it. Think I've made a decision on the seats as well - after buying Dogmatix's vinyl cobra clubmans, and driving 600+ miles in them last week, I reckon I'll get some more o' them.

[minivanman]

Had a good bash at it today, and there is good news! We chopped out the nearside innner sill at the back, and found that the heelboard in that area is solid, which I thought I'd have to replace. So we got the rotten floor on that side cut out and new bits welded in, patched a load of little holes up and made a new inner sill. I've got an engine lined up for it too. Mini Matt on here (my cousin) is going 1380, so I'm having his old 1275, which has just been rebuilt . I also have a set of wheels sorted - I got Billy's set of 100+ 12" wheels. God damn, shes gonna look sexy.