188 replies to this topic

[CAU998]

Nice project! Fantastic welding... Thats a skill to be envious of!

[sidq]

that one gonna take a lot of hard works man.best of luck getting it all done yup.

[edi57]

Thanks for all the great comments eveyone. It really does help spur me on!

Tomkidd - It's Tweed Grey, Old English White Roof - I'm going to be sticking to the original colours, it's gotta be done with such a car.

Mk1leg - That's interesting to hear that you think it's prob had a cam change. It kind of fits with the Janspeed Exhaust and Janspeed cylinder head. That mini really did roar. I called it my Mini Pagani Zonda because of the noise it made! The engine is sitting in the corner of the garage. I'm interested in taking it to pieces to find out about the cam now! Would you expect it to be identifiable just by looking at it?

Jammy/CAU998 - Cheers for the comment. I've only really been welding for a few months, and not really done a great deal in that time. I do feel like I've managed to get the hang of it though. I'm going to try to make all of my repairs good enough so that I won't have to use filler. Just a bit of high build primer. That's the plan anyway!


I've not yet got this post up-to-date to 'the present day'. I'll try and post some more tonight. Stay tuned!

[edi57]

Gutter Corner Repairs - January 2008

All four corners of my gutters had rusted so that they were looking really tatty. It appears that welded repairs had previously been attempted on a couple of corners, but then obviously they gave up and decided to use filler. With a huge amount of time and patience I've managed to repair all four corners with weld, very satisfying but definately not something I want to do again any time soon!

I don't want to break something by posting too many pics. If you want to see them all, click here.


My process for the repairs is as follows.



1) Clean back metal as much as poss



2) Clamp small copper backing plate beind the area being repaired

3) Carefully build up the area with weld (this would always start by making things worse as the areas I was welding to were really thin).



4) Grind back the weld keeping a careful eye to make sure that you're profiling it properly

5) Grind back the inside of the gutter with a dremel type tool (being careful not to touch the roof with the tool!)



Profiling is really important of course. It takes absolutely forever to get it right. Even with the effort I've put in, things still arn't 100% but this should be sorted with some high build primer etc.




By the way, If I've made this look easy then I've fooled you! I spent weeks and weeks of evenings and weekends on the four corners. Prob about 3 weeks worth. It's definately not something for the feint hearted. I really had to stick with it! I'm really hoping that I'm not going to come across another welding situation which will require such attention to detail.

[edi57]

Dash Rail Tab Repair - Feb 2008

MiniMick said I'm not being obsessive about my project. He may think again after seeing this post!

The tab at the end of the dash rail had a slight tear in it.



So, natuarally you can't leave something like that... therefore it was welded up and ground back. Ahh no more worries, I can sleep now!

[edi57]

Welding trolley and Gas Cylinder - Feb 2008

Got myself a decent bottle of gas (no more rip off and wasteful disposable bottles) and a shiny welding trolley. I'm feeling like a professional welder now!



[Yes very sad, I know]

Edited by edi57, 01 June 2008 - 06:17 PM.

[edi57]

Shell Bracing - Feb 2008

My shell was going to need bracing sooner or later as inner sill, outer sill and doorstep along with loads of other areas will need to be removed and replaced.

I thought I may as well add it before my shell goes for it's visit to Surface Processing. It would give the shell some extra rigidity just incase there is less left of my shell after the acid dip than I anticipate!

[matty135790]

Hey, looking cool!
looks like you have loads to be getting on with.

Have any luck with a sunvisor for us? ?

[clubby]

great job mate

[edi57]

Hey, looking cool!
looks like you have loads to be getting on with.

Have any luck with a sunvisor for us? ?

Hi Matty,

Thanks for the comment. Yeah loads to do!

I'm afraid John didn't have a spare sunvisor. Sorry!

[marsy]

very niiiiccce!
looking good
bargain buy too!

[mukka]

how did the surface proccessing go, what did they charge you as when i phoned nearly went inot shock,

are you finished with the spit and would you consider selling it
cheers

[edi57]

Hi Mukka,

I think their current price for a small shell dip is £595 +vat. More details about the dip here. It's expensive, but if you're aiming for the absolute best, then I personally believe there is nothing better.

Not finished with the spit yet I'm afraid! Havn't started my work really.. I'm aiming to have the welding done by the end of the summer at the latest (I hope) so I may consider selling it then.

Ed.

[T.Harper]

Nice job on the gutters, but aren't they meant to have a cut out for accumulated water to drain away?

[edi57]

Cheers mate. Yep, all cut outs are still there. Maybe the photos arn't showing them.