68 replies to this topic

[Gazza211]

Thought it was about time I posted my project, its been about four years waiting but the plan is now to complete for the 2009 IMM at Cofton Park Longbridge, This date has been set because in a previous life one of my last projects at MG Rover before I left was to test and validate the transmission changes on MPI Mini so I have a great affinity for the Mini brand.
Anyway the car, a MK3, re-shelled at sometime during its life into shell that I have subsequently found has been very badly repaired .
The poor repair consists of two replacement quarter panels being fitted on top of the original quarter panel flanges and then hidden under mini special arches and flange finishers causing a real corrosion headache!
The car is now stripped to a bare shell and the RH quarter panel, RH wheel arch, RH sill and door step panel have been removed in readiness for some new panels.
The spec for the finished car will hopefully be;

Solid black with a silver roof
Black interior
1293 MG Metro engine
LCB and RC40
Deep dish Superlites
Fully adjustable suspension

Right then, into the garage and fire up the welder to sort out the previous bodge job.

More Photo's to follow as progress is made.

Gary

Attached Files

•  DSC02220.JPG   1.31MB   53 downloads
•  DSC03166.JPG   1.39MB   56 downloads

Edited by Gazza211, 10 October 2008 - 04:44 PM.

[Gazza211]

Spent a few hours over the weekend cleaning up the flanges and making the panels fit, the door post where it joins the rear bin and inner sill was split and bent inwards, this was soon straightened out with the porta power and welded up again.
Had a look a the inner sills and floor with a screwdriver and found a bit of corrosion by the crossmember, front inner sill and foorpan.
So the quarter panel and door step have been fettled and are ready to be welded in the week.

Edited by Gazza211, 13 October 2009 - 08:40 AM.

[JackM]

good luck with it mate!
i love black minis

[Gazza211]

Thanks Jack, Just thought i would explain why black is the chosen colour, my first mini (many moons ago) was a 1971 998 with black paint! I will see if i can find an old photo and scan it in.



While i am on can anyone recommend a decent (cheapish) sprayshop with a booth to spray 2 pack, in or around Bromsgrove, by the way the shell will be self prepped.

Thanks in advance

Edited by Gazza211, 14 October 2009 - 06:06 AM.

[Gazza211]

Hi all,
Been busy with the welder during the week, the quarter panel (RH) is fully plug welded to the flanges and seam welded up the pillars, i had to fabricate a closing panel to fit above the subframe mount on the heel board just behind the quarter panel, the RH rear arch is also plug welded in after a bit of jiggery pokery to get it fit properly and i have also got the door step panel fitted on the right hand side.
The inner sill still needs a couple of repairs to be let in and the drivers footwell is also a bit thin so i will be replacing part of that as well.
The only other bit of welding on this side is part of the flange on the rear valance has rotted away, the front panel has also been attacked by the tin worm > so will also need replacing when i turn the shell around.
Anyway try to get a bit more done over the weekend.

I think i must be a bit thick but can someone explain how to link images from photobucket onto a post

Cheers

Edited by Gazza211, 13 October 2009 - 08:41 AM.

[PNL629G]

Excellent work there - will all be worth it in the end!

[Gazza211]

Thanks for the positive comments, welding just seems like a never ending process
I have been refurbing a few of the mechanical parts so will post some piccies later when my camera is charged.

Gary

[analogue_radio]

Underneath the image on Photobucket there will be 4 URLs, you'll need to copy and paste the 4th one, called IMG code.

[Gazza211]

thanks i will give that a go

[Gazza211]

Hi folks,

Just a quick progress update, I am going to fit a late model servo and pedal box assy, three clock dash and pre-engaged starter so i thought a later wiring harness would be a better plan as it has most of the connections i need and also the better 4 way fuse box, so i have sourced a full front and rear harness from good old flea-bay which is currently at work being reconditioned by one of our friendly electricians, i just need to get a few connectors changed so that i can still use my MK2/3 rear lights and decide where to put the washer bottle.
No welding done this week (out of gas ) but i have managed to strip all four hubs (the original rears and a set of 8.4 discs / hubs which will replace the front drums) and have also painted some of the suspension components before i fit new bearings and ball joints.
Will add a few photo's in the next couple of days.

Gary

[Gazza211]

Hi Folks,

Been quite a while since i last updated the blog, anyway progress has been really slow, i have been collecting more parts via ebay and various mates, i was short of a couple of inboard pot joints but couldn't find any genuine (not re-furbed) parts for a reasonable price, then i remembered i had a couple of new Metro joints, obviously these have the wrong gaiters on, so after removing the gaiter, sawing off the extension tube, cleaning out the grease and refilling with new, i fitted some new Mini gaiters (genuine parts from ebay) and hey presto a new pair of pot joints for a fiver!
I have also done a bit more welding, cut the rot out from the drivers footwell and replaced with new and repaired the rear valance where a fog lamp had been bodged on!
All the welding on the drivers side is now complete, about half the welds have been linished off but i had to stop as i didn't want to pee the neighbours off too much
As soon as the welds are cleaned up i will blow over them with etch primer, as long as the weather holds today i am going to get the shell outside and turn it round to start on the otherside and the front panel.
I have attached a couple of photos showing the floor repair,
Oh forgot to ask, does any one have a floor / bulkhead sound deadener pane from a lated model Mini (Rubber covered foam) they want to sell?

Before



After

Edited by Gazza211, 14 October 2009 - 06:09 AM.

[beaubrad]

looking good mate ,do you mean the padding that goes under the carpet keep up the good work brad

[Gazza211]

Hi Brad, Yes that the one, the pad that goes across the driver and passenger footwell and up the toe board behind the heater under the front carpet.

Gary

[beaubrad]

go to a scrappy ,thats what i did but dry it out first as they really hold water lol ,what you guna do next??

[Gazza211]

The plan is to remove the nearside rear quarter panel, as some numpty has replaced it in the past but not removed the flange so there are 3 layers of flange instead of two, also the repair was not rust proofed so i also have to remove the wheel arch and possibly the sill and doorstep panel, i have already got Heritage panels to replace the removed bits. the only other welding i have to do is changing the front panel due to rot around the indicators and the valance is all dented.
Then i can do the interesting bit and get it all sprayed in glorious black.

Gary