188 replies to this topic

[leaky]

Looks good mate. Retros defo the way to go. Got quite a few member going with retro looks now. Keep the updates coming.

[Tim1970]

Cheers Jon,
It is a great look.
Nice work on yours by the way mate

[Tim1970]

Today's progress without pictures unfortunately.
Drivers side repair is nearly sorted should get it in primer tomorrow. Passenger side A-panel repair is is welded on and lip is bent up. The wing repair is ready to be welded on tomorrow. On the passenger side the cut was a completely different shape to the drivers side and actually needs a repair on the front panel aswell wich s a pain but hopefully wont be too much extra work.
Hoping to get all of the welding done tomorrow and maybe if i'm lucky get a little skim of filler on where needed on the passenger side.
Also had to restart painting my bonnet as i managed to damage the finish and wasn't happy. Should be finished tomorrow and back on tuesday.
It's going to be a busy week as i really want to get at least all of the bodywork finished this week, then i can just finish off the mechanicals set the tracking, bleed the brakes, adjust the rears and handbrake, then get on with driving it.

[Heather&Henrietta]

No, Henny hasn't had any work done to her yet Lad who's welding her for me is doing her as a job on the side to his garage job, and he's welding my mate's mini before he starts on Henny Gonna be a while before I get her back, but it's necessary.

Must be missing her a lot.
Should be a nice reunion when you get her back though.

I do

Yeah it will be, I can't wait to get behind her wheel again

[mighty mini jack]

Doing a good job matey, keep it up!

[blacktulip]

jeez you dont hang about lol. good job on those arches

[Tim1970]

I do

Yeah it will be, I can't wait to get behind her wheel again

Will be worth it to know she's solid again.
Fingers crossed your mate manages to get on to Henny soon enough.

Get butterflies thinking about driving Healy again.

Doing a good job matey, keep it up!

Cheers Jack, Hopefully get a camera sorted sometime this week so i can put some more pictures up of what i'm doing.

jeez you dont hang about lol. good job on those arches

Thanks, been putting in as much time as possible on it and it seems to be paying off now
The arches had me a bit worried as i wasn't sure what they were going to come out like, but i've been doing it in small sections at a time and has kept distortion to a minimum pretty happy with the result thus far, just have to see what they look like in paint.

[Tim1970]

Bit of an update been raining so not much progress on the repairs.
Managed to get the wing repair and front panel repair tacked in place.
Hope for some dry weather to get it all finished and get onto any filling needed then paint

While i haven't been able to get any body work done i decided to get all of the bits that that needed painting done.
So arches, boot, boot hinges and bonnet got painted, decided i was unhappy with the bonnet again haha
Will be redoing bonnet again in the next couple of days. Should get it perfect this time.

Made up a list of what i've got left to do and what i want to get done each day, If all goes to plan then i should get it finished sunday, but we'll see what the weather has to give, acording to the met office it's not good news.

Might have to see if anyones got a waterproof gazebo i could borrow ha.

[Tim1970]

Today got a bit of good weather for part of the day so finished welding the passenger side repairs, ground the welds back and gave them a skim of filler. Also managed to get a layer filler primer on the drivers side before the heavens opened, which revealed a few high spots left.

Flatted the boot back and gave it another coat which has got it looking a lot better than it was
Also sanded back the bonnet again so will respray that tomorrow for the last time got a few bits on the way for the bonnet too.
This evening started putting a few of the fittings onto the boot, got the badges on and the number plate holder.
Hopefully get that fitted tomorrow

Also hopefully be able to get a camera sorted and get some pictures up of all of this.

[leaky]

Yea thats a bit of good news. Your bonnet badge. I'm glad you've got that cause I can now ask some questions. Thats the same one I'v been looking at getting. Does it just stick on or are their holes on the bonnet? I'v just got a fiberglass bonnet and am wondering if I need to drill some holes in it for the badge.

Can't wait to see some pictures of the work you've been doing.

Cheers.

[Tim1970]

Thanks Jon

Nice choice of badge
It is supplied with 3 lugs on the back which fit inside of plastic clips (LINK) in holes in the bonnet.
However even though there were the correct holes in my bonnet for the badge the previous owner had cut the lugs off filled the inside of the badge with filler and stuck the inner to the surround then stuck it on to the bonnet using double sided trim tape.
Seemed to be stuck fairly well but i'd probably suggest using the proper method unless you didn't want to drill the holes
To put it on conventionally mark out where the lugs will sit making sure youve got it level and central and then drill the holes I use a 4.5mm drill bit, pop the clips in then the lugs of the badge into the clips .
4.5mm gives a good interferance fit so the badge is held nicely. As it's a fibreglass bonnet just be a bit carefull to support the area around the holes from behind when pushing the clips and badge in to avoid doing any damage. Also as you probably know put a bit of masking tape over where the holes will be before you drill to help prevent the gel coat from chipping

Still no joy on the camera i'm afraid but today got a bit of sanding done on the repairs before it started tipping it down also got the bonnet done just waiting on a few final touches then i can get that on, tomorrow is supposed to be dry all day so i am hopping to make some real progress and hopefully get some pictures

[Tim1970]

Well camera action has been restored although it got a bit late so i only have one very low light picture.
Bit of imagination required but here you go.



Finally looking like a mini again . Back on all fours, bonnet back on, new grill on, new boot on wings all painted up.
Very nearly ready for the road now. List of jobs left to do tomorrow are as follows:

-Fit new front seam finishers
-Fit arches
-Fit the grill ends
-Connect number plate light
-Stick on rear plate
-Fit bonnet strap(s) can't decide where to fit them at the moment either in the corners of the bonnet or one on the bonnet and one on the boot any opinions welcome
-Sort tracking, got some nice lopsided toe in at the moment.

If i get time will also get and fit that lovely steering wheel

Oh and sort the ride height a bit better.

Then lots of checking things over and out for a drive
Getting very excited indeed now, so happy with how everythings come together.

Edited by Tim1970, 28 February 2010 - 10:52 PM.

[leaky]

Thanks Jon

Nice choice of badge
It is supplied with 3 lugs on the back which fit inside of plastic clips (LINK) in holes in the bonnet.
However even though there were the correct holes in my bonnet for the badge the previous owner had cut the lugs off filled the inside of the badge with filler and stuck the inner to the surround then stuck it on to the bonnet using double sided trim tape.
Seemed to be stuck fairly well but i'd probably suggest using the proper method unless you didn't want to drill the holes
To put it on conventionally mark out where the lugs will sit making sure youve got it level and central and then drill the holes I use a 4.5mm drill bit, pop the clips in then the lugs of the badge into the clips .
4.5mm gives a good interferance fit so the badge is held nicely. As it's a fibreglass bonnet just be a bit carefull to support the area around the holes from behind when pushing the clips and badge in to avoid doing any damage. Also as you probably know put a bit of masking tape over where the holes will be before you drill to help prevent the gel coat from chipping

Still no joy on the camera i'm afraid but today got a bit of sanding done on the repairs before it started tipping it down also got the bonnet done just waiting on a few final touches then i can get that on, tomorrow is supposed to be dry all day so i am hopping to make some real progress and hopefully get some pictures

Cheers for that. I dunno if I want to drill though the bonnet or not. I think I may just stick it on.

The minis looking good love the number plate. Cant wait to see some day light piccys.

[Tim1970]

Cheers jon will get some good pictures tomorrow
Yeah know what you mean can be a bit daunting taking a drill to nice new parts.
Have you got the badge already? because if you haven't you could have my old one it's all ready to stick on and in pretty good nick.
As tomorrows pictures should reveal i've swapped for a different bonnet badge set up.

[george91]

Tim i can't see it! Sounds like you've had good progress though keep it going, just get some pictures of it in the light soon.

Edited by george91, 01 March 2010 - 12:12 AM.