135 replies to this topic

[Twincam]

Don't forget to grind some of the paint off in the boot or the earthing strap will be useless

[Mini Basher]

Nice project.

Where did you get the massive flatting block? iv been looking for one for a while.

Hi Tom

I got mine off e-bay, just type durablock in the search bar, there not cheap but if you want flat straight panels its the only way to go. Sorry for highjacking the thread

Andy

[nomininolife]

Frost stock them too. and they are cheaper than ebay.


Regards


David

[bigcaddy]

Don't forget to grind some of the paint off in the boot or the earthing strap will be useless

Ahh, good point. trunk and ground strap would be our wording. caught me off gaurd.

thanks.



new updates. loading pictures now.


oh, and we are able to get large rolls of continious sand paper that fits perfectly on the megeblocks. and it has a sticky back.


After all the repairs and welding were done to the front apron, I applied a couple coats of 3M chip gaurd: messy stuff. but it dries hard... weird

Edited by bigcaddy, 25 February 2010 - 05:10 PM.

[Twincam]

Looks quite neat Can you spray over it?

[bigcaddy]

Looks quite neat Can you spray over it?

yes. it's totally paintable. I'm gonna see if I can get sealer on the front end tonight. It's pretty much ready for it.

then I can really dig in and get the body work done.

[bigcaddy]

OK, over the weekend I got the right side and front under sealer.

I started with filler in places after the guide coat dried. Also finished off the gas tank. I used a nice Satin black from SEM. looks really good to me.


pictures.

[bigcaddy]

Well, Over the weekend I was able to get a lot done. I got the front and right side under high build primer and a dusting of guide coat. I block sanded the guide coat with 180grit. I addressed any spots that needed filler with some finishing putty.

I put the car up on the rollers so I could spin it around to work on the back and left side.
I DA'd the rest of the car and aplied some filler to a dent in the left rear quarter. the back is in rust free condition.. the rear valance has a nice dent in it I'll try to pull with the stud gun.

It was 50* today so I took the doors outside and worked on the bottoms. they were completely rusted through to the point the skin was flopping. I hit them up with the cutoff wheel and removed all the rust and welded in new steel bottoms that worked perfectly. I took a big slop of brushable seam sealer and put it in a mixing cup and added a bit of reducer from my paint supplies. this made it like a milkshake. I was able to just pour it down inside the door to cover everything completely. It worked great.

I'm hoping to get the rear valance done tonight and maybe some more sanding.

I have some pictures but the others are still on my phone.

oh, got a sweet cabinet from the local college. the drawers are 29 inches deep. and 20 inches wide. gonna be a new tool cabinet. I bolted on some casters and put it in place.

Also my kids had fun in the trunk of the car when I wasn't looking. haha. too cute.

Edited by bigcaddy, 08 March 2010 - 09:19 PM.

[bigcaddy]

Progress.

2nd A-panel is getting some attention. no rust but it was wavey. rear quarter had a bit of a dip in it so I pulled what I could and laid on a coat of RAGE filler
The rest of the back is sanded and ready for sealer...... hope by the weekend for sealer.

The rear valance needs a little attention. looks like a tailpipe got wacked at one point. I'll weld in a tab and start pulling hte dents. woot.

Edited by bigcaddy, 10 March 2010 - 05:39 PM.

[bigcaddy]

Lots of progress this weekend.

I fixed the dent in the rear valance, repaired a section on the left A-panel and straightened the rear quarter.
I laid down a coat of surfacer primer and I'm still block sanding.

getting close.

[bigcaddy]

gonna be painting it on Saturday..... I think Friday night I'll lay down some sealer and let it cure over night and block sand it in the morning.

Also, keep your eyes open for next months EuroTuner magazine........ if you can get it. My rabbit is in there. My photographer sent me a large print of one of the photos..... love it.

the rear hatch is with a friend of mine. he is in a bodyshop class learning all the ins and outs. I'll paint that later. no rush.

I'm still waiting on a hood from MiniMania..... been over a month now.... how fukn lame is that.

I'm gonna hit up the bead blaster tonight for all my little bits and pieces.

[bigcaddy]

Ahhh, it was 75* here yesterday. had to move the cars around. I took the red out out for a fun drive.

Also had some help with cleaning the dust out of the mini to prepare it for Saturday's painting. My kids fought over the air hose... uggg. can't they agree on anything?

Also took the leaf blower to my garage to get the dust out. looks much better.

oh, and my Jerry rigged gas tank to get it on and off the rollback

also tried out the panaramic ability of my phone camera. mehh.

Edited by bigcaddy, 01 April 2010 - 01:17 PM.

[82hle]

You're doing a great job.. an interesting thread - keep up the good work.
I ain't knocking the wide wheels and fat arches, but it's nice to see another car with no wide arches and the stock steels with HL / HLE caps.
Mart.

[bigcaddy]

well, I had a set of 8" revolutions, but they are 13" so I'd have to modify the fenders a bit. sorry....wings. I plan on flares eventually. These cars are extreamly rare over here so we don't usually cut them up to no return much.

thanks.

I'll have a ton of updates over the weekend.....lots gonna be done

[bigcaddy]

All painted.

I laid down 3 coats of base black and 3 coats of clear. I blocked with 600 grit the next day and applied one more coat of clear. Turned out really nice. the clear flashed a bit faster then I wanted on the roof so I have some wet sanding to do there but all in all it's nice

I'm gonna check it out today over lunch.