62 replies to this topic

[dougie1142]

Well i'm here, almost ready to start the first rebuild, on the first car i've ever owned! It's exciting stuff, yet very daunting at the same time, incase i get something seriously wrong. I'm just about to go to my first year at university to do Mechanical Engineering, and i thought i'd take this summer to have a shot at rebuilding my car. It is in need of a good strip down and rebuild and its going to require a lot, a lot of work to say the least as theres the "odd" rust spot on the outside so dear knows what its like underneath. Sills are okay as i had them replaced last year outer and inner, and inner wings should be okay as had them checked over by a mini specialist. However i know the arches at the back will need repaired, pretty much door's forward will need completely replaced and i'm scared to find out what other tin worm is under there. I have no real rush for time to complete it but obviously before winter would be a brilliant achievment.

But, i would love it if you guys could help me along the way. Firstly, is there any welder you'd recommend for a beginner welder, but at the same time is suitable for the task?

I'll post some pictures up of the car later tonight, and i'm just sorting out the work space as we speak, which will either be a temporary garage in the back garden, or a relatives permanent garage if i can get that. The MOT runs out at the beginning of May, so if the car last's until then without too many things falling off (which is a large task i tell you) serious work should start then, but it could be sooner than that if i get everything sorted. The last thing i want to do is rush into it and get stumped at the first hurdle so i'm going to take my time to get things sorted first.

Updates soon

Edited by dougie1142, 18 October 2010 - 08:35 AM.

[mini_matt_106]

sounds like a nice little project, sorry cant help on the welder front, most welders will be powerfull enough to cope with mini bodywork, i got mine from a club member for about £40 i think.
good luck with uni, i did an ND in mech and manufacture engineering and went to do it at uni and the maths was ridonculasly harder so if you get the option of maths support go to that it will help you no end! but yeah we all like picture so start up a photobucket act and post up th img codes so we can all see what your up2 , matt

[leadly]

Can't really help with the welder but i'd deffo check your inner wings even though you say a specialist has checked them. Better to be 100% certain yourself instead of taking someone else's word for it.

I did Mechanical Engineering at college, so I assume your uni course with be alot harder than what i did but I'd deffo get maths support. Linear equations suck!

Good luck with your mini by the way.

[mini_matt_106]

college was kids work compared to what they expected us to know at uni! so good luck get some pictures up! lol neways off to uni. l8ers

[dougie1142]

haha yeah i'll defo check the wings myself as i cant really understand how he had a thorough look at them without taking anything off anyway :S so yeah, my bad on that part!

mmmm it sounds daunting! maths at school was bad enough haha

[dougie1142]

Well its been a very very very long time since the last post, but the time is finally here, got the mini through into my back garden after everything on it running out the past weekend. It was a tight squeeze getting it through but its there now ready to start. This is gonna be a major project i can tell so its going to get done properly with no rush to complete! I have a rough idea of what it's going to look like when its done but i guess it'll change as it goes. I just hope the shell isnt too far gone to need another one. Also being 18 and finding it hard to get a job right now is going to make it hard to get all the stuff i need but i'll battle through, even if i have to take to crime to fund my project! Anyway some pictures to show the car going through to my back garden.









That dangly fog light, i'll actually be sad to see it go :/

Oh well the quest begins! Going to get some large box's to store things im keeping and then start stripping 'er down!

Thanks Doug

Edited by dougie1142, 30 June 2010 - 01:47 PM.

[82hle]

Love the way you got it to it's parking space.
Hope the neighbours won't mind the noise - cut - weld - grind - repeat...
Good luck with the rebuild, please don't turn to crime!
By the way - my welder is a Cebora Poket mig 130 turbo (that means fan cooled) and I don't know if it's still available, but It has served me well for years and I recommend it.
Mart.

[myredmini]

i've just sold a welder, but your a long way from me anyways :/ clarke 90en is brilliant, can be used gas or gasless

mrm

[dougie1142]

Haha, it was quite funny But yeah they are okay with it, normally building stuff in my backgarden anyway so should be too bad! More curious as to what im doing with a car in the garden i think. Cheers for the good wishes guys.

I've been looking at welders and equipment, looks like i'll be able to borrow a friends one which should suit the job well, not sure what model it is but i'll let you know when i get it, currently trying to find boxes to store all the parts im keeping in so should get down to stripping it tomorow or next week as im away this weekend!

[dougie1142]

Just stripped the car down so far as i've again been too busy ready to start removing rust infected areas soon once i get the subframes etc dropped...

Edited by dougie1142, 30 June 2010 - 02:02 PM.

[olds_kool_lews]

that front end looks pretty bad! but project looks good! will be worth it when its all finished, n you'll learn soo much from your first build! good luck with it and keep us updated!

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Blimey... it didnt look to bad to begin with did it? Respect to you, keep at it.

[dougie1142]

hehe noo... i poked at it with a screwdriver to see just how bad it was... it's gonna be a toughie for sure! any help would be greatly appreciated. Firstly whats the best way going about removing all front panels? including scuttle too!

[dougie1142]

Okay got some bits and bobs and cut off the front wings so far. Getting set to remove the rear subframe..

[dougie1142]

Okay finally made a bit of progress as the weathers on and off... Got the wings and a-panels off:




A few holes underneath them, but nothing a quick cut out and weld in cant fix.. i hope! Talking of that still need to get my hands on a welder.

Also picked up a few things: (courtesy of chris)



Ordered an LCB, just looking at fancy new things to keep me motivated Got a few more things coming soon, but still on the hunt for panels. Gonna need a whole scuttle, going to get new doors but i never realised how heavy mini doors were so i might look into fiberglass ones for some weight saving!

Anyway more to come in the next couple of days, more detailed pictures soon.