29 replies to this topic

[mdickson]

Thanks everyone for the comments. Yes I am pleased with the results so far just need to get a few things finished then I can think of getting some carpet into it again. Really must put together a list of jobs. But the fear of how big the list would be keeps stopping me.

Bec, I would love to put the car on the TMF stand if for no other reason than watching you dance around in a funny hat. let me know which shows you will have a stand at and I shall try and make one. I would definitely up for Castle Combe again.

Jonesy, I would love to the credit for the work so far but Frog has to take that for now. Maybe on the next car.. If I need a hand don't worry I shall be calling on your services. I may pick your brains on wiring in a 12V socket, but I won't be at the next meeting as I am off to Istanbul again.

Edited by mdickson, 20 March 2010 - 06:11 PM.

[mdickson]

Latest updates,

So as I was off on a business trip I thought it the perfect time to drop the car off to Frog and get the next stage of the work done.
So the plan was a new scuttle panel, New Wings and New front Panel.

So here is the car when it arrived at Frog's before any work started.

 01.JPG   84.94K   11 downloads
 02.JPG   85.44K   10 downloads

So here are some shots of the strip down.
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 06.JPG   76.13K   2 downloads  07.JPG   68.29K   8 downloads

It was about this time that I got the phone call to highlight the state of the car. Another bodged repair by one of the previous owners.

 08.JPG   70.77K   10 downloads  09.JPG   85.37K   8 downloads  10.JPG   80.22K   9 downloads
 11.JPG   85.66K   11 downloads  12.JPG   81.66K   6 downloads  13.JPG   76.28K   6 downloads
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 17.JPG   38.59K   3 downloads

So it was time to start repairing the car

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 21.JPG   44.45K   4 downloads

Now that Frog has repaired all the extra bits it is time to start with the original job requested.

 22.JPG   47.2K   5 downloads  23.JPG   41.3K   4 downloads
 24.JPG   37.49K   3 downloads  25.JPG   33.75K   4 downloads
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 30.JPG   56.31K   5 downloads  34.JPG   39.04K   8 downloads

So then it was time to get it in the booth and get some paint on to it....

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 47.JPG   57.94K   8 downloads

Then it was reassembly time. And the final product.

 50.JPG   57.96K   23 downloads  49.JPG   64.09K   16 downloads  48.JPG   55.14K   16 downloads

So that was it for the time being.

Until I was doing some tidy up work this afternoon and found that the rust works have been feasting on the front floor in the passenger foot well under the SRS cable routing. So it will need to go back for a little patch before the MOT.

Once again a big thanks to Frog. Another job well done.

edited to get a couple of the pictures on.

Edited by mdickson, 18 April 2010 - 04:17 PM.

[mdickson]

Well it has been a couple of years since I last updated this thread and I have started to get my mini mojo back. The wee beast is going to get a new lease of life and return to the road as soon as I can find the time. I shall be taking on the rest of the work myself. Well I say the rest I may get a friend to help with the Engine build as he kindly offered after some serious hints being dropped. There are no new photos to add at this time but once proper work starts I shall be adding to the thread.

 

If anyone has any designs for a roll over jig I could have I would be greatly appreicated as I need to mak on or I shall have to buy one. I shall be looking in the sold section and see whats around. I am getting excited about the prospect of driving the wee car again.

 

[mdickson]

So it has been a slight gap since any progress. The plan is to restart later in the year.

There are a few non-mini related tasks to sort out and then the restoration and rebirth will begin.

Plans are formulating as we speak and the idea is to build a fast road track car. So stripped out, full cage race seats and harness.

The areas I am debating are engine, what to do. I have a second engine which has been rebored to 1293. So that is the starting point. The only thing to decide is do I go programmable ECU or not. And if so which one. Specialist Components have a nice kit which I was looking at on Saturday at Combe. This may be the phase 1 and go from there.

The other thing is suspension and what to change to ensure it really sticks to the road like ******* to a blanket.

So more research is required.

Also what cage to go for. So more time pondering and researching.

I hope soon you will get some more updates.

[simpsonsclassics]

Stunning colour! nice work these late minis do like to rust but it looks like you have a good one :)

[mdickson]

Stunning colour! nice work these late minis do like to rust but it looks like you have a good one :)

I wish it was still looking so good. It is currently stuck in the garage waiting for a new floor assembly and rear quarters.

Hopefully soon it will be back to it former glory.

[mdickson]

So, it seems so long since I last made an update. I am now looking at the most cost effective way to repair the shell and get it ready to be rebuilt. Unforunately it looks like a reshell is probably the best option. So the hunt is on for a suitable place to handle some work. Plan is to have welded in cage fitted and then resprayed and from a rolling shell I can start the build of a road legal track car. So watch this space.

[johnR]

I guess the starting point is to strip the car down to the bare shell, then decide if it's more cost effective to repair that one or get a new shell? 

[mdickson]

I guess the starting point is to strip the car down to the bare shell, then decide if it's more cost effective to repair that one or get a new shell? 

I have had a couple of different people look at the pics I have which are not current so probably better than it is now and they suggested a reshell would be the most cost effective. I shall get some pics uploaded to show you all as the ones above make it look amazing. If only it was that good. 

[mdickson]

Tried to upload images, I seem to be struggling with it at the moment. 

Edited by mdickson, 16 February 2024 - 06:57 PM.

[mdickson]

https://flic.kr/p/2pyztZS

Edited by mdickson, 16 February 2024 - 07:12 PM.

[sonscar]

That would be two weekends work to renew both sides and another weekend to repair the boot if you could do the work yourself.Certainly not a reshell in my eyes.A shell and paint must be close to £15K?,Steve..

[mdickson]

That would be two weekends work to renew both sides and another weekend to repair the boot if you could do the work yourself.Certainly not a reshell in my eyes.A shell and paint must be close to £15K?,Steve..

Hi Steve, 

 

It is a complete front floor assembly replacement required as the crossmember is floating in space. The structure is not sound. Also the rust in the rear at structural locations is not ideal and I have not fully dug into what lies beneath. I think it is a big chunk more the 2 weekends work. Otherwise it would have been done by now. What I don't want to do is have to revisit this all again in a few years and do another patch here and there. I want a good number of years of fun, and lots of trackdays.

 

Martin.

[stuart bowes]

probably makes more sense to just replace the whole floor + sill + crossmember as one piece, new rear quarters as well by the looks of it, cut out the seat and do the boot floor, put the seat back in

 

in fairness if you have all the kit lined up, and a spit, and you've done a few before so you're quick at knocking up all the right bracing etc, and you have a spot welder, you probably could bang it out in a couple of weekends but not everyone is a pro with all the experience, space to work in and all the right tools ready to go, and spare cash to just buy all the panels in one hit 

 

if you do use the spot welder and replace full panels, I can see how that would be a lot quicker and easier than messing about with trying to flush in replacement pieces.  but you still have to take care and attention to get alignment right as opposed to leaving certain parts in place and repairing around them I suppose

 

that's assuming the new floor comes with all the fixing points in the right places of course. which we know from other recent posts is far from a guarantee 

 

I've been doing mine for about 2 years and I still haven't finished the metal work

Edited by stuart bowes, 19 February 2024 - 06:03 PM.

[bpirie1000]

Depends how deep your pockets are. Also depends if you are doing the resell yourself or getting someone else to do it for you.

New shell at least you know everything is solid and should be New can add an extra 3grand for the little things that you will want to upgrade or renew.. ..May be ready for this summers track day fun.

Old shell. Slightly cheaper and less hassle swapping everything over. May be off the road again for longer if there is nothing solid to weld to..

With jomphotos it is hard to suggest.