1006 replies to this topic

[hughJ]

Yes Graham it is looking good. You can't plan ahead. We've not done this before and just don't see these things ahead. It will be fine and you'll forget about it. You are getting ahead of me. I'm not doing the front till its on its subframes.

All the best

Hugh

[grahama]

Woo hoo all,

The rain did not stay mainly on the cheshire plain today and I got what I wanted done to the back end .



However it was windy again, so rigged up the welding tent but this time without Jan holding it up !!



This led to welds like this today, much happier with the result and I ground down the crappy 'no gas' ones and re did them.





So the plugs went in fine and I ground them so the sill will take the cover strip, hopefully without snagging on earlier, les proficient welding, other side the same !

Also went from



to



Lots of welding and grinding back to take up the gaps I had been left with from earlier, very pleased with the result to be honest, the out and in ends of the two sills came out fine too.

Voila !







Got some primer on and I am feeling very pleased with myself with progress this last week, so if there are any mistakes please PM me next week !!

On to some seam sealing, last week I did the underside but felt it a little thin, so as it will be covered up with stonechip or similar and underseal stuff, I lathered it on !! Neat it isnt but I'm too happy to care !!







Thats nearly it for the rear end, some cleaning up and sealing to do in the boot and inside the shell only a few bits round the windows to sort, but that's about a days work. Will be putting some more primer on soon underneath but have been ordered out for lunch tomorrow as Jan has taken a few days off and my goolies will not last if I don't go !!!

Graham

[hughJ]

Good one Graham - this is where we want to be. You and Jan have a nice lunch. There's more to life than Minis. Hope that is not classed on this forum as an offensive remark. It is looking great, though!

Hugh

[minimuk]

Nice one Graham, don't know about Hugh's other life,.... but it is good to have a break of it all sometimes. Just make sure you DAMP PROOF all your work before you do,..... Winter is on its way,....

[grahama]

What do you mean by damp proof ??? I intend to prime the underside very soon and seam and prime inside too. Anything else I need to do??

Edited by grahama, 04 October 2011 - 08:32 PM.

[Down&Out]

Absolutely great thread, just read the whole thing through. Almost bought an identical mini myself, but i was outbid, glad i was because i did far better a few weeks down the line!

I'll be watching this, properly good work!

[Brams96]

Awesome progress. I will definitely be referencing this build thread when I start work on my car very soon. Keep it up!

[grahama]

Thanks for the feedback, will continue to put lots of pics in my thread, but it may well end up a long one !!!

[minimuk]

and a bit wax-oiling for the cold spell,......don't forget

[PaulColeman]

There seem to be quite a few of us dads restoring Minis with our kids. We (my 18 year old daughter and I) are supposed to be restoring a 76 Mini 1000. However, she usually spends most of her time checking her nails and hair before claiming it's too dirty and cold so she must go in

Looking good, keep up the enthusiasm. Your neighbours must hate you by now with all the grinding and spraying hahaha

Cheers, Paul.

[grahama]

Don't know about checking the nails, lol, but defo checking something other than the mini !!! Fortunately have very good neighbours who put up with some noise. I do try to noise up during the day tho which helps when everyone is working / school. I have found that some neighbours from down the road are following progress and often stop to ask about progress. Have found a machine shop and engine specialist this way, woo hoo for when it all goes pear shaped !!

Thanks for the feedback, but think that most teenagers can't be bothered till it is being put back together!!

Graham

[minimuk]

you are right there Graham, when the mini is shiny and clean and runs, it will be hard to hand over those key's I can assure you,....hence I make myself another one,...just for me!!!!

[grahama]

Hi all,

little update.

Minimuk, wax oiling imminent, got the spray bottle just need to get the waxoil. However constant surface rusting made me do some priming. But first took the block out for a look.





Piston bores no rust, glad I oiled them up. Knew the water ways were full of rust though so put them in an electric bath to loosen it up.





Washing soda, water, (1 tbs per gallon), and gas mark battery charger, two minutes saw the crap comming off !







Boot before a prime and after, not too shabby I think, and the arches came up nicely too. Arches have been seam sealed so just another coat but the boot needs sealing tomorrow then another coat.









Inside I primed most of it but it also needs a sealing session. the upper part of the bulkhead I forgot when I was wire brushing and cleaning down so Will do this tommorow too.



Not sure if I will do the roof as it will be hidden and will be putting more deadening up there anyway but may just do it for completeness though !! Few bits of rust to sort round the windows but getting there back end.

The surface of the primer is a little textured but I rubbed down a little underneath and it was fine so will probably use it all over, just more rubbing down

Regards,

Graham

Edited by grahama, 14 October 2011 - 05:21 PM.

[Carlos W]

Can you all slow down please!

You're all putting me to shame!

[TURBO-TOM]

your build is coming along really well mate, and your work is spot on