1006 replies to this topic

[grahama]

Thanks Jack, glad it is helping !!

I like many others on here dived into a mini without any prior experience and like some others am enjoying it as I go. New skills learnt, like engine stuff, welding and most importantlt patience lol !!

The more you do the more confident you become, welding is a breeze now, although still frustrated with my neatness, but solid. Next majoy learning jobs are paint and electrics !! Oh and getting it all together again !!!

Graham

[Terry1987]

Impressive, flicked through the whole thing and that's mega attention to detail there!

[grahama]

Hi all,

Thanks for all the comments, they do keep me going, it's nice to know the thread is helping people, all part of the TMF thing !!

some more bitty progress yesterday and today.

Getting to the end of the welding now thankfully, few frustrating bits to go, not done the underside bits yet as had a window problem. Anyhoo

Rear strengthener panels got welded in and I tested the cards fo fit, same as they came out so pleased I haven't messed anything up. Got the cards out before Matt came home from work, he wouldn't be able to cope with things going into the mini after two years of thing coming out !!





I put some slots in the inner wing repaire I did to get the fit to front panel right so I welded them up, another job done.





Same little job on the extra wiper holes





Had several looks at the original pics to make sure I filled in the right holes !!

Then I thought I'd try the rear windows in place to see all still fitted after the frame repairs. They did but what a crap fit





The window was all over the place as you can see, driver side similar but not as bad. A main problem was the frame binding on the top of the quarter panel when opening so I did different things each side.

The passenger side I redrilled the B post to move the window down into the aperture.

Forgot to take pics of that but at the rear I had to weld a piece into a hole to allow a new hole to be drilled.







No catching on the frame on this side. Driver side needed a different approach. I drilled the B post as before and centralised the frame but it was still catching in the middle and couldn't sdjust with drilling anymore.



Slotting this side.









Gap round the frame now, all ground down and profile looking fine, to me anyway. I have however been thinking about the rear windows and not sure if I am going to keep the openers. May just swap for the closed type, so repairs may well be a waste of time. What do you think, openers or closed ??



Also realised after an hour battling with the rear window rubbers that they are not meant to come apart lol !! What a faff !

Nearly there, the tunnel light is very bright at the end of the welding tunnel, but many tunnels to get through yet

Graham

[JustSteve]

Hi all,


Had several looks at the original pics to make sure I filled in the right holes !!

Glad it's not just me that doesn't have much faith in myself wasted most of my day checking I was filling the right ones!


looking good now pal. Keep up the great work

[hughJ]

Graham you are working hard!! I like seeing your reflection in your windows - a good head of hair! As usual patient, careful, thought out repairs. Keep moving along - I'm kind of flagging at present.

Hugh

[grahama]

I am thinning on the sides lol, when I get the full Phil Collins look it goes !!

[Brams96]

Nice job on the repairs Graham, sorry to point something out but to me it looks like the trim around the window itself isn't straight especially in the 4th & 6th pic up from the bottom of your previous post. That may have meant the body was ok & the window trim was out? Ddi you check the straightness of the windows?

[grahama]

Hi Brams,

well I have to say no I didn't, didn't occur to me that they would be wonky. Will check today but wont be unslotting the quarter lol !! I am seriously thinking of putting fixed windows in the rear, partly for leakage as mine are a bit slack and partly for added security.

Thanks for the keen eyes !

Graham

[AndyMiniMad.]

Opening windows are the way to go..If like me you will be driving it on hot sunny days, then you will be glad of the extra air flow..Opening the front windows is fine but I dont like the draught or wind noise it creates...Your choice of course!!...










Opening windows....Really!! Opening windows!!

Cheers.

Andy.

[davej]

Looking really good Graham, keep at it and you`ll soon pass through them tunnels.

[Carlos W]

I agree with Andy!

Opening windows will give air flow!

[minimuk]

as above Graham, keep it origional, opening windows are there for a purpose, and looks cool, you won't have leaks if your seal sits properly,....

[grahama]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, bidding on some closed ones lol !!! Still can always try the openers and if I don't like the fit I can change them.

Brams, the frames are near as damn it straight, must have been the pic or my dodgy repairs !!

Graham

[Carlos W]

I like the idea of welding the wiper holes up, I bought silly shiny things to put in mine, but getting rid of them altogether will look far smoother

[grahama]

That's the problem Muk.

They are very tight front end, tight in the middle and nearly open at the back !! Can't adjust the frame anymore, but could move the front screw holes out to allow the rear of the frame to come in a touch. Off next week so will have a play !!


Carlos,

a ten minute job and as you say, once filled in they wont leak or rust around the plugs !!


Graham

Edited by grahama, 04 May 2012 - 06:33 PM.