No replies to this topic

[currie54]

Hi all.

My lady has had her mini for a few years, in that time I have replaced the rear subframe, we had a recon 998 engine fitted last year, had this done by a friend because i was to busy for the project at the time.

The only thing really letting the car down is the body which is bubbing, rusting leakin and what ever else old minis do.

So....

Last week she phones me up because she has a nice shiney bodyshell with bot lid, doors and bonnet,
the next day of we go to check it out, no rust whatso ever, new panels here an there 2 tiny dents in the roof, someone has obviously done a lot of work an its ready for painting, so the handsome sum of 850 secures it.

Now I dont mind gettin my hands dirty a love the chance to get my spanners out but spraying is not for me, we want a good proffesional finish what will last so the the next 2 days are spent tryn to find a suitible bodyshop who seem trustworthy. 8 shops later we find the one, father an son team who we found thru a recomend on this forum. 2 grand for a prfesional spray bearing in mind they hadnt seen the shell so expect more.

Got the shell to them yesterday, I admit it was a bit of a rush decision and we never really done a lot of research into buying a shell, turns out the roof panel needs replacing, at somepoint someone has tampered with it to fit a sunroof and nowits all baggy round the hole making a cheap patch in job difficult, so seein aswe want to do it properly we opt to change it, £300 roof £400 labour.

bonnet needs replacing as its been preped for racing with pin holes drilled and brackets removed, only £60 so not worth trying to make the old one good.

They trid to hang the door a we have dodgy gaps down to a poorly fitted A pillar, cost to be arranged but the panel is about a tenner.

As of now, less than a week after we even thought of this maaad plan we are in for the best part of 4k out of the 5k budget.

I am sure there will be more bad news from the bodyshop during this week as they get to know the shell better, we are happy with spendin the money because the main reason we are doin this is because the old shell is ******* and we want this one to last well so it has to be right.

once we have is back from the guys all work will done by me and some friends for beer donations, I understand we will have to replace some worn parts but the engine, subbies is all good.

The main reason for this post is to get any advice of things down the line I might not be expecting, I think if I knew the things i know now I woulda haggled harder on the shell.

The only thing I dont know a great amount about is the loom, which will be replaced so advice on that would be greatfull.

I have pics and will put them up in the next day or 2

so the mini project is well and truly underway....

Paul