99 replies to this topic

[Mini_Matt]

Im really enjoying reading this. Feel like im learning loads!

[Jasonc]

Wow!

It's really coming together! Keep up the good work!

[n1tr0_9]

Thanks very much. Ive learnt loads doing it and most of my info has come off this forum.

Had another long day on the mini, mostly seam sealing. Ive done all the seams under the front wings, all down the a panel inside, along the top and around the headlamps. I did around the front floors where i repaired them. I also did up under the dash and behind the bonnet hinges and in behind the a panels where the lip is rolled round. Then i ran out of sealer so the body shop will have to do the rest.

















I refitted the passenger door, the bonnet and the arches. Then i went round the car refitting little bits that wouldnt get in the way during painting like rad mounts, handbrake cable etc. I played about with the fit of the bonnet again. Im still not totally happy, so i tried to roll the top of the wing in. I did this using hammer and doll, but access is too small to swing a hammer so only a little success. Then i put the grill and chrome on the front. The bonnet chrome needed some fettling. I actually bent the bonnet lip down to get it level.







Last thing i hammerited a couple of bits under the front, and started packing up bits ready for the trip north tomorrow. I still dont have the drivers door on. The original hinge bolts snapped when i removed the old door, so ive been using the boot bolts temporarily instead. I ordered some new bolts yesterday and paid for fast postage, but they still havent arrived. So i hope they turn up tomorrow!

[n1tr0_9]

Its been a while since i last updated, but the Mini was delivered back to the paint shop in Sheffield from where it has emerged looking like this!







I cant wait to see it in the flesh, it looks great. The colour is Almond Green. Hopefully ill be up to Sheffield before Christmas to help in the re assembly.

[alex-95]

Excellent work, The paint looks great too.

[jamesmpi]

Wow. Minis always look good in almond green :)

[Noah]

Absolutely Love it.

[iMurray]

Classic colour should look nice. Will it be on 13"s?

[Jasonc]

Looking good love the colour!

Any plans for interior?

[n1tr0_9]

Thise are the wheels it sgoing to have, brand new with brand new tyres. It may get lowered soon. Interior is going to be the original fake cream leather and hatched pattern. On the look out for a decent original carpet though, so if anyone has one, let me know!

[Jasonc]

Thise are the wheels it sgoing to have, brand new with brand new tyres. It may get lowered soon. Interior is going to be the original fake cream leather and hatched pattern. On the look out for a decent original carpet though, so if anyone has one, let me know!

It's going to look the mutts when it's finished - I will keep following your project

Best of luck!

[n1tr0_9]

Here are some more shots from when the car was painted. They really did a proper job and took it down to bare metal in places. The finish is fantastic, glass smooth and when its fully assembled it will be going back for a final polish. They painted the cabin and the boot. They also fully sealed and stone chipped under the sills and under the front wings, so its one seriously solid mini now!





































Then we set about with the reassembly. This involved lots of cleaning of interior trim. A new drivers seat base was sourced as the original had split. Also managed to find a genuine new old stock green carpet with the correct bulge to cover the Airbag control unit as found on the later cars.





Next we tackled the headlining. I wasnt looking forward to this, but with care and help from a glue gun it was looking good. The glue gun was ideal as the glue sets very quickly and can be peeled off it it needs it. It held the headlining in place ready for the door and window seals which were tapped on with a wooden mallet. The first snag was fitting the new windscreen seal. It wasnt the correct profile and looked rubbish so we reused the original which was thoroughly cleaned before fitting. It also got a squirt of cavity wax in the groove to help keep moisture out.





The original door seals had a lip on the bottom to hold the carpet up the inner sills but the replacements didnt, so again we reused the originals. The new seals were also preventing the doors from closing as they were a bit fatter than the old worn items.

Assembly has been extremely frustrating, as many of the new parts dont fit! They either needed fettling or were rubbish and couldnt be used. So far the new screen surrounds, door seals, 3 piece chrome grill surrounds have all been binned in favour of the original items. Also just realised that the front pattern part wings i fitted will need some grinding in order to fit the electric adjust headlamps as found on the mpi!

Also been having trouble with the window winder mechanisms. The drivers door glass is incredibly hard to slide up and down in the seal and even with the mechanism taken out and using just my hands its very hard to get it to move. So ive got a new door glass seal to try.

[Noah]

Sorry to hear you having trouble.

I must say I'm saving all of my door seals bar the front and rear windscreen seals and the rear opening windows as all of these are visibly damaged.

[n1tr0_9]

Well its been a long time since i posted on here, but the car is going for an mot today. Fingers crossed!

[sonikk4]

Good luck i'm sure it will pass. Its looks really nice.