285 replies to this topic

[Marco1972]

Looks great cant wait to get my next sill on my car... Top work pal!

Cheers bud

[Marco1972]

Managed to get a few hours in on the car today and what a mixed bag it was
I wanted to get the inner wing finished and put the A panel back on but best laid plans n all that .....

Started of by making up the panel for this area as its been on the to do list for ages









Held in place with inter grips and tacked in



Dressed up and given a coat of zink primer



Got a small piece to make for the bottom lip and finish welding on the inside

I was asked about the scuttle closing panels and I assumed they had been replaced as the front end was new but this has proven not to be the case
I was cleaning off the old under seal with a twisted knot wheel when it dislodged a chunk of sealant which revealed a hole in the closing panel .... Bugger.......
Looked like this before I took the sealer off



To say I was a bit peed off would be an understatement I had visions of having to remove the wing which would of buggered it I felt like throwing the towel in !!!
Still can't understand why whoever replaced the front end left the crappy old closing panels in ???
Any way after much cursing and head scratching I decided to chop it out I had decent access as the A Panel is off
I slit it with the grinder and basically ripped it out bit by bit
Ended up with this





After a coat of zink



The old closing panel 😃 Not a lot left of it



I plan to drill a few holes and plug weld the new one in from inside the car that with a few tacks along the edge where it meets the bottom of the scuttle should do the job
Bit of a pain in the ass but hey ho just hope the other side is ok

I removed the charcoal canister bracket for more access don't think I'll be replacing it as its for the later model no idea why it was fitted in the first place bit of a waste of metal if you ask me



That was it for today one step forward and 20 back .......

Edited by Marco1972, 07 February 2016 - 09:50 PM.

[lawrence]

What did I tell you about the closers hmm? glad you checked tho, would hate for your hard work to be undone

[Marco1972]

I did think of you when I discovered this little cherry

You cursed me lol

[lawrence]

Aww how sweet :) it's becuase it happened in my project too. To cut corners the previous owner didn't replace mine leading to the scuttle end rotting out on the ns which I then had to replace.

Cost cutting seems to kill minis

[Leesey]

Just read this from start to finish and it is amazing what you have done with the mini!
A real inspiration

[Marco1972]

Just read this from start to finish and it is amazing what you have done with the mini!
A real inspiration

Thanks Leesey

[Marco1972]

Right then

It was back to it today I've now got a new closing panel from Minispares
I did have a moment of Madness and got a magnum panel but the fit was laughable so it went straight back and got changed for the genuine article



This will be fitted soon as I had a bit of a moment and decided to remove the engine and subframe !!!!!!!



As you can see I'd been removing some of the ancillary parts for powder coating so the exhaust servo and rad were already out

I've took pics of where the wiring loom attaches for reference when I put it back together









Then we set about removing all the remaining cables and hoses followed by selector shaft pin and bolt ,shock absorbers track rod ends and finally subframe mountings



4 pairs of hands later it was out





My plan was always to remove the engine at some point to degrease and paint the block also to replace the drive shaft seals and a few gaskets this will also allow the engine bay to be done when I get it sprayed
I've also discovered that one of the cv boots is split and so is the steering rack gator so more bits to add to the list of never ending parts

Mark

Edited by Marco1972, 31 March 2016 - 10:53 AM.

[Marco1972]

Quick update

I've degreased the engine and it came up quite well









Still got some of the ancillary parts to remove to get to the last bits of grime
I will be replacing all the usual leaky gaskets and seals and it will get a lick of paint

Going to need a new CV boot and rack gaitor






I've also removed the loom ready for the final strip down before paint
I've took the time to record where all the wiring goes but to be honest these looms are pretty basic the pics are for reference only









Then it was time to replace this little fella



Had some work to do in the fresh air vent area first as there was some corrosion behind the old closing panel that was out of sight



Bit more tidying up and this will be fine

Closing panel in just needs tidying up and painting not the easiest of jobs with the wing on but hey I like a challenge

[blueovalcraig]

Have just read the whole thread. Great work! Love the determination and enthusiasm

[Marco1972]

Have just read the whole thread. Great work! Love the determination and enthusiasm

Cheers

Thanks for taking the time to read through

Mark

[Ben_O]

Those closers are a bit of a pain to fit with the wings on. The worst part i found was getting the old one out.

 

Good progress on this. Are you changing the colour?

[Marco1972]

Those closers are a bit of a pain to fit with the wings on. The worst part i found was getting the old one out.
 
Good progress on this. Are you changing the colour?

Hi Ben_O

Think I'm sticking with Henley blue maybe a different roof colour but I'm trying to stay as close to standard as I can so who knows

Just want it finished mate gone on far to long

How's yours coming on

Mark

[Ben_O]

 

Those closers are a bit of a pain to fit with the wings on. The worst part i found was getting the old one out.
 
Good progress on this. Are you changing the colour?

Hi Ben_O

Think I'm sticking with Henley blue maybe a different roof colour but I'm trying to stay as close to standard as I can so who knows

Just want it finished mate gone on far to long

How's yours coming on

Mark

 

Good about the Henley Blue. It looks really good when it is fresh. Here is one i have just finished at work

 

 

Mine is still at a stand still, rotting out under a tarp on the driveway. I need to get it into work and carry on with it there but we are moving the bodyshop into  new unit so everything is too upside down to even think about it yet.

 

Ben

[Marco1972]

Those closers are a bit of a pain to fit with the wings on. The worst part i found was getting the old one out.
 
Good progress on this. Are you changing the colour?

Hi Ben_O
Think I'm sticking with Henley blue maybe a different roof colour but I'm trying to stay as close to standard as I can so who knows
Just want it finished mate gone on far to long
How's yours coming on
Mark

Good about the Henley Blue. It looks really good when it is fresh. Here is one i have just finished at work
 

 
Mine is still at a stand still, rotting out under a tarp on the driveway. I need to get it into work and carry on with it there but we are moving the bodyshop into  new unit so everything is too upside down to even think about it yet.
 
Ben

Takes me back to when I first brought mine bud
Little did I know it would still be in bits 4 years later

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