30 replies to this topic

[SilverSaloon]

Utilised those holes which someone had cut out in the grille and changed the oil and filter at the weekend.   All went well, i was worried about the sump plug but it was fine. The oil and filter (along with the air filer aswell) were the worst I'd ever seen - probably not been changed for a long time.

 

Managed to fathom the way the oil filter assembly worked too, which took most of the time.

 

I also fitted the new door seals.

 

Also got a nice new silver faced MK1 speedo to go in too and some glass indiator lenses to replace the plastics that have been fitted previously.

 

I've been doing a bit of digging and it appears the van was originally green like the one in the photo.   I quite like this, so its probably a toss up between old english white with a black roof which I originally liked, or the original green colour....

 

 

Attached Files

•  greenmini.jpg   28.67K   10 downloads

[ChrisCityE]

Each to their own, but I'm not a fan of old English white on vans, and even less of a fan of having a different colour on the roof. Overall I think that the best looking vans are those that use the original colours like the grey or willow green.

[SilverSaloon]

Each to their own, but I'm not a fan of old English white on vans, and even less of a fan of having a different colour on the roof. Overall I think that the best looking vans are those that use the original colours like the grey or willow green.

 

yeah i think i'll be going with the original green - i do like it, especially after seeing your restored shell :)

 

however i think i'll have to fit some rear seats in, which looks like the back will need to be cut out for legroom.    not something I like to do really as I wanted to keep the van original but I also want to be able to travel with 4 people in to mini shows etc.

[ChrisCityE]

I think that a lot of value is lost if you do the rear seat conversion... I only have one seat in my Van so no chance for passengers. Ill just have to drive along singing 60's music to go with the time warp feeling.

[DugganC17]

yeah i think a fair bit of value will be lost by cutting into the load bay to add seats as its not an easy job to restore back to originality

 

Dan

[SilverSaloon]

The little van is now locked up awaiting its restoration.

 

I'm very busy with various other things at the moment but plan on starting this soon and tackling things as I have a bit of spare time in the hope it will be finished in time for London To Brighton 2015.

 

1st job will be engine removal.   From the look of things its going to need new front panels and repair to A panels so I'm guessing my easiest option (with lack of an engine hoist) would be to take the engine out still on the subframe and roll it out after removal of the front panels.....?

[SilverSaloon]

Started to cut off the outer oversill on the drivers side today.   Result; I found 3 oversills all welded over each other, and 3 inner sills.  Inside the "new" crossmember I also had an old rusty one too!  I also have the remains of a scuttle panel under my "main one".   I also have a double-skinned drivers floor

 

My plan of action is to:

 

- strip car back to pretty much bare shell, removing attachments, rear subframe and engine.

- flip the car onto its roof (with help from the roof bars i recently obtained)

- brace the door openings and cut out the step, sills, whole floor and heelboard and weld in whole new panels, both sides and finally fit a new crossmember.

 

let the fun commence over the coming months!

Edited by SilverSaloon, 24 May 2014 - 09:20 PM.

[SAL 821X]

Looking forward to it SS.

Sounds much like mine was.... A right spam sandwich.

[leeuk]

I've just pulled my seat up for this one mate

Looking forward to seeing the progress and its pictures.

[SilverSaloon]

its a shame as there are actually pretty much brand new drivers, passenger and drivers rear floor pans with inner sill fitted, and new crossmember, unfortunatly that all needs ripped out as they have been welded ontop.   The floor under the crossmember is rotton.   I did have (nieve maybe!) hopes of the possibility of removing the old stuff from around the new stuff leaving just new stuff, but its all too much of a bodge so it all needs ripped out.   I guess i could repair and reuse the new floorpans again but will probably opt for two full half van floors from m-machine as i think it will be quicker to just cut it all out and have brand new panels to weld to, and also get a better result in the end.

 

my target is still L2B 15.  Gives me a year but due to other commitments i can only work on the mini occasionally.

Edited by SilverSaloon, 25 May 2014 - 08:17 PM.

[SilverSaloon]

does anyone know if there is a repair section available for the rear load bay on a van?    a full rear van floor skin for the load bay is £618 from mmachine, and although its very rusty (ie massive 15cm hole) in places the majority appears sound.    I know i could patch with sheet steel but getting the contours of the van floor would be tricky

[Tom Sanderson]

I think I paid about £280ish for my van floor from somerford mini spares, it's a good fit but doesn't come with the rear door step. It's still a lot of money but it will be completely sound that way.

[SilverSaloon]

thanks.  Thats a bit better price.   I'm going to rub down the whole panel and see how bad it is.  

[Gadgets]

Good luck with your resto work, smoothy roof vans are very rare!

[SAL 821X]

Keep talking them prices up Garry