27 replies to this topic

[Carvell]

Ok, think I found someone to restore my car. The plan is to give them the empty shell. They then do the welding and painting and then build it back up. How long would it take me to strip the car down to an empty shell? I'm a teacher so I have a summer holiday where I can work constantly. I've built kitcars so should be fine with un bolting bits. I ask the question because I want to spend a few days in Snowdonia enjoying the car before it's in bits.

[Dr s]

It feels like it should take about 2 days. It's taken me about 4, worth spending the time labelling and make sure you have enough space. a mini takes up more space in bits

[wile e coyote]

Complete stripdown to shell.... couple of days but double that as for ease of reassembly afterwards lots of bags & tags needed and a seriously organised storage space.....

 

Cleaning refurbing and replacing duff or broken bits....add a month....... and in however good condition your car is - nuts will shear (e.g thermostat studs, door hinge studs, rear subbie bolts etc...its a mini

[minbin 69]

as the others have said lots of bags and label everything and take lots of photos of how everything goes,makes life so much easier for the rebuild..mine took about 3 days..including running out to buy more/the right tools

[Twincam]

I stripped a mpi mini up in Lincoln with the help of my dad in a day. That included driving from London to Tattershall, stripping the Mini, going for lunch with the grandparents, back to stripping and then back home in time for tea when we got back to London.

If I was doing it properly (I literally went like an animal) and labelled or took photos, it would take me a few days as I wouldn't rush.

Spend time now, bag, label and take pictures as it will make your life so so much easier when you come to reassemble.

[jt19]

Take photos as well!!

[Carvell]

Cool thanks for the answers. I planning on letting the bodyshop reassemble. I enjoy a bit of nut and bolt organisation :) Any suggestions on which order to go at it? Any specialist tools needed above the norm?

[ANON]

should take you around half a day to strip it to bare shell. 

 

just chuck all your nuts and bolts in a box, why anyone would do a full shell respray and then rebuild with old fixings always confuses me??

 

just have a spray around with penetrating fluid (not wd40) a few times a week for a couple of weeks before you strip it. are you doing it in ellesmereport?

[Daviewonder]

just chuck all your nuts and bolts in a box, why anyone would do a full shell respray and then rebuild with old fixings always confuses me??

To keep things simple. I can't think on anything more mind boggling than trying to work out what type of hardness, thread type and length for all nuts and bolts on the car.

[Carvell]

just have a spray around with penetrating fluid (not wd40) a few times a week for a couple of weeks before you strip it.

 

Good tip thanks.

[CityEPete]

should take you around half a day to strip it to bare shell. 
 
just chuck all your nuts and bolts in a box, why anyone would do a full shell respray and then rebuild with old fixings always confuses me??
 
just have a spray around with penetrating fluid (not wd40) a few times a week for a couple of weeks before you strip it. are you doing it in ellesmereport?

These are usually the cars sold as unfinished projects, what about window winder screws bolts etc, dash board, fixings etc, screws for, various trim, all the under bonnet bolts that can be reused.

If I was looking to buy a project and was given a bucket of unlabelled fixings it would need to be cheap or only for breaking.

Photo, small bags, label, hand made diagrams for wiring connections etc, leave large sections together if possible and refurb them as one unit rather than lots of half finished jobs.

[monkey]

just chuck all your nuts and bolts in a box, why anyone would do a full shell respray and then rebuild with old fixings always confuses me??

To keep things simple. I can't think on anything more mind boggling than trying to work out what type of hardness, thread type and length for all nuts and bolts on the car.

Can you buy a full nut n bolt kit for minis? I'm sure you can for some old VW's

[CityEPete]

The trouble is they are slightly different even between cars of the same age, my 87 is quite basic compared to cars only six months newer or of a higher spec, no brake servo etc, I've been trying to sort out heater hoses and it's all over the place.

Edited by CityEPete, 31 May 2014 - 06:39 PM.

[ANON]

 

just chuck all your nuts and bolts in a box, why anyone would do a full shell respray and then rebuild with old fixings always confuses me??

To keep things simple. I can't think on anything more mind boggling than trying to work out what type of hardness, thread type and length for all nuts and bolts on the car.

 

 

 

 

should take you around half a day to strip it to bare shell. 
 
just chuck all your nuts and bolts in a box, why anyone would do a full shell respray and then rebuild with old fixings always confuses me??
 
just have a spray around with penetrating fluid (not wd40) a few times a week for a couple of weeks before you strip it. are you doing it in ellesmereport?

These are usually the cars sold as unfinished projects, what about window winder screws bolts etc, dash board, fixings etc, screws for, various trim, all the under bonnet bolts that can be reused.

If I was looking to buy a project and was given a bucket of unlabelled fixings it would need to be cheap or only for breaking.

Photo, small bags, label, hand made diagrams for wiring connections etc, leave large sections together if possible and refurb them as one unit rather than lots of half finished jobs.

 

 

 

it's a mini, how many nuts and bolts do you think there are on the whole car?? i seriously doubt anyone has ever looked at their freshly painted shell and then looked at a box of fixings and gone "oh no...i don't know what they are all off,i'd best sell the car"

[ANON]

 

just have a spray around with penetrating fluid (not wd40) a few times a week for a couple of weeks before you strip it.

 

Good tip thanks.

 

 

 

don't forget the rear subfame bolts in the heelboard.