575 replies to this topic

[rickminivan1]

Hi, LIke the colour scheme, looks mint! , how much is costing you to have the seats retrimmed?, ive thought about this for my van. The seats have been a difficult thing to decide on, got the old standard seats out my last mini in it at the moment. Van was Mot'd last thursday!!! so now on the road at last.

[minivanman]

Thanks. I don't know how much the covering kit will be for the seats, I'll post it up when I find out. The minitrimmings website doesnt have the info at the moment. Well done on getting yours on the road! The seats have been the most difficult thing for me so far. Its not really worth getting decent recliners, because they dont go back very far anyway in the van. I've gone with these because they were free, and they look pretty good in black.

[minivanman]

Progress at last! Spent the last two days welding, and its really coming together now. We got the side repaired, and the front wings done. Cut out the floor panel we made ourselves and got the proper panel put in. It looks like a mini again!

Nearside repair. One of the best we've done so far, if I do say so myself


It looks like a mini again!!


Decisions, decisions! Which wheels do I use - the revolutions or the 100+ ones? I'll just have to wait and see which fit best under the arches...


More bits - sliding window channels, brake rebuild kit and fuel tank. Painted in a fetching shade of turd brown. That paint is some serious stuff tough - I think its about 1/4" thick now, I put so many coats on it! I'll give it a quick splash of black hammerite before it goes on though.

[mini93]

i recon you should wait till the cars painted before deciding on wheels recon you should get tyres on the +100 tho will b easier to see what there like

[RacingGreen]

Nice to see some progress, looks like its really coming on. I also reckon the 100+ wheels

Mike

[minivanman]

Thanks. The only reason I said about the wheels was because I'm not sure if the 100+'s will fill the arches out. They seem to have less offset than than the revos, but I may put some little spacers on to push them out a little. I won't make a decision till its all painted and the engine is in, becuase its on drums at the moment. When I get the disc setup on, that changes the track width I think? God I'm getting bored of welding!
As I said in the thread about A series supplies as well, I will be taking a mould off that dash and looking to sell a few. If Eddie wants me to stop, he can give me and Dean Chad our money back, and Jammy his Vtec and he can have the mould back.

[mini93]

if u make the dash ill prob have 1 just mod it slightly so the copywrites void
also remember biggavs moneys!

[miniboo]

100+ wheels without a doubt. doesnt even need thinking about

[minivanman]

More progress - damn I love holidays!

Offside innner wing, cleaned and everything welded. At last. Hopefully I'll get the other side done tomorrow.


Floor, almost done. Just need to weld a little bit underneath the tunnel, then when the subby comes off do across the back edge. Everything in front of the crossmember has also been stripped and de greased as well.


The flip front. The brace across the back holds it really rigid, and the fillets at the back have the locks in for the bonnet pins.

[Retro_10s]

hi could i be cheeky and ask for some pics of the hinges?....

love mini vans, this is gonna look great!

[minivanman]

The hinges on the flip front retro? I'll get a picture tomorrow.

I've spent today tidying it all up. I think all the welding is done now on the flip front, just got a little bit of grinding to do now and I can paint it. Welded a new master cylinder bracket on, the old one was welded on so badly I just pulled it and it fell off! I've finished cleaning down the inner wings - the cup wheel in the grinder and plenty of thinners soon got rid of the waxoyl. Too much of the thinners makes you go a little though... I *think* that I am done welding up to the heelboard now as well, so tomorrow I will give it all a splash of red oxide to keep it from rusting.

[Retro_10s]

The hinges on the flip front retro?

Aye, cheers buddy! god i love vans.

[minivanman]

Just for you Retro:

Not very technical I'm afraid!

Flip front is all welded up and painted. Amazing how just a lick of paint makes it look so much better.


Offside inner wing, done. I had the brace bar off while I was at it and painted that in hammerite.


The floor, all welded up and painted.


Second coat tomorrow, and its getting there. Ordered my seam sealer from frost last night, so that should be here by the weekend. Need to get some stonechip then and I can carry on with the front. Any recommendations for where to get it from and what sort? I just need to order the panels for the rear valence now from M-machine. You wouldnt think it takes 9 panels to make up a rear valance would you? And I also have a lead on a cheap pair of twin HIF38 carbs

[Retro_10s]

looks good mate!. are those hinges home-made... i notice you've put a split pin through (i think), i take it that's so you can remove it should you need to?....

[minivanman]

They were already on it when I got it - they certainly look pretty simple. Theres just a bit of wire through them atm, I will put an R pin through instead so I can take it off easily. I've got four days of holiday left to do as much as I can now. When all the welding is done I'm going to get a quote to see how much it will be to get a pro spray job. After that its all easy....