22 replies to this topic

[neon1991]

so here he is! I was looking to get my old mini back but missed out on the sale...  I found this one up the road from me and decided to go and have a look at it.  Its got a pretty badly fitted front end,  over sills hiding a lot of rust and the rear subframe is toast.

 

 bumble.jpg   62.06K   6 downloads  mini home.jpg   44.29K   7 downloads

 

I've removed the rear subframe and found that the heel board mounts are pretty good,  a 10p hole at the top edge on one side what will need looking at but thats about it.  There are a few crusty bits where brake pipe clips were but nothing major.

 

 rear mounts 2.jpg   29.06K   4 downloads

 rear mounts.jpg   32.65K   1 downloads

 

not great pics but it was getting a bit dark.

 

the boot floor is also gone in the rear corners,  as are the valance closing panels and the valance.

 crusty floor.jpg   38.38K   7 downloads  hole.jpg   46.19K   3 downloads  too far gone.jpg   44.33K   4 downloads

 

 the new panels and subframe should be here this week so I can start sorting the back end out.

 

Cheers

Dave

[neon1991]

So back at it this weekend and managed to get the boot floor chopped out along with the hinge panel, valance and corners and corners.  there was not very much worth saving from the back end

 

 rust.jpg   86.42K   9 downloads

 

then set about sorting out the new panels.  Magnum boot floors are rubbish!  they managed to get the wheel well shape but when this is matched up,  it leaves too much lip on the rear (about an inch. taking it all an inch in means youre left with an off shaped wheel well.  Ive matched up the wheel well at will just cut the excess off and drill new bumper holes.

 

 boot floor.jpg   72.01K   11 downloads

 

the welder wasnt happy to begin with but it's getting there.  it's not too bad considering i'm using gasless wire

 weld.jpg   59.86K   13 downloads

 

then played with the jigsaw that is the rear end panels 

 

 new bits.jpg   63.56K   16 downloads

 

 

[GTIAlex06]

Looking good similar to my project following with interest 

[neon1991]

Cheers! yup,  all the usual rot.  after ive done the back end then it's boht inner and outer sills.  Then ive got a the front end to do which looks like bodge after bodge round there.  all good fun though!

[James_eaton_thewholething]

I did the whole of my welding with gasless wire. I found every now and the welder had issues every now and then. Good looking project though

[neon1991]

Yeah,  it's a bit messier than with gas but the welder came with a massive reel of the stuff so I thought I'd use it.  I don't mind it to be honest.

[James_eaton_thewholething]

It's nothing a good use of a flap disc won't solve.

[neon1991]

sorry for the lack of updates but Ive been busy shopping and stockpiling parts for this mini that keeps on chucking surprises at me.

 

So first on the shopping list was a spit / rotisserie.  I picked this up second hand off ebay, no pics yet as i haven't put it together.

 

then i bought a pair of inner and outer sills from m-machine as mine have been covered with over sills.  a quick look down a hole I made, confirms that the inners and the original outers are shot.

 

 new sills.jpg   21.97K   14 downloads

 

 

then I set about removing the engine and subframe... I toyed with the idea of dropping the whole lot on the floor but with a hired crane, found that out the top was a doddle.. even the clutch split pin was fairly easy.  

 

engine out and a quick clean up

 

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 sparkly.jpg   53.88K   7 downloads

 

in the process of doing all this,  I found that most of the gaiters were split, knuckle joints are knackered and the wheel bearings were pretty loose.  it's had new breaks fitted so not sure if someone just didnt tourque it up properly... they run smooth enough.  

 

one last thing i noticed.  there was no tear drop mounts on the front of the subframe.  there are holes in the front panel for them,  just nothing fitted. To top this off,  the front panel was only welded at the wings.. the bottom part was held to the inner wings with self tappers

 

[neon1991]

got the mini mounted on the spit this weekend. so I can now start on chopping out the sills.

 

 spit1.jpg   92.2K   4 downloads

 

 

 spit 2.jpg   66.11K   3 downloads

 

 spit3.jpg   64.86K   3 downloads

 

 

[neon1991]

[neon1991]

will this rust ever end!!!! 

 

a panel came off in my hand along with most of the hinge panel and a very dodgy patch on the inner arch 

 

 

 

[MacGyver]

Good thing it's not an important part...

Oh... No... Wait... 🤔


Good luck with the build! 😎

[neon1991]

Good thing it's not an important part...

Oh... No... Wait...


Good luck with the build!

 

haha! thats exactly what I thought when it all evaporated in front of me

[MacGyver]

Good thing it's not an important part...

Oh... No... Wait...


Good luck with the build!

 
haha! thats exactly what I thought when it all evaporated in front of me

Mine had the sill do that, but I was driving it... 😬

Edited by MacGyver, 25 August 2016 - 11:00 AM.

[neon1991]

No much of an update but I got a big box from minispares yesterday which contained the door steps and flitch panels I've been waiting for.  so I proceeded to chop the cancer out.

 

what a mess

 

 

over sills over the originals... there's nothing left of the jacking point and the crossmember looks a little bit sad at the ends