678 replies to this topic

[JXC Mini GT]

 

Shame there are now holes in the panels though 

Hi Ben

It is a shame but the car looks much better without the arches, it's another job I was going to ask you to quote for when its with you for the other repairs,

[Ben_O]

I agree, It looks tonnes better!

 

Holes can be welded up so all good!

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[Ben_O]

[panky]

Peek a boo, don't be shy

[miniireland]

Fantastic thread

[Vinay-RS]

Fantastic thread Ben and John, I loved reading all of it. Loved the look with all the black accents, but it looks even better with the standard parts fitted to it. Your Clubman is stunning! 

 

The custom fabrication of the different body panels is really neat. 

[JXC Mini GT]

Fantastic thread Ben and John, I loved reading all of it. Loved the look with all the black accents, but it looks even better with the standard parts fitted to it. Your Clubman is stunning! 

 

The custom fabrication of the different body panels is really neat. 

 

This is how the car looked originally.

 

https://i.imgur.com/TddXTnkl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/cyPnSa6l.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/O0xgRXXl.jpg

 

 

Ben did an amazing restoration job and his fabricating skills are exceptional, the car is currently back with Ben to have some accident damage carried out (insurance works) and also to repair the holes where the wheel arches were fixed, he is also going to replace the windscreen and carry out a few other bits.

Edited by JXC Mini GT, 07 January 2018 - 01:20 PM.

[Vinay-RS]

 

Fantastic thread Ben and John, I loved reading all of it. Loved the look with all the black accents, but it looks even better with the standard parts fitted to it. Your Clubman is stunning! 

 

The custom fabrication of the different body panels is really neat. 

 

This is how the car looked originally.

 

https://i.imgur.com/TddXTnkl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/cyPnSa6l.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/O0xgRXXl.jpg

 

 

Ben did an amazing restoration job and his fabricating skills are exceptional, the car is currently back with Ben to have some accident damage carried out (insurance works) and also to repair the holes where the wheel arches were fixed, he is also going to replace the windscreen and carry out a few other bits.

 

Definitely prefer the look now without the big bucket seats and without the gold (orange?) wheels.

[Ben_O]

Thanks for posting those John. I hadn't seen those before.

 

I hope you don't mind me re-adding them to the thread so they are visible here

 

 

 

 

p.s, those seats are still languishing in my storeroom.. I think they are much better suited to being shoved in the corner of a dark room away from human eyes

[JXC Mini GT]

Hi Ben

 

No problem with you posting them, one day I  will learn how to post photos properly.

 

The seats are ugly monsters but were very comfortable, they definitely didn't suit the Mini.

 

 

John

[Ben_O]

Ok, time to lavish some attention onto this GT.

 

It has unfortunately been damaged hence it's return to me for repair.

 

 

 

 

 

The normal procedure would be to repair the door but it has some quite bad corrosion in the frame which is beyond an economical repair so we have a new door to go on and ill be repairing the wing, A panel and scuttle ends.

The owner has fitted narrower wheels since it's last stay with me so the arch spats have been removed leaving the mounting holes behind so ill be filling those in at the same time and give it more or less a full lower half repaint.

 

So first things first, strip down

 

 

 

And then back into the corner to start the repairs

 

 

I had planned to replace the A panel but it very easily pulled back into shape so as it has only been fitted last year, it makes no sense to remove it and disturb all of the sealing and stonechip by removing it.

 

So with the wing repairs roughed out, I fitted the new door.

I wasn't expecting a nice fit and wasn't surprised to see that it fits pretty badly

 

Lousy here

 

 

And here

 

 

 

Never mind, new heritage doors very rarely fit nicely especially when previous repairs have been carried out and new panels lined up to the existing door.

 

After a tweak and a twist and some hammer work, the fit is better

 

 

The back edge to quarter panel was a little trickier to get nice. I managed to give it a twist to get this

 

 

But it still needs to go in a few mm further.

 

More twisting achieved this

 

 

I'm pretty pleased overall with the fit now so will continue with the repairs and prep and then it can be painted and put back to the road again

 

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[JXC Mini GT]

Door fit looks great Ben, and it's good to hear the A panel was able to be straightened.

 

Could you arrange for the Mini to have an MOT while it's with you, it runs out on the 7th Feb.

 

Many thanks

 

John

[Ben_O]

Door fit looks great Ben, and it's good to hear the A panel was able to be straightened.

 

Could you arrange for the Mini to have an MOT while it's with you, it runs out on the 7th Feb.

 

Many thanks

 

John

No problem, ill put it in the book.

[Vinay-RS]

Wow, Ben, you work really quickly! The damage didn't look too bad in the pictures, but now it looks like it was never damaged in the first place.

[JXC Mini GT]

Wow, Ben, you work really quickly! The damage didn't look too bad in the pictures, but now it looks like it was never damaged in the first place.

The photos don't really show how far the wing had been pushed in, luckily my insurance company were happy for me to take it back to Ben for the repairs.