300 replies to this topic

[spraybeater]

Thanks again for the comments! I am quite used to sourcing parts done it most of my working life

 

hopefully will be able to keep dealer sticker on rear window, the rear wiper was fitted by Oyler.

 

Got to admit the grille is not my favourite am sure it was fitted by Oyler my preference would be

to make it as the one in the brochure! 

 

Going to Bingley on Sunday armed with a piece of the vinyl from the roof have used Optimise 

for a headliner. I did speak to someone on Newton stand last year won't say on open forum

the reaction on the vinyl roof.

 

On the progress front got into it with DA on the wing/A panel seam just to see what I am

up against  with usual mini rust areas,

 

 

The weld join needs new A/panel and repair to top of wing and the scuttle quite a bit of filler had been used by the

whose ever did the de-seam looks like the original Catalloy bl**dy hard to sand, being coach builders thought they

might have lead filled it!!!! good chance will be when I redo it.

 

started checking usual rust areas trying to assess what the panel bill going to amount to!!!

 

Thanks for looking and comments 

[panky]

Have you tried these for the vinyl

 

http://www.martrim.c...yl-hooding.html

 

I'll be getting some Everflex to re-do my Britax sunroof from them.

Great project by the way.

[spraybeater]

Have you tried these for the vinyl

 

http://www.martrim.c...yl-hooding.html

 

I'll be getting some Everflex to re-do my Britax sunroof from them.

Great project by the way.

Thanks for the heads up on them looks quite interesting not so far away will give them a bell

[Ben_O]

It's looking really solid so far.

 

What a relief.

 

Oh and you have the same DA as me... 

 

Ben

[spraybeater]

Thanks for the comments! and views , as said Ben a relief to see as the work continues that

it doesn't seem to bad rust wise , so a minimal panel bill so far looks like 2 A panels and 2 sills,

as the P/O had over sills fitted that he purchased and was charged £450 to fit along with a small

repair to O/S front inner sill in 2013 ??? they were supposed to have removed the old sills and

wax oil inside (will soon find out) . So back to it after a couple of days up in Scotland got all the

seats and other bits of trim removed cleaned up and stored away for the time being,

 

some shots of N/S inner sill and inside companion box , this should clean up and need a couple o repairs, as said will need

to wait till sill is removed to be sure,

 

same for O/S will also need to remove bogged up patch on font inner sill,

 

centre cap of steering wheel ,

 

how many mini restos have to deal with wood worm as well as tin worm HaHa!!

 

some of the coach builders features inside the companion bins,

 

rear arm rest with ash tray,

 

As for the D/A been a trusty work horse earned its keep over the years, but I recon will need to use some paint stripper on

this as the paint is quite thick and in very poor condition,

one of the bonnet looks to me like someone used some Barcoat on it and its cracked up! seen this happen in the past.

 

More to follow, and again hope its of some interest , still hoping that an otherwise Contessa will turn up somewhere.

[MrBounce]

Am following this! I had never heard of a Contessa until recently. Am amazed how it hasn't deteriorated too much over the years. So much potential!

[domdee]

hope this goes well!

[mattmiglia]

Love this! Really special car and can't wait to see it in same condition as the Sprite

[mab01uk]

Hi 'spraybeater' great to see you have started the restoration of this very rare surviving Oyler Coachbuilt Mini..........I will be following this thread with great interest. (Have also posted a link update on the Mk1 Forum).

http://mk1-forum.net...php?f=5&t=14209

Edited by mab01uk, 13 February 2017 - 11:42 PM.

[JC T ONE]

Hi there :) 

 

Geezus that car is in good condition - even have its floor assy number :) and no rust around the headlight mounting plates.

 

Leather looks to be in super good condition too, and I am SOO not envy at that UNIPART tool KIT ;) 

 

Looking foreward to the finished article. 

 

 

Jens Christian

[spraybeater]

Once again thanks for the comments and views, as can be seen the condition of the body work

never ceases to amaze me! it certainly shows that application of Cadulac underbody treatment

helped + I think the car has been dry stored for some of its life . I used to do a lot of body repair

work for a local BL dealer back in the day whom got the cars he sold done with a similar product

can't remember which! i was always cursing him , for it dripping on me when fitting new panels,

Anyway on with the story,

 

Got it all stripped as far as I can go at the moment! got to keep it mobile as need to move in and out of garage! got to keep

the Sprite inside at night for Insurance.

Some mostly surface rust on roof when the venal was removed! I think the coach builders could have used a better primmer

as the final must be a bit porous,

a shot of the position of the coach lines that were brush applied with gold leaf!! will need to find someone to redo when the

time comes ( never did master the technique despite having seen it done many times by an expert) HaHa,

solid looking round the air vents and inner A post,

 

just some surface rust on usual troublesome areas behind shocker mounts, What a pity BL fitted these over bare metal,

 

when over sill removed found no wax oil inside, most of the original sill was still intact, and most of inner sill not to bad,

lower flitch will need a repair ,

removed the original sill, need to clean up traces o spot welds, even after 50yrs in the trade still hate drilling out spot welds

when I don't need to,

this repair half A panel was held!!! on with 3 1/8th bits of bird poo weld, having said that it would have been a major job to

replace complete A panel.

that it up to date for today, thanks for looking.

 

Hi 'spraybeater' great to see you have started the restoration of this very rare surviving Oyler Coachbuilt Mini..........I will be following this thread with great interest. (Have also posted a link update on the Mk1 Forum).

http://mk1-forum.net...php?f=5&t=14209

 

Thanks for that ,mab01uk, and I must thank you for your original response on this ! as that was the reason I 

purchased it, and although its taken a year before starting restoration I certainly don't regret purchasing.

 

Frank

[mab01uk]

 

http://mk1-forum.net...php?f=5&t=14209

 

Thanks for that ,mab01uk, and I must thank you for your original response on this ! as that was the reason I 

purchased it, and although its taken a year before starting restoration I certainly don't regret purchasing.

 

Frank

 

You hear many Mini and classic car enthusiasts with stories and regrets on how they missed out or hesitated to buy a rare or unique vehicle in the past (including me!) at least you can say you actually purchased one!

As others have said the bodywork seems to have survived well in many of the usually expected Mini rust areas which must be for the reasons you mentioned. If only they had factory rust proofed all Mini's to that standard but of course cost was the main reason on what was supposed to be a cheap to buy car.

 

In the 1970's I remember a similar aftermarket process to Cadulac of wax injection for new cars was marketed by 'Ziebart'  which mean't that some Mini's which were treated actually went to the scrapyard due to mechanical problems rather than terminal rust!

Ziebart seem to be still going in the USA:-

"Automobile manufactures are making better vehicles and are providing longer warranties…including rust-through warranties. There’s really no need to purchase a rustproofing package unless you plan on keeping your vehicle for 10+ years. Franchises like Ziebart were left in the dust. Or, were they?"

http://www.ziebart.c...rust-protection

 

Martin

Edited by mab01uk, 15 February 2017 - 07:54 AM.

[spraybeater]

Thanks again for the comments and views! just got back to working on this, had to keep

her indoors happy and redecorate the kitchen, (things we have to do for a quiet life HaHa.

Had a quick visit to Minispares North and picked up some panels , I think more or less  the

only ones that I will need ? 2 sills,2 A/panels O/S front floor section 2 jacking points and

inner slinging brackets Jurys still out on the door steps at the moment!

 

I cleaned up and repaired the damaged front panel treated with Deox and gave it a coat of

epoxy primmer, will be sanded down again when it comes to paint prep,

 

 

removed remains of A/panel! flange requires a couple of repairs,

 

front end of floor and flitch,  have made a part for the flitch,

rear end of inner sill in remarkable condition did remove subframe mounting bolts to make sure1 will be taking subframe

off later, still got to keep it mobile at the moment ,

 

cleaned the old welds from where the over sills had been fitted took a bit of work (the guy that welded them on could

weld!!

 

have now treated all areas with deox next job to get it primed and painted inside the sill before fitting,

 

mocked up the new parts ready for marking out for plug weld hole drilling .

More to follow.

[Ben_O]

Its remarkable how well this has survived.

 

Here's to more nice surprises 

[spraybeater]

Once again thanks for comments and views, as said Ben it seems to have survived very well

so far hasn't  thrown up any real surprises of the bad kind ! only good ones! keeps the bill

for panels low.

Anyway on with the story, retrieved my bracing frame from its storage and fitted it in maybe 

a bit over kill but why take chances when its there anyway,

 

 

started cleaning up the floors and cutting out what rust there was,

 

 

welded in jacking point and primed inside the new sill,

 

 

cut out affected area from floor and welded in section to lower flitch,

 

 

on the tool side got new lenses for my welding mask including a 1.75 magnifying inner, defiantly helps my old eyes see

welds better!

 

 

floor and inner sill welded in ground back and primed and painted inside used zinc based primer first ,

 

 

while I was waiting for the paint to dry started to clean up under wing which turned up this not really unexpected as

this is normaly rusted even without the heat that was generated when the de-seam was done obviously they didnt

manage to treat inside the scuttle with wax, not a problem to repair just a bit awkward when the wings are on

 

 

sill lined up and clamped on ready for welding, was meant to be the last job for today! but ran out of gas, of all times at

3.45pm on a Friday afternoon  my supplier is only 10mins away but they close early on Fridays.

So will need to wait till Monday, 

more to follow. Thanks for looking