961 replies to this topic

[Viktor]

Moving on with the plan, first thing to do was the bracing of the shell. I probably put too many profiles, but better safe than sorry!

 

 

 

Reinforcing the corners to reduce the possibility of any movement

 

 

And some more on the central area to also brace the central tunnel and cross member.

 

 

 

And all done, with the exception of the cross member which I will do tomorrow.

 

 

 

I have also started to remove the outter sills. There was a rust party in there!   

 

 

 

 

I will also replace the steps, so I just cut the sills out from the steps.

 

The idea is to retain the central tunnel and the cross member, as these are in good condition with no rust.

 

More tomorrow.

 

Cheers.

 

Victor.

Edited by Viktor, 06 November 2021 - 07:20 PM.

[gaspen]

I think the bracing is good. From this point you will working from outside and underneath, I guess.

 

Many people say that the pre-welded sill from M-Machine is a perfect choice for replacement.

 

(Picture is from TMF, not mine)

 

 d641190dd5f19b612749d30f4d3151bfb24ac149.jpg   49.09K   5 downloads

[sonscar]

Excellent example of cover sills.Good progress,Steve..

[Viktor]

I think the bracing is good. From this point you will working from outside and underneath, I guess.

 

Many people say that the pre-welded sill from M-Machine is a perfect choice for replacement.

 

(Picture is from TMF, not mine)

 

d641190dd5f19b612749d30f4d3151bfb24ac149.jpg

Hi Gaspen, thanks mate. Yes, that is what I'm going to do. I will replace the steps and then will put the half floors in from M-Machine.

Cheers.

Victor.

[Viktor]

Excellent example of cover sills.Good progress,Steve..

Thanks Steve, yes it was full of rust, classic Mini Grenlims I guess.

Let's see what other surprises are waiting to be discovered!

[gaspen]

 

I think the bracing is good. From this point you will working from outside and underneath, I guess.

 

Many people say that the pre-welded sill from M-Machine is a perfect choice for replacement.

 

(Picture is from TMF, not mine)

 

d641190dd5f19b612749d30f4d3151bfb24ac149.jpg

Hi Gaspen, thanks mate. Yes, that is what I'm going to do. I will replace the steps and then will put the half floors in from M-Machine.

Cheers.

Victor.

 

 

An advice here if you accept: leave the door step ( and the bottom of the quarter panel also)  in palce until you fit the new sills. In this way you will use the new sill as a reference "point" to build up the rest.

[Viktor]

Thanks Gaspen for the advice. Unfortunately, I have already cut the steps on both sides. The reasoning behind that was to install the new steps and use them to reference the new sills. I have taken dimensions of everything, so it should be fine (I hope). In any case, that is good advice and if I have seen it before I would have done it like you said.

 

Progress after today's work. I completed the bracing of the cross member to ensure it stays in place while I'm replacing the floors and sills. Looking good I think...

 

 

 

Next, I started cutting the steps (sorry Gaspen), leaving enough material in the corners. I have the driver's side step and A-post repair panel, but I still need to order this side (Iinitially thought of retaining it, but there was a lot of filler I didn't see before). I decided then to replace this side as well.

 

 

 

That gave me the opportunity to look inside the cross member and as expected it is in very good condition, with no rust inside (Yay!!!).

 

Next, I started to cut the floors off, leaving enough material near the central tunnel to reference the new floors. Once I receive the repair panels, I will cut it to suit.

 

 

 

That left a big amount of rust on my garage floor...

 

 

And finally the front floor, following the same procedure.

 

 

 

As a result, I have a few rusty panels that I need to take to the recycling centre...

 

 

I also made a start on the driver's side, but I didn't take any photos. More updates next week!

 

Cheers.

 

Victor.

[Viktor]

A bit of work done today. I removed the RH floor panel, including the bit under the cross member. Some photos below:

 

 

 

The floor under the cross member was quite easy to remove, just a couple of spot welds here and there and all out.

 

 

 

Inside the cross member it looks good and solid. Some of the edges are quite rusty and would need attention.

 

 

Then I put the step in place to take the right dimensions for cutting the rusty metal off.

 

 

I started with the A-post, where a very random pattern of spot welds were in place...

 

 

With a bit of effort, I managed to remove it up to the line of the repair panel. The stiffener had surface rust, but alverall is quite solid.

 

 

I applied the wire brush, a bit of sanding with the angle grinder and a lick of zinc primer.

 

 

Tomorrow I will do the rear area of the step, but I don't think I will have time to weld it in place.

 

Cheers.

 

Victor.

[Viktor]

A bit more done today. I managed to prepare the step to be welded in place. Some photos of the process, starting with the rear side of the step:

 

 

 

And the front...

 

 

 

 

Then I prepared the panel, drilling the holes for the spot welds and zinc primed the back of the piece.

 

 

 

Finally I got the panel in place with multiple pliers. It is now ready for welding.

 

 

 

 

I will remove the zinc primer from the panel with a screwdriver, before welding.

 

That was it for this weekend. Hoepfully, I can get that done next week.

 

Cheers.

 

Victor.

[Ben_O]

Looking good.

However, the back edge of the step should be cut into and butt welded to the b post rather than laid over the top as in your picture.

Might be worth seeing to that as it may interfere with your quarter panel and affect door gaps.

 

Cheers

Ben 

Edited by Ben_O, 14 November 2021 - 05:38 PM.

[Viktor]

Looking good.

However, the back edge of the step should be cut into and butt welded to the b post rather than laid over the top as in your picture.

Might be worth seeing to that as it may interfere with your quarter panel and affect door gaps.

 

Cheers

Ben 

Thanks Ben, I was wondering how to resolve that. I didn't want to cut the repair panel, but it looked a bit weird. I will cut it off as you said.

Thanks for keeping an eye on me! It's greatly appreciated for us beginners...

 

Cheers.

 

Victor.

[Viktor]

Hi Ben, these are from one of your projects, but it is unclear for me want needs cutting. The images are probably not the best, but these are the only ones I can find.

 

 

 

Looking at my car, is this the bit I need to cut off?

 

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Cheers.

 

Victor.

[Ben_O]

The part of the step that you have drilled holes for plug welding in at the b post (the area you have outlined in red in your lst image) shouldn't have welds to join the step to the panel behind.

It seems as though you have the remains of that section of step still in place behind and you intend plug welding the new one too it

The step panel should join to the b post as in the second of my images you posted and then the quarter panel sits over the top.

 

I hope that makes sense. 

If its not too much trouble, might be worth removing your step again and show me what's behind so I can describe better what can be done.

Cheers

Ben 

[Viktor]

The part of the step that you have drilled holes for plug welding in at the b post (the area you have outlined in red in your lst image) shouldn't have welds to join the step to the panel behind.

It seems as though you have the remains of that section of step still in place behind and you intend plug welding the new one too it

The step panel should join to the b post as in the second of my images you posted and then the quarter panel sits over the top.

 

I hope that makes sense. 

If its not too much trouble, might be worth removing your step again and show me what's behind so I can describe better what can be done.

Cheers

Ben 

Hi Ben, thanks for your comments. Sorry to be a pain, but it's not completely clear for me what part I need to cut or how to fix this step. I have a photo of the area before I put the step in, see below:

 

 

Hope this helps, and thanks again for your assitance.

 

Cheers.

Victor.

[colinf1]

This is my thinking on it,

 

 

I think the step/door frame sits behind the rear 3/4 panel....