360 replies to this topic

[stuart bowes]

Schoolboy errors today.. 

 

welded in the nut, all went well until that last little burst of badly aimed weld / random hand spasm or something which welded the bolt in as well haha

 

ground it off, tried to wind the bolt out, ruined the nut thread.  goddamit.  cut off nut started again, didn't make that mistake twice!

 

new nut now firmly welded in and the closing piece also welded in nice and tidy because will actually be on show (will do a picture another time)

 

then went to fill the tiniest little pin hole in the sill, blew it wide open, got worse and worse until gave up, cut a 2" sq. hole around it and will replace that section.  didn't really need to be that big just didn't fancy pissin around with a tiny little patch, bigger is easier in some ways  albeit more time welding

 

win some lose some I suppose.  just a pain in the arse because it's inside that poxy side bin where welding is just that bit more awkward.  or from underneath where the weld is spitting sparks all over you

Edited by stuart bowes, 16 June 2022 - 07:34 PM.

[stuart bowes]

metro doors obtained to steal door handles

 

as discussed here https://www.theminif...t-door-handles/

 

 

 

funny enough the guy I got them from also had a mini, lovely tidy thing with metro turbo engine (immaculate engine bay) caged, race prep etc.  he also went with different handles but had some homemade ones hewn from billet alloy by the looks of it, keyless just on a remote lock fob, which is an idea that tempts me, it's just the having to put a secret button somewhere thing which is a bit naff

 

also an S1 RS escort equally tidy.  very jealous of that I must say

Edited by stuart bowes, 18 June 2022 - 08:32 PM.

[sonscar]

Secret button under mirror like some TVRs,Steve..

[stuart bowes]

Raining today so worked in the garage on the doors

 

Cut out the bits I wanted:

 

 

 

Checked the curvature, close enough

 

 

Trimmed down to the size I wanted

 

 

Worked out where I wanted it

 

 

The 35mm was to give me a nice distance from the edge, replacing the existing lock hole and making alignment easy with the straight edge.  I ended up lining up the upper edge of the new dipped bit with the upper edge of the old dipped bit if that makes sense.  Checked straight by measuring down from the crease in the metal work just below the window.  was not going to assume the pinstripe was straight

 

Templated and made sure I noted orientation due to it being a definite one-chance cut of faith

 

 

Cut the door, and dropped it in, fitted very nicely 

 

 

Did some of the welding and filled in the old fixing hole.  Finish it off tomorrow when I can take a bit of slower care and attention with the slightly wider gaps

 

 

Also took a bit of time carefully comparing the different lever mechanisms and how they operate (slightly different; metro handle pulls up on a lever via a connecting rod - mini presses straight up against a horizontally aligned plate).  Have worked out how I'm going to adapt it, which will be a future post 

Edited by stuart bowes, 10 July 2022 - 07:46 PM.

[stuart bowes]

.

Edited by stuart bowes, 05 April 2023 - 06:15 PM.

[stuart bowes]

Edited due to plans changed see later posts for door lock mech (page 11)

Edited by stuart bowes, 05 April 2023 - 07:33 PM.

[stuart bowes]

.

Edited by stuart bowes, 05 April 2023 - 06:14 PM.

[stuart bowes]

.

Edited by stuart bowes, 05 April 2023 - 06:14 PM.

[Steve220]

Only just discovered this thread, I love the inginuity for the door handles! Great work!

[stuart bowes]

.

Edited by stuart bowes, 05 April 2023 - 06:15 PM.

[stuart bowes]

quick update pic of the rear quarter / outer sill closing panel repair

 

 

and welded in that patch (not visible here) I mentioned where I blew a big hole trying to weld up the tiniest little pin hole .. doh

 

back to making progress again now hopefully

Edited by stuart bowes, 28 June 2022 - 07:30 PM.

[stuart bowes]

cut and fit section of flitch panel instead of previous amateurish attempt 

 

only done first pass over with grinder and ran out of time, primered for now to give it a bit of cover.  will go back over that to flush off properly

 

 

same goes for this little patch

 

 

welding massively improving now though, getting it in much easier and hardly blowing any holes now

[stuart bowes]

.

Edited by stuart bowes, 05 April 2023 - 06:16 PM.

[stuart bowes]

gave in to common sense and decided to put door locks on. was previously thinking remote locking only but it was playing on my mind as being impractical

so I took the lock hole from the donor, fitted, and filled the gap with a bit of fresh 1mm

Edited by stuart bowes, 05 April 2023 - 06:16 PM.

[stuart bowes]

dealing with panel distortion  :/

 

there was always going to be a bit of cosmetic filler to finish it perfectly smooth but want that to be as minimal as possible