232 replies to this topic

[Daveuk]

the poor car has had 9 other owners so who knows whats gone on, cactus whats the matter with your autodark helmet? the twist to tighten the strap knob on the back is start to wear off on mine.......

the car wasn't that bad, prob just surface rust here and there but by the time i've got round to fixing her its just spread and eat away.

but as for going for it well it's that or don't buy a mini, after i got it and found out how much work needs to be done me mate was saying i should have just forked out for a new shell but hey where's the challenge now i can use these skills to repair any car! (to a certain extent...) and i will have the biggest grin on my face when she is restored

ok so yesterday i was going to post pics but i had slacken off..... so here's yesterday





and a treat to myself i bought some time back i got out the garage in-between when the panel was cooling



also order MORE panels well re-enforcement plates and sills so i had to get them (there goes going out at the weekend this week!)

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so todays list of activities

well moving along to the front now it's the passenger bulk head inside the wings seen as me panels wont arrive till later or tomorrow..... then they did arrive! lol



i may have to replace the door hinge mounts as they were rusty!! so more panels to order again!



drill out an outline and cut the lot out easy



cactus i reminded myself to clean the metal it made the difference

tacked



i decided before i weld that piece in i cut my toe board out abit more as i could still see rust in-between the panels (you all get me )

so a quick repair patch made up to go in its place



and tacked in



all going well so far ready to weld the lot in



first weld of the day and it's my best yet on the car!! buzzing!!







TWO panels on the car today best yet and best weld day ive had yet (i admit there was a few blown holes but were easy to repair )

so all in all great day for me now off to play footy and have a pint and tomorrow admire my work quickly before setting out to doing the sills!.................

think these are going to cause me problems......

Enjoy all

[Cactus]

I got a cheap auto-darkening one off ebay, but it doesn't turn on when i weld Infact the only time i've gotten it to turn on and stay on is to hold it half an inch away from the tube lights in kitchens. Either its my welder not being bright enough or the mask can't sense dimmer things. Shame really as it'd be damn useful.

Ontopic: Looking great! You're progressing with it pretty quick there, nice clean looking welds too

[Grimmy@JHE]

looks very good. like your wheels. i want some. are you using the disposible gas bottles?

Edited by grimmy, 14 September 2007 - 10:08 PM.

[Daveuk]

if you want them type of wheels and tyres they will put a hole in ya bank let alone ya wallet!! he he

i've got my mates welder which is for industrial/garage type business and can go from a stable low 30amps to 200amps i believe dont quote me on that but its around them figures.

it cost him alot of money i know that for sure!! anyway he picked up some free gas from him uncle but he gave us pure argon we wanted argon/co2 but hey its free and can't complain!

nothing done today had a day off the car, been playing about with the laptop and done sod all (call it a lazy day)

anyway thanks for the comments hopefully if things keep going the way they are you'll be seeing them wheels on the car soon

[Bec]

Just read through your project and it looks ace! Any updates? Keep up the good work

[Daveuk]

Morning all!

it has been along time since i did an update (one reason is because i haven't been working on the car )

anyway i did work on the car on the sat of my last post on here (15th sept!) yes its been that long and i have slacked loads!

so just let you know what i did on that day and the next day which was sunday, here's where i am at the moment

anti rust on to the floor so protection is added when the inner oversill will go on



sill clamped (also go the door back in)



easiest way to get the front windows out







ok so before i put the inner oversill on (i think its called that lol) i wanted it to last



***********PROBLEM! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH***********

How do i close this gap?? is it going to be what i think it might be just tack weld it down and hammer it flush on the floor it would look a right mess (even though it will be under the outer oversill)



grimmy here's the welder i am using



right so now i'm up to date with this build thread i should start on the car again.... that won't be until friday when i'm off in the day and the weekend

Enjoy

[Badger McLetcher]

Looking good so far mate, keep up the good work I closed that gap by hammering it closed personally, but wouldn't recommend it if you can avoid it- wasn't happy with the result!

[Daveuk]

Afternoon all, been out yesterday for a few hours and today.

doesn't seem much was done but i've finally found out what costs rebuilds so much! it materials, i wore one flap disc out already and the second has had a hammering!

anyway these are the results of just grinding them welds down







needs more attention but i think neighbours wouldn't be happy with the grinder constantly going for more than 3 hours....

little by little she's getting there and now i'm back in the mood to working on her found my balance, few hours at a time.

Pitcrew cheers for the message, i'm using 20 gauge sheet of metal but the floors are repair panels from somerford mini (NOT THE BEST INVESTMENT I DID, going to buy a complete full length drivers side genuine panel.) it's all guess work lining panels up (mostly beating and cutting alittle back to fit, takes alot of time!) love your mini in ya avatar nice colour!

Have a good weekend all

[black jack1275]

Keep up the good work mate it will be worth it in the end.

[Daveuk]

ok so today i got home from town (subways are soo nice) and did a few hours on the car,

i don't have any pic's because the k800 which i take my photo's on but don't use as a phone went missing, only to find it a few minutes ago in the back of my car....???

so all i have done is grinding those welds down more. Also i had some rust on a pair of over sills i am going to put on the car but now they are all rust free and primered.

enjoy

[mk1leg]

Hi..!!..Dave your doing a grand job with your mini, try turning down the ampage on your welder and turn up wire feed and more gas, as gas helps keep metal cool and stops you burning holes ,try it out, good luck..........

[Grimmy@JHE]

how would someone aquire a bottle that big!

[Daveuk]

todays work....

trying to tidy the welds up more.... thinking of ripping the whole floor out and redoing the lot with a full length genuine panel then i think i might aswell cut the whole lot out and buy a full floor........ we'll see

so i went on to cleaning the rear arches out.. this is how far i got



damn floor isn't straight and flat! putting these two repair panels together created more work for me!

anyway shootign off to work for a 12hr shift now

Grimmy all i know it's me mates uncle who got the bottle and gas.......

[marsy]

keep it up matey, wil be worth it in the end! i reckon that feels a long way off yet tho lol

[Daveuk]

Hi marsy yer it's been in the garage over winter and it's been sooo cold out there i haven't done anthing!! i've slacked off sooo much, also had alot to do at work.

the weathers peeking up though!! so i'm going to try and drag my arse in to the garage this friday and start it all again! (fingers crossed)

i try not to think of the whole car as that just puts me off, i try to think of the job i need to do in hand......... and re reading this post proves i can get my head down and work on her

i need her on the road this year or at least the shell fully restored!!!!

Dave