141 replies to this topic

[dave21478]

well, it starts today....
Today I picked up the mini van shell and dropped it off at the farm. Yeah, its rotten, but its certainly not the worst ive seen! The main problem is bodged work by a previous owner. They have partly de-seamed the a-pillars and wings, but it looks pretty rough. They have started replacing the floor, buts its a complete hatchet job and needs to come out again. Also, to remove the doors, they have just hacked big holes in the wings to get at the bolts :mad: The front end is only really surface rust so I will see if I can save it instead of just replacing it. it needs complete floors and sills, inner and outer a-panels, complete rear valence and some patching here and there. Nothing too serious, but it will be time-consuming as funds are limited and mini parts are chuffing dear here so I will have to order from uk.
It came with a pair of front doors which arent too bad, but will probably need re-skinned.
The rear subframe looks to be in great condition though...dunno if its original, I doubt it. Its missing the suspension rubber and strut on the l/h rear, hence the lowrider look.

Plans are to rebuild the shell to a decent standard, paint it a period colour, then find a donor mini to give up all the mechanicals I will need to build this one up. Engine-wise, I reckon I will stick with the a-series for now. Engine swaps are not allowed here, so anything "interesting" is out of the question if I decide to keep the car in france for the long term. I will be making it uo as a LHD car, bt minis are dead easy to swap should I decide to return to UK.

Anyway, have a dose of pictures....









wish me luck!

[chrisj]

I love projects like this and may i say how much i admire you for taking on such a project.many people wouldn't look twice at one.

any ideas for which colour your going for?

Good look!

Chris

[matty135790]

Looks like you have your hands full with that 1, best of luck

[panelbeaterpeter]

Looks like fun! I'd be tempted to keep the bodywork looking like that, but weld up the necessary areas and get it mechanically solid. But then I'm strange. A rat look mini van!

[minivanman]

Best of luck! Mine started out pretty much like that as well, its a long hard slog, but dont give up!

[commander]

Looks like fun! I'd be tempted to keep the bodywork looking like that, but weld up the necessary areas and get it mechanically solid. But then I'm strange. A rat look mini van!

funnily enough i was thinking the same but i have just been looking at ratty vdubs

[2phun]

Looks like fun! I'd be tempted to keep the bodywork looking like that, but weld up the necessary areas and get it mechanically solid. But then I'm strange. A rat look mini van!

funnily enough i was thinking the same but i have just been looking at ratty vdubs

I had the same concept for a van, but the wife vetoed the idea.

Can't wait to see your progress on this one!

[dave21478]

I cant stand the whole Rat Look / Hoodride thing, so thats a definate NO.

Im itching to get on with it, but this project is running concurrently with a house Im building, and the house needs plastering done today

[SQUADDIE]

Hi 1 bit at a time thats how I do mine, soon moves forwards.
Best of luck.

[vesPULUBE_1]

Hi just new here! I'm from the Philippines by the way! nice one! i got a minivan too around nov. 2006.. i'm starting slow up to now.. thus parts are pretty much scarce in here, and if i order/import parts .. oh my i need a lot of budget!!

at least bit by bits it is progressing... i wanted to post some pictures but i don't know how..

[dave21478]

Well, since picking it up, today is the first time I have managed to snatch a few hours to work on it.
Typically, the batteries went in the camera before I started.
Anyway, Jacked it right up and dropped the front and rear subframes. Both of which, apart from a bit of surface rust, are completely solid. A quick rub down and repaint will have them like new, so thats one less thing to worry about.
Anyway, I took off the rear doors, bonnet and a few other bits and pieces and gave it a good once over....and you know what?....its not nearly as bad as it looks. The floor, a-panels and rear valance need replaced anyway, But I rekcon i can patch pretty much everything else with minimal work. The wings are saveable once ive patched those holes, as is the front panel. The load bed is sound and so is the heel board.
The rear doors are gassed though...are skins available?
Overall, Im pretty happy.

[jayare]

BMH only show the whole door on their website, but I'm pretty sure they can also sell any part that makes up a sub-assembly. Chances are that if the skin is shot, the frame will be too, though.

JR

[dave21478]

well, I said it would be slow...but three months with zero progress? this wont do at all!

I have been mega-busy on the farm and just havent had the time. Since the last message, I have re-painted the two subframes and thats it.

Things took a turn for the better yesterday though when I picked up a donor car.





Its an 1985 shell with a MG Metro engine of unknown age / mileage. currently a non-runner due to a nippy ignition problem, but once i get it fired up I can start stripping it.

Work on the van shell will also progress too, as my intetion is to chop up the donor shell to provide many of the sections I need to repair the van.

[dave21478]

Time for an update...things are progressing nicely.
I got the donor car stripped of all its mechanical parts. Here it is nearly finished...


Upon stripping, I found it to be quite a sound shell in places, so decided that I would reclaim as much of its steelwork as I could for the van in order to save money.
The vans floor is a complete mess....

Its quite rotten and someone in the past has made a half-assed effort at sorting it....tack welded in a normal saloon mini front floor section on the offside, and the rear nearside, with some random bits of steel tacked into place to fill the gaps (van wheelbase is 4" longer than a saloon). These repair sections have then been left untreated with the shell sitting outide so lots of surface rust and in some places the new panels have rotted right through. I assume it was left sitting on grass etc.

Anyway, the lot has to come out, but why spend well over £100 on new floor sections when I have everything I need here?

SO, I warmed up the grinder, and attacked the donor shell....



After an afternoons chopping, I was left with a complete saloon floor-pan including inner sills...


I also managed to salvage a 6" section of the vans floorpan to use as an extension. So, more cutting, and a little welding...


some carefull measurements and another cut....


some more welding and voila...


A complete, solid, extended floor ready to go onto the van.

If I have the energy tomorrow, I will remove the floor from the van shell...Its chuffing hot here just now though, and although Im sheltered from direct sunlight, Im still working in the open really, and temperatures under that roof are well over 30degrees. Way too hot for a boiler suit, but with just a t-shirt, im getting my arms burnt to bits from grinder sparks and welding
Might have a rest tomorrow and start afresh on monday.

[dave21478]

Got the floor chopped out of the van and the new floor placed on. Its not welded yet, I need to do a little fettling to make sure its straight, but its looking good so far.




My pissy welder is giving me hassle though...by the time I had repaired it again for the umpteenth time, I couldnt be arsed doing more.

Should get the floor finished tomorrow