1498 replies to this topic

[analogue_radio]

Desperately waiting for payday to roll around again 'cause I'm so out of pocket.. always get in this situation! but I've finally got a full day off tomorrow, of doing absolutely nothing apart from enjoying the glorious sunshine & working on my mini I've been working overtime the last couple of nights after college to try and earn some more money, every little helps

So I'll finish cutting off the front, but it'll be a rough job, then when I can afford/find the tools I'll tidy everything up and split the spotwelds. Also strip the engine down a bit more and see if I can split it from the subby, might rope in a builder to help me lift the block away from the subby

[analogue_radio]

Good day on the mini really getting the hang of the angle grinder, nasty loud thing but it's fun, today I roughly chopped the rest of the front off, the edges still need tidying up but plenty of repairs are needed beforehand.

Finally managed to get the pin out of the gear rod exchange! still tricky but a hell of a lot easier having the engine away from the shell. My 2nd plan today was to split the engine from the subby, started with the steering rack & soon realised I needed a ball joint separator Phoned up Dad to see if we have one lurking in the garage & we don't, but apparently there is one in Grandads garage so next time Dad is at Grandmas he can pick that up.

& of course, pictures!

[feybrand]

angle grinders are awesome for taking youre anger out on things
for example i couldnt get the roll pin out of the gear rod so i grinded the wholle lot of then thought whoops thats gonna cost to replace
made me feel better though
keep up the good work

[minivanman]

Thats a serious amount of rust dude! Hopefully though you'll be able to get away with just using the scuttle corner pieces rather than the whole thing. I did that on the van, you can't even tell its been done!

[analogue_radio]

Yeah it's quite a bit hole! but considering I've just chucked away the front end which mostly consisted of rust.. I haven't got that much left do deal with & I'm not sure about the scuttle yet.. I need to remove the front windscreen & see what the lip is like, I think it's in a good state, but I've learned not to get my hopes up!

But just think about the day when she's back on all 4 fours, MOT'd & rust free

[1987_ParkLane]

Looking good, do you really need a ball joint separator? I know me and James have done at least 10 without one, with no trouble.

[analogue_radio]

Tried tapping it with a hammer but no joy, I wasn't sure how deep the thread goes.. I don't want to end up stripping anything, how did you go about removing yours?

[1987_ParkLane]

Tried tapping it with a hammer but no joy, I wasn't sure how deep the thread goes.. I don't want to end up stripping anything, how did you go about removing yours?

Did you flatten down that locking washer thing?

[analogue_radio]

Yeah I had to pull that back to get a good contact with the socket on the nut, I'll have a look on Sunday when I next get chance to go out.

[Saxo-Fiesta-Mini]

thats a bloody rough lookin inner arche jess some Piky most of put that fiberglass / alu mesh in there

[analogue_radio]

Probably be in a worse condition if whoever did put that mesh there didn't!

[Saxo-Fiesta-Mini]

hahah yeh the lesser of 2 evils lol

[carboy001]

I need to remove the front windscreen & see what the lip is like, I think it's in a good state, but I've learned not to get my hopes up!

Yeh I wouldnt get your hopes up about that

[daveeeeee]

lookin good, not got the balls to chop the front end of mine off yet =)

tell you what, angle grinders are toooo loud, i worry i'll f off the neighbours with it

[analogue_radio]

Go for it! It's good to stand back and look at the progress! Just keep in mind what you want the end result to look like and it keeps you going

& as for the neighbors, I also had my music going in the garage.. bit of Kings of Leon & angle grinding, brilliant they seem fine with it though! I think.