51 replies to this topic

[analogue_radio]

There is no way I can afford that.. I'm a graphic design student earning £200 a month..

I'll have a chat with Dad soon and see what we can do about it.

Cheers all, much appreciated.

[analogue_radio]

I lost sleep over this last night, can't help but stress over it!

I know the longer I leave it the worse it's going to get..

I don't think I've got any option but to take her of the road for a while.. a couple of months maximum hopefully.. strip her out and build her up again, I'll try and persuade Dad to clear our extra garage out so I've got a big dry space to work.

[Deathrow]

I know what you're talking about when you talk about stress, I'm in the same situation as you.

This summer I'm going to get the car put in a safe place that I can work on her in, strip her ENTIRELY and go over the entire shell with a fine toothed comb and fix every last spot of rust and take my time about it too. My theory is, get the bodywork nice and mint and then learn to care for it, I'm going to underseal it all and I've decided every time I change the oil the old oil I dump out the engine is going to be brushed or sprayed on to all the underside of the car and the subframes to keep them protected.

One step at a time, and don't stress!

[lrostoke]

Learn to weld (mig isn't to difficult), if possible get a mate involved, two heads are better than one, plus you can take the *yellow human water* out of each other , have a laugh whilst doing it..makes it a lot more fun..

[analogue_radio]

I definitely want to do a proper job with it because I don't want to rush it at all.

After all it is the best option for her, as I've said the rust will only continue getting worse if I don't sort it soon, I'll keep saving money & keep driving her until I'm 100% to start work, that way I can get full usage from her first.

It's just the fact I'd loose all access to driving, I couldn't see my mates or see my girlfriend, I know public busses exist but they're a pain in the arse.

Once again, I'll have a chat with my Dad and see what he thinks.

Cheers lads, much appreciated.

[Bungle]

if you put the hours in most of the work could be done over long weekends

treat each area as a seperate job

front 1 weekend

doors another

etc, it might look crappy for a while but at least you will end up with a soild shell

i'm working my around Dolly the camper this way and with roller painting at least you can do 1 panel at a time

[analogue_radio]

Cheers Bungle, just spoke about this with my Dad, and seeing as I need this car every other day, it seems the best option.

I'm going to give the Haynes mini restoration manual a read and tackle the front right door when I've got some time, and as I go I'll save some money.

Depending on my progress I'll ask for my thread to be moved into Complete mini rebuild section, but I'll make a start first .

Roller painting?

[analogue_radio]

Are double/triple posts frowned upon?

Anyway, I've just chatted with my Dad and explained how I'm going about it.

Get rid of the rust, weld a plate, grind it down, etc etc..

But he said all I need to do is to filler some mesh behind it and filler over, sand, filler, sand filler until it's smooth.. surely that's wrong? Mesh?! that isn't strong at all...

Can someone shed some light upon this.

Edited by theIMAGE, 22 April 2008 - 07:07 PM.

[lrostoke]

I think the technical term for that is BODGING

I'm no expert but if a jobs done right using repair panels or proper welded patches, then you only use filler to blend joins or fill small imperfections..

[analogue_radio]

What I said .

So in order to start doing this, what tools do I require?

I know we don't have a welder at the moment, and I've got no idea how much they are, so any pointers will be great.

[lrostoke]

This will probably scare you because unless you have the tools, then setting up from scratch then the cost of panels on top is going to add up..

A DIY Mig welder new is going to be around the £230 mark, can probably pick them up 2nd hand, or even possible hire them

http://www.machinema...diy-mig-welders

You also got to factor in you will need some decent welding gloves, face mask, welding wire, gas. spare tips

A 4.5" grinder with plenty of cutting discs, plus some 60 / 80 grit sanding disks, some people say buy decent make which can be around the £70 / £80 mark, I buy cheap less than £20

drill or hole punch or both

welding clamps

then on top of that basic spanners, hammers, sockets etc

[analogue_radio]

Thanks very much Iro, I've got a birthday coming up shortly so I'll see how much I can twist peoples arms .

I think all I need is the welder & the accessories for that, my late Grandad might even have a welder tucked away in his garage.. worth a check.

Thanks again .

[Piddling Kid]

Thanks very much Iro, I've got a birthday coming up shortly so I'll see how much I can twist peoples arms .

I think all I need is the welder & the accessories for that, my late Grandad might even have a welder tucked away in his garage.. worth a check.

Thanks again .

the best idea is just to find out people who have the tools if your on a budget (one more tool you dont have to buy goes to something to put on your mini at the end ), erm see if one of your dads mates or something can do a bit of welding for you if not i suggest haveing practise on metal sheets for a month or until your sure your ready to take your mini off the road for the weekend.

but before you start all this just go round and make a bit of a list so u have some kind of direction instead of just finding holes everytime you go to do something. but if the engine is working well then youve won half the battle.

panels are the way forward lol, i bought a mini and crashed it but it crumbled so bad because of filler and mesh lol, take your time and work in areas i usually work from the front back but looks like your doing bits at a time while keeping it on the road.

but yeah dont get disheartened about it, youll come out with loads of knowledge about minis.

[Shifty]

Don't get down about.

Just look at it as a chance for a father/son bonding project!!!

As said before if you approch it methodically you can plan it so the the car is off the rd for the minimum time.

I'm sure you will get plenty of help and support from here.

Yes the car does need quite a bit of work, I'm not sure how people can tell from those pics that the rear subby is rusted?

At the end of the project you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you've done it yourself and you wil have picked up loads of new skills(and swearwords) along the way.

Good Luck

Shifty

[Minigirl]

Just whatever you do please don't flipfront it
by the time you've spent all the money buying a front, the parts to fit it, the paint to paint it etc you could probably of saved enough to get a panel done

I dont care what anyone says flipfronts generally look pretty C**p on minis unless they're done very well..which isnt very often

it can be seen as a cheaper alternative but it also puts less value on the car and from past experience of doing it myself you're never happy with the end result

just be patient and do a panal at a time - save up a little a week no matter how small amount it all adds up - then get a professional to do it

the corner on my scuttle needed doing and it only cost £100 inc paint for a garage to do it and at least i know it's been done properly

good luck