616 replies to this topic

[johnR]

I've recovered my 998 City from the barn where it's been stored for several years (flooding from the nearby brook half filled it with sand.

   

While it's being welded I'm re-furbishing the parts I'm going to re-use and looking for Mk1 parts to get the look.

Edited by johnR, 05 June 2019 - 12:43 PM.

[johnR]

I've stripped the ancillaries from the engine, painted it and riveted an Austin plaque to the rocker cover
Some of the re-painted parts

Edited by johnR, 31 July 2017 - 08:05 AM.

[johnR]

Engine stripped of ancillaries and block painted

Rocker cover with new Austin badge added

 

 

[Ben_O]

The engine looks very smart!

 

I feel what you say about the flooding from a nearby brook, the same happened to me 2 Christmas' ago and caused alot of damage to the Mini.

 

Keep it up

 

Ben

[minimissions]

That engine is looking mint cant wait see how this build turns out...

[johnR]

Here's the shell  with most of the front rotten bits removed - scraping the floor insulation out so the welders can repair the floor fronts 

 

[sonikk4]

Mmm the inner wings look crusty as well as the scuttle. it may pay you to replace the complete inner wing as that will capture all of the corrosion in your picture.

[johnR]

Some of the parts prior to painting - I've bought myself a home zinc plating kit for the bright bits - as soon as I've got the worst of the rust off and decided which parts to re-use I'll give it a go - has anyone else used these home plating kits? 

And some of the restored parts at various stages

The body having the welding done - beyond my confidence zone I'm afraid - although I'd like to have a go at one one day

Getting very excited about getting it back in shiny Tartan red with white roof - once it's back together we plan a road trip through Italian Job film country to Monte Carlo rally routes.

 

[johnR]

As original MK1 heaters go for silly money I decided to adapt the City's later version.   I removed the horizontal lever and fan switch panel and welded a piece in the faceplate to fill the resulting hole.  Then I cut a slot with two little teeth for the stops in the faceplate and riveted a new lever to the flap.  I had problems finding an original looking switch for the fan that cleared the flap but eventually got one from China on Ebay that has the connectors on one end and is perfect.

I then painted the heater gloss black and I've got some crinkle paint for the faceplate so we'll see how that turns out.  Last job will be making a replica knob for the lever - I'll probably cast it in resin.

 

Another difficult to get item is the MK1 steering column bracket so I welded a piece of thin sheet to the face of the original and ground it to shape.  I'm pleased with it so far - just needs chroming.

 

Painted the replacement rear subframe today, having had it beadblasted to clean it up.

 

I've been in two minds whether to use satin or gloss for the running gear - in the end I decided gloss was probably closer to '60's original   

[minimissions]

Wow loads of nice clean and shiny parts getting ready there from what I can see it wont be long until your bolting it all together

[johnR]

Still waiting for my shell - paint to it's bottom is 'imminent'

In the meantime I'm still re-furbing parts and not being able to find a peg spanner for the rear subframe pins I adapted a grinder one to fit.

 

John

 

 

[mk1leg]

good work going on there well done...........I mk1ed my mini........rover 1990 cooper..............

[johnR]

How can I get to see your photos full size?

John

[johnR]

I've managed to get a bit done today - painted the left tank and half the righthand one and undercoated the foot pedals and a few other parts.
Re-painted the thermostant cover and have changed the rad. shroud to gloss as it didn't look period enough in satin.
The only downside to using gloss is that it shows up any imperfections so more prep is needed.
Now I need more paint.   I've also acid dipped the remainder of the fixings and other parts for plating - I'm going to dip the parts in DeOx c before plating to remove all rust and up the current in the plating tank because at my first attempt I wasn't getting enough zinc plating. 
I've also bought a fishtank heater to keep the plating solution warm because I found performance drops off completely as it gets cold.
It's all trial and error!

Edited by johnR, 01 November 2015 - 06:32 PM.

[Hendred]

Looking forward to seeing the shell

 

John