16 replies to this topic

[scrippo]

Post removed

Edited by scrippo, 01 February 2010 - 06:27 PM.

[Teapot]

McNalleys ... nice. Supercharged 1293 vs stealth ICE ... who will win? Congratulations and keep us posted.

[panelbeaterpeter]

Lovely mini mate! those wheels are SWEET.

[ROD]

wheels are SWEET.

Nice wheels.

[scrippo]

A few more pics of some more work I've done.

http://i185.photobuc...metertocome.jpg

This is the dash I'm gonna fit at some point. I've made the centre panel myself with the extra holes for a voltmeter and a rev counter. The car originally had clocks in front of the steering wheel so the wiring loom has to be modified

http://i185.photobuc...ioncontinue.jpg

Engine out, started stripping out all the bits. Don't know if you can see how nasty the bay looks near the brake and clutch cylinders. Here's a picture of it completely stripped and sanded down ready to prime.

http://i185.photobuc...readtoprime.jpg

I'm not after a show finish, just something that will protect from the elements, as I plan to refit soundproofing so it doesn't need to be perfect. Might go for some dynamat type stuff as this will be thinner and look better than the felt stuff.

Bulkhead primed.

http://i185.photobuc...eadytopaint.jpg

I have since cut the front end off and painted the bulkhead. But the plans are to refit front suspension and put it back on it's wheels after the subframe has come back from the powdercoater. Does anyone know if I can powdercoat brake calipers??

[Pie]

Looks good. I remember those McNally wheels on ebay. Was one of the 33 watchers lol

Cheltenham isnt too far from me.

Keep up the good work.

[frankiebateman]

lovley mini and mint wheels

[scrippo]

Thanks for the comments guys.

Unfortunately its a typical mini, whilst digging around cleaning I decided to remove the front mud flaps and I found this;

Drivers side

http://i185.photobuc...rontarchrot.jpg

Passenger side

http://i185.photobuc...rontarchrot.jpg

This side has rotted through to the A panel as a chunk of filler fell out when I was digging around. Looks like the door hinge panels on both sides are past their best! There are other spots dotted around but it is amazingly solid for a 24 year old car. The floors are mint.

It has some rot in the boot floor and a couple of bodged repairs so I think this'll have to be replaced. Only problem is I can't weld!!! Anyone out there fancy teaching me for a few beers ) I'd love to repair it all myself than have a garage fleece me out of hours of labour charges.

Oh and I went out and bout myself an angle grinder, and decided to do this

http://i185.photobuc...withgrinder.jpg

I'm gonna go for a carbon fibre bonnet and flip front. First time I used a grinder and I nearly pooed myself.

[Pie]

Careful on those sharp edges, you should have cut wher it was welded.

Better to find the rot now rather than after its all ready to go on the road. Make sure you find ALL the rot before welding.

[scrippo]

Yeah it is all pretty sharp at the mo!! I thought it would be nice and easy to cut straight along then tidy up at the panel joins.

To make brackets for the flip front I was thinking of leaving some of the wing metal there, and just attaching the Dzus fasteners to it, rather than having to weld on new metal. However I think both A panels will have to come off to sort the door hinge panels out anyway, so I might as well go with brackets welded to the new A panels.

Thinking of buying a MIG welder, a good book and practising on the remains of my mini's front end. Scared I'll waste loads of money on the welder though! If anyone that can weld can spare some time to show me the ropes, that would be much appreciated!

[Pie]

I take it your not a member of any local clubs then? Might be worth finding out who your local club(s) are and where and when they meet. someone there might be able to lend you a hand, maybe even teach you how to weld.

I was told the best way to learn to wed is to write your name in a weld. If you can read it, you can weld. then its just practice and time to get it neater and neater. I know that MiniMag did a series of "how to's" teching you how to weld and the differnt types of weld. Might be worth getting in touch and buying the mags that had it in.

[scrippo]

Thanks for the advice miniman. I was a member of the National Mini Owners club for a year, but don't know of any local ones really.

I've been reading the minimag series on welding but I think I'd learn a lot more by actually doing it under some supervision of someone who knows what they are doing, then I can know when I'm getting it wrong!

[scrippo]

My subframe and brace bars went to get powdercoated on Friday, should hopefully be done soon. Will post pics when I collect it all. Should clean things up in the front end nicely.

I've got a mate who does powdercoating in the Croydon area. PM me if you want anything done and I'll send you his number.

[scrippo]

Hmmm, no news about my subframe yet. Will call tomorrow. Nothing really to update, time is tight at the mo.

I pick up what is apparently a 1275 goldseal engine on Saturday. It's an A-series, not A+, but I think i'll ship it off to get worked on before it goes in!

[scrippo]

Picked up my freshly powdercoated subframe. It looks lovely, will post pics as soon as I can get some photos in daylight.

Couldn't pick up my engine on Saturday, might look for an A+ series engine instead as the one I was gonna get was an A series.

Its moving along slowly, just wish I had more time to do stuff.