6 replies to this topic

[Hekmat]

I was debating about scrapping Albert (my first mini) due to it being a ringer, but after some long thinking and support from the wife, I went ahead and bought another mini (1979 Special) for a bargin of £150. It is not in a bad condition.

It has been sitting there since October and finally started the stripping it out and using Albert as the donor for Albert II.

The car has been SORN and sitting around since 1996, so as expected some (alot) rust patches. So here is my attempt at restoring the car. The final goal is to have a car with the following spec:

1380 Fast Road engine with lightened flywheel, KAD 286, duplex timing chain,uprated radiator and electronic ignition. The metro engine from Albert will be used for the rebuild, as the current engine is seized up.

4 pot caliper breaks, hi-lo suspension.

Poly bush mountings all around.

As for body work, there is a fair bit to get on with. Both sides outer seals and the entire front end needs replacing, including the inner wings and scuttle panel. I have taken some pictures, which I will upload later. Luckily the rest of the car is in a good condition, I have no idea how the rest has stayed rust free as it was sitting in a yard, it even had some weeds groing in the engine bay (lost the pictures for that since the camera decided to have strock and delete all pictures).

As I have become abit of an expert on painting with Rustolem, I will be painting it with an Earlex 3000 HVLP gun that I bought last year for Albert.

Edited by Hekmat, 28 June 2010 - 07:20 AM.

[Stevee]

whey that sounds fun

good luck

[Hekmat]

Well as promised here are some pictures of the work done.

Here is the engine bay with the wings and front panel removed:



... and without engine





some of the rust patches and holes that are all over the front panels.

Driver side inner wing:



Crossmember:





Inner Wing:






Engine and subframe and hub before cleaning:

[Hekmat]

Found some more pictures of the rust. Cross member end points, both sides were the same (before anyone asks, the newspaper is there to stop paint going into the car).





I had to fabricate the end pieces before putting the wings on.

Edited by Hekmat, 29 June 2010 - 07:33 AM.

[Adcuz]

Looks like plenty of work to do! Good luck

[Hekmat]

I think some update is over due, I have been busy with variety of work on the car.

Firstly the engine is gone to Smart-Performance for rebuild to 1380 with the CAM and timing chain that I had. Hopefully I will get that back next week.

Meanwhile I started by removing the inner wings and found more rust on the cross-member.

replaced the inner wings


Here is the other wing and scuttle panel painted and ready to be installed




Scuttle panel fitted



Front panels put in place and almost ready for welding, It has taken me 3 days to get them to this stage. I think 2-3 hours more and will have them lined up.




I also managed to paint the sub-frame, steering rack. Here is the rack, I will upload a pick of the sub-frame once everything is hooked up. I will be replacing the gaiters and the rod ends.



And finally cleaned up the gear rod and housing. here it is before



and after



Next is to paint the rods and the housing to prevent any rust on there.

I have also ordered some goodies for the new engine, including new freeflow exhaust manifold, some exhaust rap and paint, new headlights and new alternator.

I am hoping to finish everything by end of this month, since I am starting a new contract next week and need to get as much of the major work done before then.

So the remaining work is:

Finish the front end and put the wheels arches on there.
Paint all the front panels, including underseal.
Put the sub-frame and hubs and rods together.
Finish the custom wiring and buttons.
Clean up the inside.
Put the engine back in.
Put the new 12X5.5 wheels.
Reinstall doors, bonnet and windscreen.
Book for MOT and finally a rolling road session on 8th August with smart performance.

Oh Gosh, I better get cracking no sleep for me tonight.

Edit: Spool cheeked.

Edited by Hekmat, 18 July 2010 - 10:23 PM.

[Hekmat]

Today update. Managed to line up the front panels after alot of hammering and pulling and pushing (my arms are ready to fall off). So here they are painted and ready to go on and get welded.





Now, where did I leave the spare keys??




Found them in between the inner and outer sills. Here are the things that found in there.



Most of the outer sill has been removed and the new one painted and ready to go on tomorrow. I am lucky that the inner sill only has some surface rust and nothing major.





So tomorrow a big welding day and that should be the of the body work. I have not decided whether to replace the bonnet or fix the current one. It has two holes for bonnet pins which I am replacing with internal release kit. Other than that the bonnet looks ok.

More update tomorrow, I am due to start new contract on Thursday or Friday so need to push on come rain come sunshine.

Thanks for looking.