260 replies to this topic

[daveeeeee]

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Edited by daveeeeee, 22 April 2009 - 09:47 PM.

[daveeeeee]

Dad had his moke out today so I got to back mine into the garage to escape the wind and do some welding.

Sorry for how grainy the photos are, just off my phone (it's rubbish) =)
Welded boot floor to back panel

Then welded it again on the inside because I wanted more metal holding it together after it was all ground down! It worked out pretty well because when I welded the inside I didnt have to worry about it blowing, so got some nice large pools.

Made a start on grinding it down

Sprayed some primer on to look after it outside

Thanks.

Edited by daveeeeee, 19 April 2009 - 10:11 PM.

[daveeeeee]

Spoke to The Arc Angels just now and I've ordered a fibreglass rear valance - with brackets bonded to the back for bolting it to the boot floor, so I can cut the lip off to smooth it in. Also ordered a fibreglass bumper with a black gel coat. They were really helpful on the phone, I'm looking forward to seeing their products!

[daveeeeee]

Got frustrated today as another disposable gas bottle died. I decided I'd upgrade to a refillable bottle, went down to K R Tools in Staines and signed up.

£30 something for the gas
£55 something for annual bottle rental
£11 something for some random charge
£50 for a regulator (at least I own something on this list haha)

Far too much money spent! I'm officially broke now. Hopefully still got enough petty cash to get a subframe.

But hey, at least I can get on with the welding again now!

[Deathrow]

Your welding is lovely! I wish mine was that neat.

Although, your project has reminded me that I will once again have to tackle the boot floor of my car.

Good work, keep it up!

Also, what are you using to cut out your repair sections? They seem really neat.

Edited by Deathrow, 23 April 2009 - 02:31 PM.

[daveeeeee]

I think it's disguised by the quality of the camera hah thanks though.

I've used a combination of tin snips and cutting discs, just filing off nasty bits

Looks like you've got your work cut out for you though deathrow!

Edited by daveeeeee, 23 April 2009 - 03:05 PM.

[Boycie]

The weld you've done in the boot (two pics up) looks excellent, well done.

To make it really original, you could have used the extended boot floor panel panel that has the original seam on it. That way, you could have plug welded it to the rear panel and rear valence, as per original. It will be strong though.

Those prices for the gas bottle/reg etc are not too bad. Like you say, the disposable bottles are a waste of money!

[daveeeeee]

Thanks Boycie, I thought about going original with it, but the lip on the back panel had rotted away too much, so I would have had to get a repair section for the bottom of that too.
I decided it would be cheaper to deseam it, also then water wont sit on the lip and hopefully I wont get the same trouble any time soon. But don't fear, I'm still going to put a bumper on it! =)

I'm yet to use my new bottle of argoshield, I've been working on my friends BMW - waste of the good weather!!
The length of the thin 4mm tube from the welder doesn't reach the top of the bottle either, so I'll have to sit it on a chair or something until I have some cash to get the materials to make a good trolley. Maybe sacrifice the chair I'm sitting on now

Boycie do you have a project thread going?

Edited by daveeeeee, 23 April 2009 - 09:27 PM.

[Boycie]

Yeah with your welding ability, you could make a pukka trolley to carry about the bottle/ welder! Use pram wheels

I do have a project thread -http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=121292

But I'm ashamed to say I haven't made a proper start yet been so busy at work.
It's been waiting since 1996 so a few more weeks won't make a difference!

[daveeeeee]

Mm pram wheels, I'm sure I can find a pram dumped in a bush somewhere or something

Honestly have no idea how you're going to restore that one! I'd offer my help but it turns out you're in the trade hah (and a little far away)

[daveeeeee]

My girlfriend Emma had a go at fibreglassing the hinge panel, it's got little, and not so little rust holes that came up under the boot seal. It came out really well, we used a couple of layers of "tissue" glass matting, really thin stuff.

Edited by daveeeeee, 24 April 2009 - 01:21 PM.

[rosco454]

Your not half cracking on with this,welding looks to be coming along great,bigger gas bottle is on my shopping list at the moment.

The front end came off mine today and ive put you a load of pictures up in my thread if you fancy a look.

[daveeeeee]

Thanks man, hoping to use the gas tomorrow mornin

I'll check yours out now!

[daveeeeee]

Finally got a rear subframe for it! Looks pretty solid, pics to follow.

[daveeeeee]

Here's the subframe, a little mangled at the back! Nothing a hammer wont sort. Otherwise solid.

Also did some more welding to it's bum



Not quite got all the way around yet, couldnt do any grinding as it was too late at night

More soon, I hope