38 replies to this topic

[Willcox]

ok so where to start, well i was given a riley kestrel for free but its a rust box and not worth repairing but had a decent 1275 engine in it



so next was a look on ebay to find a mini, found one less that 5 miles from me with a seized engine so i guess you can see where its going now so here's some pic from ebay





i first thought it should only cost me about £150 to get it back on the road but i was wrong lol

[Willcox]

so i strip out the riley

then out with the engine and front subframe

then scrapped


so then it was time to start stripping the mini

out with the rear subframe to inspect the rust on the rear end

then off with the rear valence which will eventually get smoothed

then out with the front subframe


then it was time to buy some panels (which i later regretted)

out with the grinder now


then it got left while i had other stuff to do and went on holiday also i needed a new gas bottle but i went to the bristol mini show and picked up these


when looking around in the classifieds i found this and had to get it


since then i've now got round to doing some work to the mini, i've fitted the brace bars and solid mounts on the front, welded new rear quarter panel rear pannels in, drivers side a post, patched up some holes here and there, e.g behind shocker mounts and wiper hole





hopefully there will be some more work done this week end because i still have lots to do like:- bulkhead repair panel, boot floor, rear valance and repair a hole in the roof

my old seat, a brand new front pannel and drivers side wing are all for sale if any one wants them

[matty121]

nice progress! love the fg front end! nice buy

Edited by matty121, 08 August 2009 - 03:37 PM.

[Willcox]

thanks, still got loads to do, like it always is two steps forward one step back

[matty121]

yea i get what you mean how much did that front end cost you?

[Willcox]

it cost me £100 with brace bars, fitting kit and the front end as you see it with light and all

Edited by Willcox, 08 August 2009 - 05:25 PM.

[Willcox]

right a bit of work does this week end but first i ran out of gas and where i get it from arn't open on weekends but all was ok the old man came up trumps with a bottle he borrowed from a friend bit over kill but did the job

yesterday i noticed a hole in the floor pan whic had been bodged before so mad a new panel and fitted it

then finished off my bulkhead repair and fitted a ne a panel


last thing was just roughly fit my fibreglass front end



thats it for today slowly getting there

[Willcox]

bought some wheels and doors today

[Willcox]

ok so i got my rear beam through the other day


then today i decided to try and get my front end to fit and welded some tabs on the a panels



then put the front end on and lined it all up also drilled and fitted the bonnet pins



just waiting for my dzus fasteners to arive then front end will be fitted then i can trim it all

[mrmoo]

Thats progress, it'll look well when it's finished, well done so far...!

[Willcox]

cheers, its getting there slowly still lots to do

[Willcox]

ok not a big update but its still something

my dzus fasteners turned up so now there fitted



then it was time to get round to fixing the hole in the roof




now thats fixed i can start fitting my spare doors

[alexcrosse]

poor poor riley

[Willcox]

decided to get round to lining up my rear beem and fitting it





oh and time to get ride of the boot floor

Edited by Willcox, 25 August 2009 - 09:34 PM.

[mrmoo]

Coming along nicely, keep up the good work.