327 replies to this topic

[sixtyeight]

Look, it bleeding hurt!! Its taken 5 cans of Fosters and it still hurts!!

I can see two problems here.. 1) you are drinking fosters.. and 2) there's no padding up top!

you guys don't seriously enjoy our export pee do you?

[Shifty]

Well I'm sure you'll all be pleased to know that my head has healed and doesn't hurt anymore!!

Soooo...

Unfortunately work has been manic and I've ended up doing 7 days a week so haven't done much on Barney over the weekend, however I have been making up for it in the afternoons!!

I made the fatal error of poking around the inner flitch..



Doh!!!

A panel had to come off to repair



Which made it look worse!

New flitch in place



The other side is ok.

I've also mostly filled in the big hole I made in the floor..





Just need to seam weld the flitch in on the underside, weld the crossmember and then so a small repair to the rear floor and thats this side just about done..

Stay tuned!!

[DaveJH]

Nice update mate. I can't believe how much work there is to do to him!

[Shifty]

Had a few hours today, so did some finishing off..

Welded in the crossmember/sill to door step edge.



Finished off the front floor welding..



Fitted the new a-panel



Heres a pic of whats left of the old door post..



Working this weekend so progress will be limited, will try and get a few hours tomorrow..

Stay tuned

[DaveJH]

Wow, glad you caught that door post! Wouldn't want something like that left until the door falls off.

I've managed to get a great place to park my mini in Oxford when I'm at uni, not far at all from where I live on a private drive where a friend of mine lives. As long as I can get the other MOT failure stuff sorted (nothing particularly major) over christmas I'll be behind the wheel again in the new year

[Shifty]

Well, at the moment I'm thinking of getting him back to you on the weekend 10/11 December?

[DaveJH]

I believe that's when I get back from France, sounds good.

[Shifty]

Its a date baby!! Be good to hand him back over to you in person as well.

[Philippe]

Hi Dave,
Just read your thread for the first time - it's an emotional roller coaster, things going all bad with that con-artist welder then becoming quite exciting now that Sifty's making it all like new again.

I'm glad you didn't decide to give up, it's look brilliant now - I hope I'll get to see it in the flesh at one of next years shows?

Phil

[iDemonix]

Just read from start to finish.

It's easy to get discouraged. I've yet to own a mini but I own a Honda VFR400 NC30 1992 that I've had to do a lot of work on to make sweet again, I've had late evenings with electrics and exhaust pipes where all I want to do is stick it on eBay and get rid. Best thing I've found to do is just put everything down, lock up and do something else for 15 minutes. Listen to some music, have a cuppa or just sit and chill, once you go back with a fresh mind everything becomes a lot easier to deal with.

Also, Shifty, your name has been noted for when I acquire my first mini with rot all over

[Shifty]

Thanks Chaps, I don't really do foreigners that often, but if you need anything doing just try me, I may not be busy.

Dave I found out why your rad fan is catching as well!!

The alloy thermostat housing is broken!!!

I can put a bolt through it with some washers either side(and locking nuts) to fix it if you like? The housings are quite expensive as I recall?

Remind me about it though!!

[DaveJH]

Dave I found out why your rad fan is catching as well!!

The alloy thermostat housing is broken!!!

I can put a bolt through it with some washers either side(and locking nuts) to fix it if you like? The housings are quite expensive as I recall?

Remind me about it though!!

Nice spot, that would be great if you have enough time - thanks mate.

Thanks for the positive comments too, I can't wait to get him back out on the road, hopefully that will be in the new year after a fresh MOT. He'll look a bit tatty until I can afford to do the front end and respray but at least he'll be sound structurally!

Oh and I'd love to go to some shows once Barney is in better shape

Edited by DaveJH, 28 November 2011 - 04:01 PM.

[Shifty]

Dave, if you're reading this, check your inbox.

[Shifty]

I had a good(and bad!!) day on him today!!

Bit light on pictures as Mrs Shifty had the camera this morning.

Finished off the floor welding and fitted the sill. Heelboard needed a fair bit of work.








That was the good part of the day, looks nice and tidy and am very happy with it.

Now things turn ugly...

Removed the tank and found this "repair"



View from under the arch.



Rest of the boot floor welding is utter crap as well.





Had poke at the floor..(never a good idea!!)





I did know about that so not too bothered.

Time to remove the(badly fitted) rear valance.



Fog lamp bracket welded on.........classy!!

Even better..



Yup, the old valence was underneath the old one!! Dear god!!!

Things just got worse...





The lower rear panel is shot to pieces, full of filler and underseal, having the old valence underneath rotting away didn't help either.

Feck!!!

[Deathrow]

Ouch!

I've never seen a double valance job like that before. Sills yeah, but the rear valance? :/