1146 replies to this topic

[izzy]

nice job keep up the good work.

[hughJ]

Well I'm still being lazy. Got a new 'economy' grinder off ebay which lasted a couple of hours and then started wobbling at the output shaft - presume bearings were going. The company were very helpful and have sent out another. I don't know how long it will last it certainly is hot when its working! I was still glad to have an excuse not to work on it.

Thanks again for the kind remarks - Chris, minimuk, my hero Deathrow and izzy.

Well, with my new blast furnace or grinder I tackled this horrible jacking point. I repaired rather than replaced, again. Please don't tell me I should use a new Heritage panel - remember its a ming's restoration!!



Cut it out and did a wee repair behind on the inner sill.



And then made this work of art - second attempt using my vice a socket and an old chisel.





Welded in and a new tab made as well.



And a check with the sill that its all in the right place.



Four hours to do just that!! I'm hopeless.

Blast furnacing , sorry grinding on

Hugh

[Deathrow]

Looks great Hugh.

It's very rewarding doing a bit of fabrication like that. It's a shame it takes so long really as it's quite satisfying.

[sonikk4]

Hugh nothing wrong with making things you know that. That little number came up well. Keep on fabbing!!!

[minimuk]

can you make me a set too please,......great job Hugh...yr loving it I can tell, never mind 4 hours its a proud result!!

[hughJ]

Thanks Deathrow, it does take an awful lot of time. In fact anything Mini takes a lot of time. Thanks too Neil and minimuk. I wouldn't say I'm loving it but it has its moments!

I got the sill in today - my welding wasn't going so good. I made a real mess round the jacking point - I'll not show a close-up. There are definitely better days than others when it comes to welding.

Everything prepared - holes for plug welds, primed, bit of any old paint - Smoothrite I've had in the garage for years on the inner sill and I just scooshed a bit of the green Rustoleum I'm going to be using on the back of the sill.



And clamped in place



Welded in



Welds ground down, tidied and a wee scoosh of etch primer



So this side is almost repaired now.



I've still got to do the area just below the tail light but I'll need to turn Mini over for that.

The job seems never ending but I do think there is light showing at the end of the welding tunnel. I have to do some similar repairs to the other side but I only need to repair the bottom of the rear quarter rather than replace it. After that the welding still to do is the apex panels, wings and front panel and they are already cut out!! They will have to wait till the bottom is painted, the subframes renovated and its back on its wheels. Can hardly believe I'm starting to think about that!!

Welding on

Hugh

[minimuk]

Nice one Hugh, how bad is the other rear quarter panel, you state repair rather then replace the whole section, show us a previeuw.

Welding on,......

[hughJ]

I tidied a wee bit and got my son to help me move the Mini to give me room to work on the drivers side underneath.



And these are for you minimuk. Rear quarter just needs a couple of patches.







And of course it needs a sill. The front half of the sill has had some coversill put on it.



All in all a bit of a rusty mess.

So started by tackling the rear wheel arch. There is actually a small perforation to the inside.













So another wee repair done. Then tackled removing the sill. Here's what happens when a sill is just put over the rusted sill



And I certainly can't repair this jacking point



And left it like this


So a wee bit more done.

Grinding along

Hugh

[hughJ]

I was a bit horrified this week to find the forum disappeared for over 24 hours and then came back in this format. It looks bonny but it is not nearly so user friendly. You can post less photos at a time. When you do several posts to get the photos up they seem to get joined into one post which seems nice but then you cannot edit as the big post has too many images to post!!

Grumbly Hugh

[CLM]

And I certainly can't repair this jacking point

You can rebuild it! You have the technology! Stronger! Faster! Able to leap tall buil... err.. Ok maybe not the last one

Good job Hugh cracking right along there

Chris

[minimuk]

cheers Hugh, yep rear quarter looks ok, just a little repair in that corner, but....what does the rear bin look like inside, with the stiffener and the arch closing panel, does look like a repair has been done a while ago in front of the subframe mounting panel....could be a hidden "treasure" there,... and a few coins too.

I do like your progress and attack, after taking of the outer sill, the inner sill is not that bad a few cuts here and there, what you reckon?jacking point is shot for sure, you can make one for that side to.

welding on,...

[Deathrow]

I was a bit horrified this week to find the forum disappeared for over 24 hours and then came back in this format. It looks bonny but it is not nearly so user friendly. You can post less photos at a time. When you do several posts to get the photos up they seem to get joined into one post which seems nice but then you cannot edit as the big post has too many images to post!!

Grumbly Hugh

Just teething problems Hugh!

I've upped the max number of images to 40, I can't remember what it used to be, I thought it was 20. I've also turned off the auto merge posts feature.

That jacking point is something else! Maybe just best to buy a replacement if you want to keep it.

Beautiful work as always!

[hughJ]

Thanks a lot Deathrow. Wow you are one of the Mini Forum ICT technical main men now!!! That must take a lot of time and cut down Mini work time. I'm even more impressed by you. A big thanks for the adjustments made. Sorry to be grumbly, just part of being an old man.

Hugh

Edited by hughJ, 15 August 2011 - 07:49 PM.

[Deathrow]

Haha, I've been the TMF IT Specialist for ages Hugh, it's just taken me until now to do anything! It does cut down time working on the Mini but sometimes I need a break.

Don't worry about it, just keep up the good work .

[hughJ]

Impressed, Deathrow. Thanks again minimuk, maybe I'll give making a jacking point a try!!!

Well it was really destruction today

Cut out inner sill and part of floor





This takes a lot longer than you would think

And made a panel to fill the space



It doesn't fit perfectly but I'll persuade it in! I've to give a coat of Smoothrite to the inside of the box-section and the back of the panel this evening. I'll hopefully weld it in on Monday evening. Back to teaching on Monday!! My lovely long teacher's holiday is over.

Graham I hope your OK. Haven't heard from you for a while. I do get worried. For a while I had Chris gone with a heart attack!! when I hadn't heard from him.

Grinding on

Hugh