1146 replies to this topic

[minifcd]

Great little project Hugh! I finally read to the end of it! Great to see how your welding has progressed and it is definately better than mine. When I first started, every weld was like Mount Everest and took forever to grind down, but as you go along you learn from your mistakes and improve.
I agree, those roof gutter repairs are hard. I have had to do a few on mine, but as I have to replace the roof, I have only had to do the lower lip. What we did to my first mini is, before painting the roof, go around gutter with seam sealer and smooth to shape of gutter with your little finger or a piece of tube. Gives a nice finish and seals it too.

Great work Hugh, keep it up.

[grahama]

Such a difference with a cleaned up belly, looks like a different car. Felt great when I did mine and make you feel like you are getting somewhere.

[panelbeaterpeter]

Looking good, I was assuming you were going to be using stonechip in the shutz type gun, you get a much higher build and coarser texture. You'll need about 5 coats of the aerosol type to equal the coverage. If you want the gun type, Upol Gravitex is good. http://www.ebay.co.u...#ht_1069wt_1037

[hughJ]

Thank you Scott - that sounds great advice on the gutter repairs. As usual my old friend Graham - thanks. Hi panelbeaterpeter - no its the old rattlecans. I've got no compressor or spray equipment. Thanks for the advice - 5 coats it will be. You seem to be very knowledgeable - I do appreciate the advice.

Just a wee bit tonight. Kurust on the rear wheel arches and then acid etch primer.





And started cleaning at the front.



So every little helps. Anyone else notice how the wire cup brush converts seam sealant into 'cobwebs'?

Cleaning along

Hugh

[BusheyTrader]

I have to wear full overalls, a cap and a dust mask otherwise it's cobwebs all over me...................

Adam

[Deathrow]

Gotta love those cobwebs!

[grahama]

Weh hey Hugh, getting along fine. It's bizare how we seem to be doing it pretty much, weld for weld and clean up by clean up. Looks great by the way, This time in two years we can get together with the mini on a tow truck, lol !!

Graham

[Carlos W]

Graham, i'm doing the same, virtually identical areas to repair but you 2 have sprinted off and left me behind!

[hughJ]

Hello Adam and Deathrow - glad you share the 'cobwebs', but love them?! Graham and Carlos I haven't done that much this week so maybe you'll pull ahead.
I got three more cans of Hammerite Stonechip Shield on. Three coats on the main underside and there are two coats under the boot. I'll get another three cans and that will make it five coats and eight tins of the stuff. Hope that's enough. The weather is much colder with frost this morning. I have some transparent sheets on the garage roof to let light in. I wish I'd never put them on. The condensation and drips that come off them. It doesn't help the Mini!





I've freed most of the bolts on the rear subframe but I think the subframe is trash.

Stonechipping along

Hugh

[minimuk]

looking good, put 2 more cans on boot area, once the subby is on, it will be hard to get to panels and corners, condensation getting trapped between subby and panels, ......it is where you can't see where you need to put more, give it a very light sanding to meake a key for next layer.
Of course I am not telling you what to do,just suggest

[Carlos W]

Wow, that looks amazing Hugh! I'm away this weekend so not getting anything done! We'll see what next weekend brings!

[Brams96]

hughJ - you could try & get the plastic sheet as high as you can in the middle & lower the edges a bit & hopefully the condensation will run away from the mini. Great project by the way, keep it up.

[hughJ]

Hello Brams96 the sheets are corrugated plastic in between sheets of good 'ole' asbestos. I think I'll put a temporary polythene sheet channel underneath them. When I become rich I'll redo the roof. Might not happen! Thanks for the advice.

Carlos thank you.

Minimuk - I'll get as much on as I can or can afford! Could you give me advice. The subframe on this Mini was replaced when my brother and sister in law had it. When I took it off there was a material sandwiched between the subframe and the underneath of the Mini's boot. It was like felt carpet underlay. It seemed to have caused no end of rust. Is there supposed to be something like that there?

Well I thought my patching days were passed but no. I went out to clean up the front bulhead a bit more. I had seen a bit of perforation (last photo on my last post) but when I explored it went right through!!



Oh dear!! so cut it out





Grand thick steel to get a weld on







I'll hopefully get the rest of it welded in tomorrow. Hey ho!

Welding along

Hugh

[Miniowner123]

hey hugh, while you're attacking the rust on the toeboard i'd suggest removing the steering rack bracket, cleaning it up then re-welding it back on, i was shocked at the amount of rust i found behind mine, best to catch it while the cars in pieces

its all coming along nicely though, good work

[hughJ]

Hi pinhead - I agree I should. I've seen a few on this forum do that but I'm scared to face it - you know out of sight out of mind!!

Hugh