1146 replies to this topic

[hughJ]

Thanks jagman.2003 . It was a bit of fun!

Really slowed up - cutting grass, took another tree down and decorating the wee hall and bathroom. In fact any job to keep me away. Why? Sanding the wretched bonnet!

Started on the boot







There is damage that should be welded where the number plate bolts were there are a couple of perforations. But my cylinder is back with air products so I will just rust treat and fibreglass. I can almost feel the purists like Scott, minimuk , jagman.2003 above and my master, Neil gasping in horror. Sorry to offend you boys but that's the way it is!

Ducking and diving along

Hugh

Edited by hughJ, 03 August 2012 - 07:54 PM.

[minimuk]

Hugh all is great but fiberglass.......... why not use a stepped cone drill bit, 2 minute job, cut a few circles and weld them in sand flat and all is good,.....20 minutes tops, fiber glass,..hours fettling and never get it right

Edited by minimuk, 03 August 2012 - 08:38 PM.

[Deathrow]

Hugh all is great but fiberglass.......... why not use a stepped cone drill bit, 2 minute job, cut a few circles and weld them in sand flat and all is good,.....20 minutes tops, fiber glass,..hours fettling and never get it right

Because he has no gas cylinder .

Go for it Hugh, it's only a boot anyway, you can take it off and redo it another time if needs be.

[minimuk]

Hugh all is great but fiberglass.......... why not use a stepped cone drill bit, 2 minute job, cut a few circles and weld them in sand flat and all is good,.....20 minutes tops, fiber glass,..hours fettling and never get it right

Because he has no gas cylinder .

Go for it Hugh, it's only a boot anyway, you can take it off and redo it another time if needs be.

'only a boot'........hmm....slacking there....when I see yr mini in Scotland I will check

Edited by minimuk, 03 August 2012 - 09:18 PM.

[grahama]

Have to admit Hugh that my boot was very slightly neglected lol. If it works for you then why not. If it all goes wrong then they're cheap as chips on fleabay !!

Slow down too !!

Graham

[AndyMiniMad.]

Hi Hugh.. Ive read through your thread this morning... An epic journey you have had from the first page!! Well done. You have way more patience than me..I noticed that you had removed the stickers from your heater control switch. There is a nice chap called on the Scotish forum who can make you new ones to the same size/shape if you need them..His forum name is Max 4790. (Steve). I have followed this build for some time. but have resisted the urge to post as there really has been nothing I could have said that others hav'nt already..
Im down in Inverness and look forward to seeing your Mini on the road sometime..It wont be long now!!

Andy.

[jagman.2003]

Not alot from me, I haven't done my boot lid yet so can't comment too much. But if it's treated, sealed & covered by the number plate then it works.

[hughJ]

minimuk I knew you would pick me up on this!! Sorry it will just be a fibreglass and filler job. Graham and Adam and jagman.2003 thanks - it is only a boot and can easily be dealt with later.

Andy thanks for the comment and advice. I had already ordered replacements from Sticky Fingers. Martin there is a really helpful bloke. My sort of plan is to get the Mini on the road in Spring 2013. So I'll no doubt have it over in Inverness sometime. The replacement decals have arrived.



I'm rather pleased with them but me being me will probably get them on squint. Martin did them in Emerald Green RAL6001 the same as the car!! I had so meant to do it as an original Mini and I keep putting on another bit of bling!

I've not done much - just a bit of filling and sanding to the bonnet.

I had to replace the PAS pipes on a banger Ford Ka I got to replace my even worse Saxo. Just to keep me going to Mini time. But oh dear, I'm falling in love with the Ka. Its like the Mini - has a bit of charachter - very rusty underneath, noisy rattly engine, but such fun to drive with a wheel in each corner.

Blinging along

Hugh

Edited by hughJ, 09 August 2012 - 07:23 PM.

[minimuk]

No prob Hugh I know you would have me on the edge with that, you do what you think is best, Spring next year,.... we all need to meet up somewhere in the middle....

[hughJ]

minimuk I appreciate your care and interest. I know its not what's best but its what I can do at present.

Its filling and sanding - the bonnets getting there.

Filled and etch over the filler - the zebra look could be quite catchy!!!



And filler primer



That needs cut back a little and built up in some places. Its lovely stuff to sand compared with the filler.

And you can't resist trying the bling - there's less light and night now and harder to take a photo - sorry.



Pochling along

Hugh

[grahama]

Hugh,

that looks like a bucket full of filler on that bonnet, no wonder you hate sanding lol. Looks nice in primer though. Just some on rear qtr again amd bit on rear and that's it hopefully. It is the most awfull job, Shifty indeed needs help !!!

You are still miles ahead though !!

Graham

oops just realised the white is not filler it's the bonnet !! Maybe a small bucket load now then lol !!

Edited by grahama, 16 August 2012 - 08:25 PM.

[minimuk]

Nice one Hugh, it's all coming toghether,.....likewise, good job on the bonnet

[Shifty]

Filling is therapeutic!! I can spend hours doing it, It's just me vs the dent!! Slap filler on, sand filler off, breathe in filler, slap more filler on(repeat until either dead or happy!!)

[JonnyBMX]

Filling is therapeutic!! I can spend hours doing it, It's just me vs the dent!! Slap filler on, sand filler off, breathe in filler, slap more filler on(repeat until either dead or happy!!)

haha! not so therapeutic when u spend all day sanding down filler! begins to drag! i always use a mask with filler now though, coming along now hugh, on the home straight :)

[hughJ]

Once more I have to thank you for your interest and help - Graham, minimuk, filler luvin breathin Shifty and JonnyBMX.

I have a green bonnet





Not perfect but good enough for me.

And working on the bootlid

This one is dedicated to minimuk



Hope you like my nice wee fibreglass patches!

A bit of filler





Hopefully have it green and fitted next week!!!! But I'm going to be out a bit.

And I've been looking at the wiper motor. Got it cleaned up - what a mess a couple of years in a garage covered in grindings makes.







Six years ago I made a tentative (read pathetic) start to bits of the Mini. Like painting the coil and fitting a stainless bracket; fitting a braided hose to the clutch; painting little bits! I had fitted a new parking switch to the wiper motor.
I had also bought these from minispares.com.





So maybe get the wiper motor fitted soon.

I believe it fits to two square plastic inserts with self tappers - can anyone verify. I do wish I had taken more photos as each bit came out instead of ripping bits out and filling up boxes! That's me. So still keeping my hand in.

More greening along

Hugh

Edited by hughJ, 18 August 2012 - 08:46 PM.