1146 replies to this topic

[Jordie]

black and decker powerfile would get in there. handy tool to have.

looking good though. keep it up.

[grahama]

Blimey Hugh, looks almost done, nice one !!

[jagman.2003]

Coming together well now Hugh. Very nice when you get clear spaces in the garage & empty boxes from parts bolted on. I used to have a dining room, then it got filled with mini parts. One day I hope to dine again!

[davej]

I haven't been on here for a while, this is moving on really well Hugh, looking fantastic, keep at it.

[hughJ]

Jordie, Graham, jagman.2003 and Dave nice to have your comments. Looks like another tool to add to my collection sometime, thanks Jordie. No one will see my weld, though! You and I know its there!

I put on the last of the shocks - even that takes longer than expected as the threads have to be cleaned out first!.

Then built up the bootlid and fitted it.

But first being a Scotsman - you make your own hinge gaskets out of an old bit of inner tube. Saves a few bob, and waiting! I once rebuilt an XS750 engine where I made all the gaskets except the cylinder head one!





Now doesn't this look better at last!





Now I've started on the drivers door. I've stripped everything off it and removed the pin striping. Had the most awful job to remove the diaphragm - the Haynes manual as usual had it as an effortless job. I think it took almost an hour!! Then someone had covered over the openings with gaffa tape and that left a horrible glue.



Most of the door inside was covered with it - I've cleaned most of it before thinking of taking a photo. It took ages with a cloth soaked in white spirit.





So I'm ready to derust, sand and fill, etc - oh dear - a Shifty job.

Movin along

Hugh

[minifcd]

Looking good Hugh, looking real good! The boot looks great now that you have everything fitted. Nice tip on the gaskets too. Keep it up, your so far ahead of me now its unreal!

[grahama]

Looking almost there Hugh. How are the bottom of the doors??

[rosalind]

wow...so much work!! Its very nice of you to rescue a mini sky (even if its green )

Do you have any plans for the interior? My drivers seat is not very good and there is a hole in the carpet.

[CLM]

I've been away helping people move and getting more (AARRGGHH!!) projects, it looks like you are doing a cracking job, pretty much almost ready to drive your little project, Those doors don't look bad at all. Good job Hugh :)

Chris

[jagman.2003]

Good looking doors from here. A rare thing on a mini. That back end looks very complete now.

[racingenglishcars]

I Love this comment -
"I'm already spending far too much on this project."
As if we didn't know you were a Scot... OK the exhaust gives you away.
But all kidding aside, the project is looking brilliant, coming together nicely, and looking like a car now. Hats off to you. :)
I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while, like you I've had vacation and plenty of work on the house.


Oh and nice to see Rosalind still around.

[hughJ]

Just a quick one - will respond later - sorry my photos will be away for a wee while - I have had to change web providers. The photos should hopefully come back soon!!

Hugh

[hughJ]

Well my pictures seem to be back. So time for a wee update. Putting my daughter back to university, keeping an eye on my aged parents, getting Anne's car through an MOT, cutting the grass and doing my normal teaching correcting and preparing, changing webhost, etc - I haven't done very much to the Mini!! That's life, but I'm blessed.

Scott thanks for your encouragement - means a lot.
Graham - you've kept me going since the start!
Rosalind sorry about the green!! I came across your interesting website some years ago when researching the Mini Sky! So I do appreciate you getting in touch even though I'm de-skying a Mini. I had given a lot of thought to keeping it in Sky colours as they were a special edition. I shouldn't say this but I never really liked the Sky colours. In fact the early Minis had pretty awful colours. My granduncle's two Mini vans (one which I crashed, mentioned a lot earlier) were both a horrible battleship sort of grey! Now, (deep breath) this is going to really shock the purists on this forum (er, sorry!!) - I don't like them having a different roof colour. There I've said it and it feels good!!
On the interior - I will have to get new doorcards and lower dashrail. I may just recover both dashrails but I've trashed the lower getting it out. My seats aren't worn just a bit stained - another good clean might do it. My carpet is good except the heel reinforcing panel is split. It will do just now. Oh dear Donn, there's me being a Scott again - but take 'care of the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves'. Though I do admit the exhaust looks pretty awful in the picture I put up. But no one is going to be lying down to look at my car!
Chris I've noticed your new acquisition!! As a boy I really wanted a Moke. However, I thought, that man needs to sit down and finish one project - but which one?? Thanks for your keeping commenting and your help.
jagman.2003 any comment from you is welcome. I stand in awe of what you have done!!

I have managed to get the driver's door sanded, filled, primed and painted.









The door has rusted behind where folded over in a few places and should really be repaired, but it has not come through the skin. It can always be done a couple years on - a door comes off easy!

It's a wee bit further.

Lazying along, Hugh

Edited by hughJ, 15 September 2012 - 06:35 PM.

[CLM]

Chris I've noticed your new acquisition!! As a boy I really wanted a Moke. However, I thought, that man needs to sit down and finish one project - but which one??

I know what you are saying Hugh, I really do. But a Man also needs to grab the opportunities when they come up because they just don't come up too often! If I could have just started with one it would have been the Moke, but apparently I had to buy my way through a saloon, van, wagon-to-pup, saloon, another wagon, before I got to the Moke >.< But Now that I have the Moke, Yes indeed finish one project! (that is if I can get enough of those previously mention projects MOVED out of the way!) And your project looks to be turning out wonderful, that door looks quite good in it's new color Hugh, I would have just cleaned off that seam and painted it as well.

Chris

Edited by CLM, 15 September 2012 - 07:48 PM.

[rosalind]

Hugh...You are rescuing a mini that due to its condition may have been stripped and sold for parts on ebay by many so your a hero in my books...we will have to overlook the green issue for now

dont forget what I said about the seats and carpet, if your going to fit replacements or retrim them please let me know. my white mini with a different colour roof would be very happy.

Edited by rosalind, 15 September 2012 - 10:29 PM.