1146 replies to this topic

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Can you use a hairdryer or heat gun and a squeegee or credit card (you must have a few of those to have come this far ) to iron the creases out? just be careful not too distort or stretch it too much because I think the material is almost a vinyl?

I'm sure a little more patience and it will be perfect :) It will be rewarding to put the seal back over to cover knowing its all done!

[grahama]

Hugh,

admitedly a little rumpled in the corners but not a bad job at all. I have mine to do with the original lining, if it has survived the two/three years !! If not then may well be fleabay to the rescue. I am looking forward to it to be honest as it means I will be nearly there, a feeling I just can't see at present. Still we plod on Hugh, and if mine comes out as good and useable as yours I will be chuffed.

Graham

[Marco1972]

Hi Hugh

Nice job mate I know those things are a bloody nightmare as I used to fit them at longbridge back in the day we just used to run glue around the window edges and door frames ect the stretch glue and trim all good fun ( not !! )

Keep up the great work I've spent the weekend cutting off my oversill what a shock I hate rust !!

[Minidarren83]

It's coming along very nicely now hugh its a shame about the painted parts that went bad but not your fault and the headlining is not a bad job I'm sure it would shrink with a little heat. this year is your year not much left to do and you will be flying around before you know it

Keep up the good work darren

[racingenglishcars]

Seems like you said that the back two rods have twisted. Getting them to sit right would mean equal tension front and back. Looks like the rear has slipped a bit allowing the rods to roll forward. Try pulling the lining a bit tighter back while lifting the rods.

Don't you just love hydrated paint. It cools while drying, attracting humidity - but then it looks "cool" afterwards. If only you were the first to do that

Still; looking good

[jagman.2003]

Headlining looking good Hugh. To get the last creases out I gently used a heat gun. I set up the tension on the edges the best I could to pull the crease out. Then wafted the heat gun over the creased area. The creases relax in the heat. The tension that has been set up pulls it tight. It then cools in that shape. The heat gun became my best friend for this job.It was the only way I could get a 2D sheet to fit a 3D shape.

Edited by jagman.2003, 07 January 2013 - 08:40 AM.

[hughJ]

Static!

Tom, Craig, Graham, Marco1972, Don and jagman.2003 thank you for comments and advice. Oh dear. I found my topic down on page 8!! I have kind of stopped. The headlining has taken the heart out of me. Aragorn, in Lord of the Rings, said we should not have the heart taken from us! I will try peeling it off at the back and try and get the bars upright and a bit more tension. The weather has been too cold to try it. I have bought a used radiator and am hoping to pop the engine in soon.

The only reason I am here is for advice. Do you put the engine back in with the radiator attached?? Hope one of you experts can point me in the right direction. I took the radiator off when taking it out.

Sorry nothing to report

Hugh

[grahama]

Nice to hear from you Hugh,

no idea where my thread is at the moment, too wet and cold to be lugging my engine out for testing so down the pages I will remain lol. The Spring will be here soon and mini progress will start again !!

Graham

[racingenglishcars]

I'm sure there's a lot of different opinions on how to install the engine / radiator. I have put them in together. Some say that when the engine is in, to put the bottom hose on the radiator then drop it in. Either way it's a tight fit.

[hughJ]

Thanks Don for that .- think I'm going to have a go with radiator on - to avoid contortions. Still have to get the engine mount bolts on though!
Yes Graham - looking forward to the Spring!

Hugh

Edited by hughJ, 06 February 2013 - 06:24 PM.

[minimuk]

Aragon, Lord of the rings, Star-trek whatever next, looks good Hugh, first headlining is always a pain, but you won the battle. Nearly there.......your coming down to the MITP 2013 for sure.....

Edited by minimuk, 06 February 2013 - 11:02 PM.

[hughJ]

Hi minimuk thanks. I don't know but I think I'm too timid to leave the north of Scotland! The headlining is needing a rethink.

Well I've been pathetic, really pathetic. But I have put the engine back in.

So some more bits ready for action





And then today heaved the engine in.



Fitted with a second hand radiator off Ebay.



So two years and three months later





And in place. The lowering in went OK. Snagged on the exhaust but easily sorted. What did waste the time was the rear drivers (right) side engine mounting bolt. Who thought that one out!! It took an hour to line up the hole and feed the bolt in!







So I am pleased to have that done. I will get the drive shafts fitted next week and start on the starter, alternator and carb. Then will have to get the wiring sorted out.

Refitting along, Hugh

[Andrew O]

Engines looking great Hugh, it'll be no time at all until you've got it up and running again.

Andrew

[ToM 2012]

you are getting there hugh and doing a brilliant job! and the bolts are a pain took me about the same time to just get the left side mount bolted. trying to hold the bolt in while putting a washer on then the nut and then it drops off! what a pain! soon be driving it.

[Miniowner123]

coming along nicely Hugh, engine mounts can be a pain in the back side so you've done well if it was only one bolt causing an issue