1146 replies to this topic

[hughJ]

Thanks pinhead, Dan and Matt. I had been looking forward to welding but maybe the enthusiasm is leaving. I had two repairs to do before the flitch panel can go in.

The first is at the back of the lower dashrail - so made this



And welded



And then this



To go in here - it has been cut, cleaned and primed with weld through primer



Welded - kept blowing



And ground back



Have to use filler to make it nicer. Its not much compared to what you guys get through but its my best. It took me three attempts to make the first patch panel above, and I am not happy with it! I'll get it it all ready for the flitch panel to go on tonight but time is scarce this week.

By the by - all our snow has finally gone. It had been in the garden in some form since Nevember 28th! Its not nearly so cold out in the garage. Come on Spring.

Grinding on

Hugh

[myredmini]

Hi Hugh, those repair panels look fantastic, your doing an amazing job, and i hope you keep at this as well as you are because the quality is getting better and better.

Dan..

[MEhinger]

I don't think the last pictures look so bad for as long as you have been at it. Remember, the side grinder is the welder's best friend.

Edit: Oh my, you are getting good. My comment above was based on looking at the first page of this thread, not the most recent pictures. You make me anxious to get out and hone my skills.

Edited by MEhinger, 27 January 2011 - 08:58 PM.

[hughJ]

Thanks again Dan, you do keep a person going when they are a bit down. Your own work is superb. MEhinger, thank you very much. I wish my work was as good as you nice people say.

Well, I got a bit of time at it tonight though its back to the frost. I welded in the passenger side flitch repair panel. It is far, far more enjoyable welding in a bigger panel like this than doing all the wee fussy repairs before it goes in. I did enjoy my evening - only problem was glasses, welding visor and goggles getting steamed up with the cold. It will be great when the temperature goes up.

So - welded in the panel



A close up of welding I am getting happier with - still got a bit to go before it is beautiful.



And the back



Ground down



And etch primed



I think I go on now to the top of the bulkhead at the windscreen. Does anyone know is there a repair panel to go along the top of the bulkhead? It would save making patches.

I'm a Chemistry teacher and there are big exams next week so a lot of marking. I may not get much done, but will try to find a bit of time.

Welding on

Hugh

[Artful Dodger]

love this! more like a "how to" guide of welding! good job keep it up! what are the plans for the sky then?

[myredmini]

Brilliant flitch replacement well done!!!

[Shifty]

Nice one, you're getting better every time now!!

Should be proud of yourself!!

[grahama]

Have to agree, great work. I am still pulse welding on my bodywork as can't seem to do a run without blowing through, works for me though. You seem to have got to grips with it nicely, keep it up.

Graham

[hughJ]

MiniclubmanGT, Dan, Shifty and Graham - kind words and encouragement. Thank you. I said earlier that I wasn't going to change much just get a sound Mini. I may keep it Sky colours, I'm not sure. I'm not an exciting person and kind of like Minis as they are.

I've had a few Mini connections over the years. In 1960 my granny and uncle with two friends travelled overland to Israel in a Mini. My granny was no small person. Then my family had a red traveller in the late sixties. Us four children slept in the back one night when the tent we were in got blown down in Gairloch. And my other connection was on my granduncle's farm. In the mid-seventies as a student I worked all holidays with him. He used wee gray Mini vans on the farm. Amazing what you can get in a Mini van - a couple of bales, even seen a sheep in it. I was allowed to drive them all over the farm - great fun. I'm sorry to say I crashed one into another Mini coming out a field one day. Such is youth. And my granduncle never said a word and paid for all the damage. I felt small. It still bothers my conscience 30 or so years on.

Well today was all mechanics - a bit dull.

I finally cleared the bulkhead - removed the clutch master cylinder with the slave. Removed the pedal box. Why Oh why use these wretched shear bolts at the steering column. As usual did some damage grinding them out. Removed the wiring loom. Had to cut at the connectors that lead to the loom going through the passenger door pillar. And removed the foam sound insulation. What a clever idea - to put a nice water trap on the bulkead. The crossmember was covered in dried mud.

Left with this to repair -





Hopefully will find some time next week.

Grind on

Hugh

[hughJ]

Was very busy earlier in the week but even when my time cleared was very reluctant to go out and work. But, I couldn't let a week go by without doing one repair at least. Tackled the top of the bulkhead at the windscreen lip.



Cut out the rust



Made a wee panel



Welded it in. I finished my first 5kg reel of wire. Thanfully I had bought a 15kg reel



Cleaned up a wee bit and etch primed



Not much, but every little moves on. Hopefully be a bit more motivated next week

Hugh

[hughJ]

Have spent a bit of time repairing the top of the scuttle, bulkhead and inner wing at drivers side. The pictures can speak for themselves























I tried to make the part going round the inner wing and top of the scuttle in one piece to match the original but wasted far too much time - just not good enough, so had to do it in two pieces.

Move over to the passenger side now. It's so bad it needs the bonnet hinge cut out.

Slowly grinding on

Hugh

Edited by hughJ, 10 February 2011 - 08:48 PM.

[myredmini]

Hugh,
your doing amazing with this project, absolutally brilliant, keep it up !!!

Dan

[Zenob1]

Hugh,

This project thread is great . You're replacing panels that i always thought were beyong the reach of a novice and you're doing a great job. I feel that there is hope for me yet.

Keep up the good work and the regular updates.

Matt

[Timty]

Great progress Hugh i'm really enjoying this rebuild thread! keep up the good work

[minimuk]

doing great, excellent project will pay off in the end, go for it!!!