393 replies to this topic

[DeanP]

Extraordinary quality and attention to detail, looking forward to the finish item! :)

[hughJ]

Just humbling to see your work. Thanks for showing how it should be done

Hugh

[rich2]

Awesome work! At some stage I'd like to go back over my whole mini and get all the welds I have made looking as clean as yours!

I have just used the pics of your inner sill to heel board reinforcing bracket as reference to make my own as it had rotted away. I was wondering... is the captive nut on yours needed for anything, or is it there just for maximum authenticity? :)

[minifcd]

Thanks Rich, i've just had a look at your project. Nice fabrication and i'm liking the work on that rear quarter repair. Yes the captive nut is just for maximum authenticity. It's really not needed but I just can't help myself! The actual purpose of those reinforcing brackets at the front and rear were purely for factory use I believe, as they align with the slinging brackets. Slinging shoes were located into the slinging brackets underneath and bolted through the hole and captive nut in the reinforcing bracket, to allow the bare shells to be moved around at the factory, before running gear was fitted. As described in the Sommerford Mini floor catalogue - above the crossmembers section, no slinging brackets fitted under the floor is a tell tale sign of a car thats had new sills or major floor repair.

http://www.somerford...d-cabriolet.pdf

Its just me being fussy!

[rich2]

Ah cool. Thanks for that! Useful information. :)

[Lilly Mini]

This is an amazing and very inspiring read, Your fabrication and welding are top class, Well done sir!

[Goacher65]

Hiya, loving the project. Wish I had the time to do as much work on mine as this, it'd be finished by now! Quick question, what's the paint you use on the hidden areas? The black aerosol paint? Wondering what other people have been using, i know Rich has been brushing on POR 15, but obviously aerosol would be easier and quicker.

Howard

[orangeboy]

extremely impressed with your repairs and fab work, reading your post may have saved me a fair few quid. I was debaiting on replacing the whole floor of my van but may now keep the tunnel and use half floors.
keep up the good work

[minifcd]

Thanks Rich and Lilly Mini, your comments are most welcome. Thanks Howard. For the hidden areas I seam seal, etch prime and then use normal spray paint, nothing special, Halfords etc. Just used black as it was to hand. I will most probably spray wax oil in when the shell has been painted anyway, just to add a bit more protection.
Thanks orangeboy, glad you like. My floor wasn't too bad so I used M-machine inner sills/floor to first groove and then a cheap foot well panel to repair. It would definately be quicker and easier to replace the half floors though and I would recommend M-machine for these too.
I am still a few weeks behind with the updates on this as I have just started to replace the roof, so stay tuned to see the outcome. Another update to come soon.

[BusheyTrader]

I've just used your pics as reference for my heelboard / inner and outer sill repairs. Top notch finish for bodywork that'll never be seen......

I've bookmarked your thread as I know I'll be referring to it through my rebuild. Great stuff.

Adam

[youngson]

this build looks great, can you give us some more info or pictures of the sorts of sanding discs you are useing?
at that stage of my project that was thinking of getting the car blasted however watching your work looks like i could get just as good a finish doing it myself. any info would be great thanks

[Minuki]

Superb fab work!

[RawlinsGTR]

This is an awesome project... you're too good at fab work!!

It's unreal..

[minifcd]

No problem Adam. The purpose of this is for reference so if it helps in any way, thats great. Some of the repairs may never be seen but I know they're there!
Hi youngson. I'll try and get some pictures of what I use at some point and put them on here.
Minuki and Dog, thanks.

Just a few pictures for you. Nothing special but whilst the shell is still on its side, I made some new tabs for the brake and fuel lines and welded them in place.




Made new tabs for the top of the toe board.




Ground down.




I'll get a few more pictures on later.

Thanks.

[minifcd]

Got some more of the inside done whilst the shell is on its side. Its so much easier to work on the inside whilst the shell is on its side. Just a bit awkward trying to climb in and out through the front window though.

Cleaned the seat back, down to bare metal.


Then got some etch primer on.


A picture of the seat belt bracket I made on the seat back, inside of the boot. Forgot to take this picture when I actually fitted it.


Then got all of the metal work around the inside of the roof cleaned down to get rid of the glue from the head liner.




Cleaned the bulk head next.


Next I tidied up some of the welds and had a hole near to an edge that needed filling, so tried the copper trick. 15mm copper water pipe hammered flat and the end squared off. Clamped in place and weld away. When copper removed ground down to leave a nice edge.


Replaced a tab on the bulk head and then set about etch priming the floor.


Almost ready to put the shell back on its floor now.

Thanks.