197 replies to this topic

[mrthumb]

seem welded the front end. I didnt go mad. as those stresses will only be transfered into my windscreen and crack it the first time i mount the kirb. Should be alot stiffer than a standard mini. but not as stiff as a roll cage. but then i didnt want the extra insurance costs and constant road noise coming through the cage..

most of the seals have been fully welded in the past which should also help somewhat.

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•  seemwelding.jpg   111.74K   27 downloads
•  seemwelding2.jpg   55.87K   25 downloads

[mrthumb]

Off to the sand blasters! (the bloke who was gonna do it let me down so i took charge of the machine and did it myself...)

its unpleasant, hot and dirty work. but sombodys gotta do it :)

there was a few patches of rust holes and filler which i filled in properpley with METAL

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•  miniinvan2.jpg   78.8K   43 downloads
•  miniinvan.jpg   83.4K   35 downloads
•  sandblasting-3.jpg   63.14K   29 downloads
•  sandblastingrust.jpg   44.14K   48 downloads
•  sandblastingrust3.jpg   69.87K   46 downloads
•  sandblasting2.jpg   49.99K   42 downloads
•  sandblasting.jpg   58.08K   34 downloads

Edited by mrthumb, 30 July 2012 - 08:45 PM.

[mrthumb]

time to fill in the petrol cap....

ready to be fillered now...

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•  petrolcap3.jpg   48.76K   47 downloads
•  petrolcap2.jpg   50.23K   46 downloads
•  petrolcap.jpg   35.68K   40 downloads

[mrthumb]

Next job is 3 tins of Zinc based primer... zinc being a surface sacraficial anode and prevents rust for the noobs out there.

Then a coat of stone chip
then a coat of dinitrol wax....

should keep the orange demon at bay.

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•  bottomprimed2.jpg   54.41K   34 downloads
•  bottomprimed.jpg   49.25K   32 downloads
•  bottomfinished2.jpg   80.51K   43 downloads
•  bottomfinished4.jpg   39.36K   35 downloads
•  bottompainted.jpg   82.69K   81 downloads
•  bottomfinished.jpg   88.4K   51 downloads

Edited by mrthumb, 30 July 2012 - 08:55 PM.

[mrthumb]

now that the underside of the car is taken car off i can look at doing other pesky tasks...
I welded the steering collum adapter on today...

Now, I know some of you will frown on it not being pinned. but i did chamfer the metal edges in the lathe before i began. I also done 4 runs of tig welding. I tig weld items most days and im confident this will stand up to a lifetime of abuse. I recon you would need tonnes of sheering torque to break this :)

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•  steeringcollum.jpg   86.18K   36 downloads
•  steeringcollum2.jpg   58.19K   48 downloads
•  steeringcollum3.jpg   42.12K   65 downloads
•  steeringcollum4.jpg   67.28K   57 downloads

[mrthumb]

ok guys, the mini was suppost to be rolling today  subframebuiltup.jpg   97.87K   88 downloads  rolling-mini.jpg   79.64K   58 downloads

I reconditioned, painted and put new brake hoses on the rear subframe i also punched out the old 5/16th UNF studs and welded in some nice new ones so all the bolts and nuts do up and undo perfectley. Everything was assembeled with copper grease so that 10 years from now it will come un done like the day it was put on.

i have hit a snag though. the PCD of the new hubs i got from geoff are 95mm. and my wheels and rear subframe hubs are 100.. what are my options other than getting 2 different wheel sizes?

[Rhys]

You are going to have to drill them out and redrill for 100mm. Not a great job jut the only real option I think.

[mrthumb]

hmm i have the equpiment to do it. but im thinking it would be easier but not cheaper to sell my old wheels and get 2 new sets to match with different PCD... I have found these 2 which i think would be ok....


Type: MINILIGHT
Colour: SILVER HI-LITE
Size: 5.5 x 13
PCD: 4-101.6
Offset: ET 25
Fitment: MINI-MG MIDGET
Body Mods req: NO
http://www.midlandwh...---4x95.25.html


Type: MINILIGHT
Colour: SILVER HI-LITE
Size: 5 x 13
PCD: 4-95.25
Offset: ET 20
Fitment: TRIUMPH
Body Mods req: NO
http://www.midlandwh...---4x101.6.html

the only thing i can spot is the ET offset...

being 5mm difference... what is this? and what difference will it make if any? thanks.

I also ran the fuel lines today...

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•  fuellines3.jpg   75.86K   71 downloads
•  fuellines2.jpg   77.2K   91 downloads
•  fuellines.jpg   60.98K   74 downloads

[Kam]

Cracking work on the bodywork, like the shot aswell of the mini in the van, or is it a minivan? (taxi for Kam)

Your rear subframe? Is it treated? mine is soaked in waxoyl...

[mrthumb]

i cleaned it, brushed it with a wire brush and gave it a coat of enamel... im still considering doing a rear disk/beam conversion at some point so it may come off later on if i got any money left :)

[Sleepy Stu]

Nice work!! I'm currently toying with the idea of flexi hoses instead for the fuel lines. Could I ask where you got them from please and how much?

[mrthumb]

sure.. it was on flea bay...

http://www.ebay.co.u...984.m1439.l2649

I got 3 meters and it worked out to be about the right length with a bit to spare.
8mm ID for the main line, and 6mm ID for the return.

[Kam]

I've bought plenty of stuff from that ebayer, all fine

[mrthumb]

been messing about with the PCD of my wheels. I want to use my existing alloys as you know. I purchased these second hand
http://www.mikesatur..._5.html#aAW3902 Wheel Hub Adapters

and has it turns out they are not really compatable without alot of modification. they also alter the offset which is unfaverable to handeling with my alloys.. 3x7 et 7 minilites...

So instead of wasting them, I decided to use them as a jig or template to drill the holes in a new position.
I layed the PCD adapter with the new holes in the correct position onto the hub and drill through and opened up the holes. im picking up some new studs tomorrow so i should be rolling by the time the weekends finished fingers crossed.

Attached Files

•  pcdtemplate3.jpg   78.74K   45 downloads
•  templatepcd2.jpg   50.24K   30 downloads
•  template-PCD.jpg   47.16K   37 downloads

Edited by mrthumb, 10 August 2012 - 07:29 PM.

[Miniskill]

Looking good.