193 replies to this topic

[Skortchio]

You're not the only one there! But at £50 for everything bar the primer, even if it's tosh I haven't lost much except a few days messing about with the car, which I'd probably have been doing anyway

[Alex_B]

Yeah I think all in my respray cost about that, I did mine in basecoat and lacquer, but could use my college paintshop so got primer and lacquer and a paint booth and all the sanding materials, filler, ect included in my course costs so I got lucky,

the paintjob isnt brilliant but for a daily I am more than happy

[Skortchio]

Jammy!

I've got the equipment to spray but not the space, having only ever needed it for bikes before. Did consider spraying once I've bought a gazebo but this looks as interesting approach and rolling will give a more durable finish (hopefully), which is handy as I tend to beat the cr*p out of my doors with the chair getting in and out.

Assuming it doesn't react I might give it a blast over with clear coat once the Dulux dries well. Just because I have it laying about.

Edited by Skortchio, 09 August 2012 - 07:46 PM.

[Alex_B]

Hmm I would do a test panel on something else and then lacquer just to see if its ok, I would have thought it might react, and chair? are you disabled then? if so nice one on working on a mini, must be tricky on certain jobs!

[Skortchio]

I wasn't actually going to just blast the bonnet with it right away!
I'll be conducting the test panel while I wait the 5hours between coats on the car.

Yeah, for my sins (too pretty) I have to roll around everywhere now. I actually bought the Mini as it was easier to get at the engine bay etc. compared to most cars. But you're right, anything involving lifting or counter balance is a bit of a nightmare. Replacing the upper arms was... testing, shall we say.

I may have to enlist help to swap the cylinder head though, I can lift it fine but holding it out at arms length to fit it without core muscles is asking for trouble

[Alex_B]

ahh well I will shh then and im impressed with how you get a chair in a mini! and I dont think I could hold a cylinder head out at arms length sitting down, but I am a weedy bugger!

[Minidarren83]

Hi saw this in the essex mini site ages ago and have seen you on here and wondered when you was going to post it on here. looks good I will be watching to see how the rollering turns out I have the means to paint just not the required skill yet but my front room looks great lol so could go for it myself

[Skortchio]

Hopefully starting the colour this weekend, fella. Feel free to pop by and watch the carnage

[Skortchio]

Nothing interesting for today, you guessed it more sanding!

Car is sitting in a nice shade of high build yellow currently, the gazebo is on hand for assembly and the rear valence is nearly smooth but not quite. I think I need a certain Mini driver to sort it out for me as I'm not so hot on the arty stuff.

[Skortchio]

A mildly productive day today, no there's no paint on the car still...

But, I did finally get on with tubbing the arches. Which turns out is a doddle of a job and not so hard at all, once I'd got over the fear of cutting my pristine rear quarter panels.

I did have a bit of a sand and re prime on the bits I wasn't happy with but after a couple of hours reaslied I was unlikely to ever be happy with it. Some imperfections you just have to live with and for a daily drive, spending literally hours trying to get a perfect contour on the bottom edge of the rear valence just isn't sensible.
So no more crazy days spent with the sanding block, I'm going to make it 'good' not perfect and get some paint on!
(Once I've tidied up the welding )

Pics:

The first cut is the deepest, actually in my case it was a pretty wimpy shaving at the paint more than a cut but I got there in the end.


Getting lippy


All clamped up and ready for some bzzzzt


Possibly a tad more welds than it had before and perhaps a mite overkill. But hey, I need the practice.


Inside looks nicer, I suppose now I have to kidnap someone so they can see it!

[Jasonc]

Looking good there mate!

[Brams96]

Great project, I'll be following this one!

[Shifty]

Nice work, I like what you've done with the sound proofing.

Just a thought but to help with the engine bay work you could use a motorcycle type lift under the rear of the car, that would angle it towards you and it may make it easier. The cheap ones are about £75 and lift pretty high.

[rally515]

Nice work, I like what you've done with the sound proofing.

Just a thought but to help with the engine bay work you could use a motorcycle type lift under the rear of the car, that would angle it towards you and it may make it easier. The cheap ones are about £75 and lift pretty high.

Not a bad alternative to using jacking points subframe ect.. might give it a go my self some time ha ha.

[Skortchio]

Cheers fella, :)

Thankfully due to the small size of the mini I can reach to the scuttle fuse box so everything is accessible, funny you should suggest lifting the back though. As its on axle stands at the minute from tubbing the arches and I thought to myself earlier "i like the front that height!" But it was followed by swift realisation that I like driving it more