1843 replies to this topic

[Petrol]

Hi Ross, this sounds so simple but runs are caused by too much paint applied too quickly. Oh and yes I have the T shirt and cap on this one! Wheels can be a right pain to paint and it’s just a case of taking your time to try to get even coverage. This is how I sprayed the Minifins –


First coat (always very thin) went on at this angle. This covered only one side of the fins (red arrow) The blue arrow shows where no paint went on

 

 

 

 

Second coat went on from the other angle painting the other fins. The problem is that the middle section indicated by the red arrow now has 2 coats on it

 

 

The only way to prevent runs is to allow enough time for the paint to tack off before the next coat. The more coats you apply, the longer it takes for the last coat to tack off. It's tempting to move the gun in close to get some paint on a localised area but doing this, increases the risk of runs. I put a total of 4 coats on the drums - so that's 8 coats between the fins! It's not easy and I hope that helps.

 

 

I want the car to look pretty much stock so spraying the drums black will hopefully hide the upgrade.

 

I have no concerns about the stainless bolts holding the rear subframe on Gr4h4m, Minisport sell a complete kit for this and whilst stainless has only 80% the tensile strength of high tensile steel, I think it's more likely that the captive nuts in the heel board would let go first. Either that or the brittle cast steel trunnion brackets would fail.

 

Since most of the load and forces are on the front end on a Mini, everything on the front has been built up with HT steel stuff.

 

YW fwdracer, I know what you mean about late model shells, I cant believe how bad this was for a 1998. There's nothing left of what I bought! I didn't mention it but the rear radius arms were beyond repair and have been replaced. The bolts holding the front lower arms to the tie bars were seized solid so I binned the lot. The front upper arms were beyond repair. I have replaced just about everything.

 

This mod / upgrade / downgrade was a bit pointless really and took hours to fabricate. It's a MK3 steering column with early Mk3 indicators / wash wipe. Ignition barrel / cowling is MK5

 

 

 

 

Pete

 

 

 

 

 

 

[slidehammer]

great looking paint finish, is that 2k paint? also what brand of gun is that you were using to get such a great finish?

[domdee]

Hi Pete

Look on page 35 of the latest MiniWorld mag to see some bulkhead, floor strengthener plates. Might be worth considering opposed to the bonding idea you are thinking of...

[Petrol]

great looking paint finish, is that 2k paint? also what brand of gun is that you were using to get such a great finish?

 

I used 1K caliper and drum paint. The gun I used was a "fast mover" and cost only £12. It's not the gun that gives the finish though it's the amount applied and time between coats

 

http://www.ebay.co.u...=p2054897.l4275

 

Hi Pete

Look on page 35 of the latest MiniWorld mag to see some bulkhead, floor strengthener plates. Might be worth considering opposed to the bonding idea you are thinking of...

 

Cool, thanks. Is it this issue?

 

http://www.pocketmag...d#5243f9bb35788

 

 

Pete

[slidehammer]

Cheers Pete

Great gloss straight from the gun. Also a great price on the gun, I would have thought for that money it would have been hopeless. Which obviously is not the case.

[Petrol]

Cheers Pete

Great gloss straight from the gun. Also a great price on the gun, I would have thought for that money it would have been hopeless. Which obviously is not the case.

 

NP. Have a look at this - post #1290 on how to apply paint to small parts

 

http://www.sxoc.com/...a-refurb/page65

 

Pete

[domdee]

Number 278 Pete. It's only a small picture so I could send you a snap rather than you buying it.

[RossKnight]

Thankyou very much for taking the time to explain Pete, I'll also order one of those guns, looks much easier to manoeuvre around small objects compared to my 600ml one, I was staying away from the really cheap guns, but the results you're getting from it alone is solid enough evidence.

[Petrol]

Number 278 Pete. It's only a small picture so I could send you a snap rather than you buying it.

 

Got the pic. Thanks very much for that. I have some stainless plates on the way so will have a think about my plan when they arrive 

 

Thankyou very much for taking the time to explain Pete, I'll also order one of those guns, looks much easier to manoeuvre around small objects compared to my 600ml one, I was staying away from the really cheap guns, but the results you're getting from it alone is solid enough evidence.

 

No prob. These small guns are great for getting round those hard to reach places. Sometimes budget stuff is OK though I have probably gone through 4 or 5 of those guns in the last 5 or 6 years. Talking of tools I've been frustrated with poor storage and my ageing tool kit. Some if goes back to the early 80's. Decided to have a major overhaul and get it sorted. This was my tool box

 

 

Not easy to find anything in there so I have bought this

 

 

Had some foam cut for the drawers. This should make things easy to find

 

 

Sockets are going in here

 

 

It came with a load of tools but the plastic containers waste space and will probably break

 

 

The foam is a better arrangement

 

 

More stuff to go in

 

 

 

 

 

Hopefully I will be spending less time looking for stuff and more time working

 

Pete

[RossKnight]

Very organized! Although, I think most of my tools would end up just being thrown on the top of it after a while haha.

 

No prob. These small guns are great for getting round those hard to reach places. Sometimes budget stuff is OK though I have probably gone through 4 or 5 of those guns in the last 5 or 6 years.

 

Well for that price, even if I only get a few uses out of it, it'll be worth it. I've ordered one :)

[zeemax89]

Bit more info in case it's useful to anyone

 

This is the original setup. The X member brace finishes very close to the inner wing stiffener

 

 

Any force from the X member will be concentrated on this area and since there's only about an 8mm distance to the stiffener, the whole load will end up on the single skin inner wing. Not ideal.

 

This is the new stiffener

 

 

By extending it further forwards it will spread the load over a greater distance rather than concentrating it one place. It will also reduce the leverage on the inner wing from the X member

 

Hoped that made sense and was helpful

 

Pete

Thanks for the images Super mini mad.  this is exactly where I an right now.  can you remember is the stiffener is welded to the bulkhead edge or just meets it?  Hard to explain what I mean.  Behind the crossmember, there is a right angle on the edge of the bulkhead wall.  I suspect the inner wing spot welds to that and the stiffener just meets the flange

 

thanks for the pics, very helpfull

[alchall]

Number 278 Pete. It's only a small picture so I could send you a snap rather than you buying it.

 Hi, any chance I could also get a copy of the picture, I'm almost onto new toe board fitting so would be good to see this....

[domdee]

[alchall]

Fabulous, thanks!

[Petrol]

Ross, one of those guns should do a whole Mini - shell included. Just a reminder to always clean out a new gun, there can be cutting fluid inside after the machining

 

I have dug some more pics out of the inner wing / shock mount arrangement zeemax89.

 

With the inner wing cut out, you can see the flanges on the X member

 

 

These are what I welded in. Left to right-

 

Inner wing stiffener, this was the extended plate

Inner wing repair plate - to repair the hole in the inner wing

Inner wing to X member brace

 

 

 

First job was to weld the repair plate into the inner wing. At this point it wasn't welded to the X member flanges

 

 

The inner wing stiffener goes between the inner wing and the X member flanges so that's 4 layers

 

Inner wing

Inner wing stiffener

X member flange

X member brace

 

 

 

I spot welded the lot all in one go

 

 

 

I can post a pic up of the finished job but it's easier to see without seam sealer and paint.

 

Hope that helps and thanks domdee for the pics I should have both the plates and the adhesive soon. Iv'e got a great idea

 

Pete