228 replies to this topic

[M44K TS]

Been chipping away at it again tonight, needed to strip the dash bare and remove the windscreens, (yes, plural!)

Removed the first one by myself, bit daunting at first as I wasn't sure if I cut the rubber seal out, would the glass just fall out! Luckily, it didn't.



I'm guessing this was the last time it was on the road in its original form, (6 cyl, leaf springs, drum brakes etc!)


Dash stripped bare ready for the big hole to be welded up and then the whole thing trimmed.



Roped my mate into giving me a hand with the other side of the windscreen


After taking out the windscreen, the trim for the central bar on the inside was looking a bit worse for wear so ground it back, filler primered it then gave it a couple of coats of gloss black, as with the sill seal retainers, I'll need to give it a liberal dose of clear coat.



Next job will be to tackle the passenger vent window rubbers and window anti-rattle runners.

[M44K TS]

Got the engine up to temperature last night to see how it run.

I'll just leave this here...

[stevede]

Got the engine up to temperature last night to see how it run.

I'll just leave this here...

Like I said, the only sound system you need....

[MiniCooper]

Got the engine up to temperature last night to see how it run.

I'll just leave this here...

Like I said, the only sound system you need....

I'll second you on that Steve, that sounds absolutely beautiful, music to anyone's ears.

[Camshaft1982]

Very nice!! These old trucks hold a very special place in my heart.

I have a '53 Suburban that I was building, but I have to sell it to fund my Mini build.

This is the last thing I thought I would see on a mini UK forum. These trucks are very popular on this side of the pond, but I don't imagine there are too many over there. If you need any info let me know, I know a fair amount about these trucks.

I am glad to see that you are enjoying it. Keep up the good work.

[M44K TS]

Thanks Camshaft, I may give you a pm some time if I get stuck with anything! Cheers!


Thanks Steve & MiniCooper, I'm not 100% on how the exhaust though, it needs either an X or H pipe in the exhaust to link both systems, it'll smooth the sounds out somewhat and help with performance, at the moment, there's one exhaust per bank of cylinders with no link, with an H or X pipe, as one cylinder in one of the banks fires, it'll create a pulse in the opposite side exhaust which will help with the flow of exhaust gasses and make it sounds less hollow. I'm going to take it round to a local guys place in a couple of weeks who has had a couple of pickups and currently has an awesome pro street Chevy Bel Air to see if I have clearance over the prop shaft to have an H pipe fitted, I don't think I'll have room for an X pipe due to where the exhausts exit and where they run in relation to the gearbox and prop. More on that in a couple of weeks when I take it over.

If you're wondering what I mean...
'H' pipe

'X' pipe



Anyway, tonight's boring task, The cowl vent, (small pop up vent in front of the windscreen) didn't have a seal or drainage tube in, so rain water would drip down inside the cab and down the carpets, few quid off ebay for the drainage pipe and the problem should be solved.



The pipe goes through the bulkhead so lets it drip through the engine bay, that's fine if it has it's original straight 6 engine, only problem with where it exits on mine is that any rain water would drip straight down on to the distributor so I'll have to P clip it to one side so it misses it. (Forgot to take a picture of it installed)

Also bought some HT lead seperators, only thing now is it makes the crappy HT leads stand right out, that's one thing I desperately need to order. (Excuse the horrible manifolds too, I want some nice ceramic coated ones.)

[M44K TS]

Oops, I was eyeing up the Edelbrock cams and cylinder head kits on www.realsteel.co.uk and fear I may have set a future goal, I like the sound of 420bhp.....

Shame I've got to spend money elsewhere right now

Anyway, whilst I'm waiting to get the truck round to my mates garage to do the welding that's needed, the interior revamp is on hold pretty much. So, one job that needed tackling was the passenger vent & main window seals and anti-rattle strips. Set about doing that tonight.

First off, I needed to remove the door hinge bolt access panel to get to a retaining bolt for the vent window frame, whilst I was digging around inside the door, I found all of this crap. No wonder the door rattled when it was closed, there were bits of old rubber seals that had gone hard, loads of broken glass and a prehistoric pterodactyl/fly.


Most of the old rubber seals were from the likes of this, there's supposed to be a seal inside the top of the door that sits against the window when it's wound up.



Like this... (total PITA to fit too, took ages!)


With the vent window out, I could crack on and get the main window felt channel fitted, again, another pain to fit as the mastic sort of sealant on it means it's too big for the frame so had to squeeze & tuck it all in. Once the glass is in though, it'll be a nice snug fit.



On to the actual vent window rubber seal, as with the drivers door one, it'd gone pretty hard and stubborn. This was it removed, you can see how much I had to mangle it to get it out.


And with the new seals ready to go in.


Only thing with the vertical seal that sits against the glass is I had to glue it in like I had to with the drivers side, luckily I have some ridiculously strong glue that does the job perfectly. (That's it cable tied in place whilst it set)


Rang round a couple of local glass places to see about getting a new rear window made, only place locally is Auto Glass, was speaking to one of their guys today who mentioned that they stock sheets of flat laminate glass so should be able to use my old window as a template and cut a new one for me. I have to go back through the week and show them to get a price.

[M44K TS]

Dropped the glass off at Autoglass this morning, they said it should be ready tomorrow morning, all for around £40 too which is actually cheaper than buying a new rear window and paying for the postage.

Tonight's mundane tasks, I need to get all the old rubber seals off the doors, I think the doors may have to come off for that as there's bits tucked behind the hinges which look a bit awkward to get to. First things first though, the lower seal retaining trim needed to come off, now we're talking screws which look like they've never been touched in 64 years, they were a bit stubborn but using a screwdriver attachment on a 3/8 ratchet got them off easily enough. Once the trim was off, these are the horrors I found lurking behind...



And the front which was quickly painted over when I first tidied the doors up.


Cleaned it up on using a wire wheel on the bench grinder then gave it a couple of coats of acid etch before painting it black again.

Then moved my attention to the interior window trims, originally, a mate of mine who paints cars shot blasted them then gave them a few coats of black with some satin lacquer, so now because I'm changing it to gloss black, I needed to re-lacquer them.

Not the best job in the world as they're just from pikey rattle cans, I'll need to flatten and polish them up in a week or so.

Windscreen surround trims




Door window trims.




Not a lot left to be getting on with until it goes round to my mates for the welding.

Edited by M44K TS, 04 February 2013 - 11:17 PM.

[M44K TS]

Took the truck round to my mates garage last night, he managed to get the dash welded...



It got a skim of filler so it's smooth for when the vinyl goes on but I didn't want to hang around and pester him to take photos!

I will call in this morning to see if he needs a hand moving it or anything though.

[M44K TS]

Dash has been skimmed and smoothed


Sitting pretty next to Si's Caddy van, he won't swap me for my van though


Had a good look at the floor in the daylight after Si started prodding about, looks worse than it is but considerably better than I thought it would have been

[KieranB]

I spy with my little eye.....a mini in that first pic

Love the shot next to the Caddy, the pickup looks so old school and just.....well awesome really

Kieran

[stevede]

Looking good

Strangely, I've just seen a similar vehicle on my way home tonight. This one was a Dodge, same overall shape but more pointed at the nose. Light grey (shiny) paint and a set of Wolfrace slot mags.

No idea what spec etc, it was just sat on the car park outside Machine Mart.

Regards

Steve

[M44K TS]

Cheers.

Kieran, the Mini is a very long term project, it had been bodged many times before by previous owners it's had pretty much a full resto but is getting a flip front that will open the same way as the original bonnet using VW Caddy hinges, I'll get some pics of it. I think it'll be for sale once complete too.

[M44K TS]

Bit more progress tonight, first of the floor patches went in, just needs the welds dressed.


Passenger side kick panel ready to be welded in, (that will also blank the now redundant heater inlet behind the louvred panel)


Bulkhead holes welded up where the original heater gubbins were


The opposite side will be welded up too, some holes were hidden by painted selotape lol)


I've also asked Si if he could weld up the holes in the floor for the original pedals and have a look at removing the old parking brake lever too.

Hopefully more progress on Friday

[scaffers]

great re build

love the gauges