1498 replies to this topic

[rally515]

 

It came out of my garage

 

 

                                  

SHAME ON YOU BOTH!!!!

[DiscoDarren]

Looks to be more solid metal there than on the whole of my car

[Ben_O]

It is pretty good to be honest.

 

Cliff, it's not going to be a trailer. As Carlos said, it was his and as the picture shows was just gathering dust in his garage so we struck up a deal and it came here.

 

Plan is to split the whole shell, ditch the panels that are too far gone and keep the good ones to use on my 25.

 

So far it looks like i am going to be using both quarter panels, the complete rear panel up to the bottom of the rear window, the back rest part of the rear seat panel and the bootlid is excellent.

 

There are other parts i may use but won't know for sure until i get the underseal off and take a look.

 

Before any naysayers come along and tell me that i have wasted a mini, i haven't. I didn't cut it in half and neither did Carlos. It is being recycled and the main reason for me having it is that i need to buy a rear panel for my 25 and the purchase price alone for this whole rear end has saved me more than a new rear panel would have cost. Any other panels i can use are a bonus.

 

So todays plan is to start splitting it. I will put up some more updates tonight with the progress!

 

Ben

[Ben_O]

Not had much time to work today but did make some progress.

 

Managed to get the rear panel off in one piece. Unfortunately the vertical seams between the quarter panels and rear panel are spot welded every 10mm or so and some are close to the face of the panel and some are right on the edge of the flange so it was very time consuming and tedious trying to split the seams in a way where the panel will go again.

As well as that, some ape in the past had fitted a rear valance and it was welded in so many ways and the holes that had been drilled for the plug welds were huge so will have to partially reconstruct the bottom flange somewhat.

as for the vertical seams, I plan to weld up all of the holes i had to drill making the flange complete again and then re-drill fresh holes that are evenly apart and neat.

 

here are some pictures of todays work.

 

Stripped and cleaned up boot lid which is in great shape. i will probably split the seams and use deox gel or something to treat them but thats for another day.

 

 

This was taken about an hour in of splitting this seam. It was really slow going but as you can see, the seams are kept intact so it was worth it.

 

 

This is the rear panel removed. Looks like it will be ok after a bit of tidying up on the seams.

 

 

 

And this is where i finished up today.

 

 

Next job is to get the quarter panels off. 

[Carlos W]

Before any naysayers come along and tell me that i have wasted a mini, i haven't. I didn't cut it in half and neither did Carlos. It is being recycled and the main reason for me having it is that i need to buy a rear panel for my 25 and the purchase price alone for this whole rear end has saved me more than a new rear panel would have cost. Any other panels i can use are a bonus.

 

The car is a front end write off.

 

I bought the rear half from Josh, and as far as I know he's recycled as much as possible.

 

I bought it to make a trailer, but I don't have the time or space, and space issues are hindering my project.

 

The death of one mini has kept others on the road.

[Ben_O]

here here carlos!

 

Every bit of this will be recycled either by using the panels on my mini, selling on any good panels that i don't need and then all of the rotten parts that are no good will go down to the recycling centre.

 

Ben

[grahama]

Have been looking back over your build as I have been away for a while and it looks great.

You did as I did, cleaning and restoring bits along the way, just better than I did it lol.

Engine building was the best bit for me, really enjoyed it and have a look at the mini mania u tube vids, they are good for building.

Did you grease up the cam and crank as the polished surfaces rust in hours and if it gets hold they will need re grinding.

Looking good tho

Graham

[Ben_O]

Cheers Graham!

 

Oops, i didn't grease the crank! It is in a dry garage though so hopefully it will be ok???

 

I am only really refurbing the parts now as it's about all i can do currently but i am glad i am doing it. Just want to keep the project ticking over so it doesn't get abandoned.

 

Ben

[exuptoy]

The work is a credit to you fella, keep it up!

I have a 73 T2 camper on a roll over frame in the garage at the moment but cant be arsed going in and doing it! I need to get some motivation. Just glad my mini is reasonably solid!

[Ben_O]

Thanks alot exuptoy!

 

The best way i find to get motivated is to just go out to the garage every day for 5 minutes and just look at the car, have a little poke around and after a week of that i suddenly want to get back on it again.

I also look over my build thread when i start loosing motivation, look back at what i have already done and read all the positive comments by other members and that usually does the trick as well!

 

Have you much to do on your T2?

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[exuptoy]

Thanks alot exuptoy!
 
 
Have you much to do on your T2?
 
Cheers
 
Ben

dont want to spam your thread but loads!!!:)

[Ben_O]

I have seen that picture before!

 

Well good luck with that. when did you last work on it?

 

Ben

[exuptoy]

Last may! lol
Got a GSXR 1000 K3 and then destroyed it then bought another, a K5 1000 and restored it as it was looking a little tired then got the mini, so I need to make some time and get back into it!

[Ben_O]

Right, had a bit more time on the half-shell today removing panels. Had to stop in the end as i hurt my arm.

 

Managed to get one of the quarter panels off cleanly although it was the one that i wasn't sure about. To be honest, it is perfectly salvageable and just needs a few minor repairs but i might scrap it.

The other quarter panel is completely sound so i have no doubt that will go again. 

 

Once i got the quarter panel off, i was delighted to see that the waist rail was absolutely mint so that will be reused to replace my rusty one.

 

Hopefully, monday i will get the other one off, the cut the b posts off and waist rails and compact it a bit more.

 

Overall i am quite pleased considering i only really bought it for the rear panel and boot lid. I have decided to use the roof as sheet metal for other repairs on the shell so that will save a bit there too.

 

Here are some pictures.

 

 

 

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[Ben_O]

Bit more done

 

 

Getting closer now and the pile of panels is growing.