1498 replies to this topic

[Ben_O]

Very nice work. Love your attention to detail.

Cheers Graham.

[Vinay-RS]

I know the plan is to restore this car to a better than original condition, but has anyone ever created a mini with a brushed metal finish? Looking at that quarter panel, the idea sounds quite cool.

I was chatting to my other half about that. I also considered the possibility of polishing the steel right up to  mirror finish. Not sure where you would stand with the law though. it would be highly reflective

You have to do it Ben... Well maybe not with this 25, but with another mini. Thing about all that bling :) you'd out shine an escalade

[Ben_O]

 

 

I know the plan is to restore this car to a better than original condition, but has anyone ever created a mini with a brushed metal finish? Looking at that quarter panel, the idea sounds quite cool.

I was chatting to my other half about that. I also considered the possibility of polishing the steel right up to  mirror finish. Not sure where you would stand with the law though. it would be highly reflective

You have to do it Ben... Well maybe not with this 25, but with another mini. Thing about all that bling :) you'd out shine an escalade

 

I would love to do something really bespoke but if i did another Mini after this one, I'd have to sell the 25 to fund it.

 

Not sure how i would feel about that after all the work...

[Vinay-RS]

 

 

 

I know the plan is to restore this car to a better than original condition, but has anyone ever created a mini with a brushed metal finish? Looking at that quarter panel, the idea sounds quite cool.

I was chatting to my other half about that. I also considered the possibility of polishing the steel right up to  mirror finish. Not sure where you would stand with the law though. it would be highly reflective

You have to do it Ben... Well maybe not with this 25, but with another mini. Thing about all that bling :) you'd out shine an escalade

 

I would love to do something really bespoke but if i did another Mini after this one, I'd have to sell the 25 to fund it.

 

Not sure how i would feel about that after all the work...

 

Noooooo... you can't sell this mini. I think this mini is one you've got to keep and enjoy.

[Ben_O]

First things first, i had to have a massive sort out in the garage. I have had alot of deliveries the past few weeks and i have just been chucking the boxes in the garage which has got to the point where i can't move the Mini to turn it round.

 

 

With that done, i put the Mini back on it's side and turned it round. Luckily with it on it's side, i can turn it right round without having to move it out of the garage.

 

 

I also picked this up a few days ago from a shoe shop in town that are having a re-fit

 

 

It really helps with the light situation in the garage.

 

So today's agenda was to get some more of the quarter panel welded on. I thought i would get the arch welded first whilst it was on it's side. I prefer to weld the arch to the quarter panel instead of vice versa because it's neater and much easier to grind the welds down.

 

Here is the holes drilled and all clamped up

 

 

I had to dress the flanges together one at a time between plug welding to keep it all in line and nice and tight together so it took ages but came out ok

 

 

A couple of them blew on the edge but i just built the edge back up with weld and ground it to shape.

 

 

All cleaned back and primed

 

 

 

with that done, i put it back the right way up and welded the C post join. Ill tell you what, this shell is starting to get really heavy now as all the new panels are going on. I can barely manage to tip it up and put it back down again by myself anymore

 

 

Then i decided to have a go at sorting out the back seam. it's in a right old mangled mess from removal. anyone who has split one of these joins will know how many spot welds there are down there and how close they are to one another and to the edge of the seam.

 

 

So with some time and alot of dressing and adjustment, i had a section welded up

 

 

as you can see, it still needs alot more work to finish it but i lost the will to live today so decided to call it a day. I need loads more consumables. I have run out of flap discs, thing grinding stones and i don't have a single sharp drill bit which makes progress impossible until i can get some more.

 

Before i tidied up, i thought i would try on the seam strip to see how it fits

 

 

 

When it comes to body prep time, i am going to top coat the bare seams, fit the seam strips, seal them in and then paint the car with them on. That way, it will keep the weather out of the seam and save worrying about chipping paint fitting them after.

 

cheers

 

Ben

[Zeemax Adventure]

Looking great, love how your so meticulous about everything. It's gonna look great when finished

[johnR]

A great masterclass in restoration - I may have missed this but what is your plan for the look once the bodywork is done?

johnR

[Carlos W]

A great masterclass in restoration - I may have missed this but what is your plan for the look once the bodywork is done?

johnR

standard, very standard.

[Ben_O]

A great masterclass in restoration - I may have missed this but what is your plan for the look once the bodywork is done?

johnR

as Carlos said, completely original, hopefully down to the smallest detail.

 

The only thing that won't be original is the presence of paint and wax in the box sections

[Carlos W]

 

A great masterclass in restoration - I may have missed this but what is your plan for the look once the bodywork is done?

johnR

as Carlos said, completely original, hopefully down to the smallest detail.

 

The only thing that won't be original is the presence of paint and wax in the box sections

 

I think we can forgive you for that. It'll be really interesting to see how long it lasts once its restored. Probably a lot longer than when it was built

[Ben_O]

 

 

A great masterclass in restoration - I may have missed this but what is your plan for the look once the bodywork is done?

johnR

as Carlos said, completely original, hopefully down to the smallest detail.

 

The only thing that won't be original is the presence of paint and wax in the box sections

 

I think we can forgive you for that. It'll be really interesting to see how long it lasts once its restored. Probably a lot longer than when it was built

 

I hope so!

 

it will live in the garage and i will be reluctant to take it out in the wet but it won't be a primary car, just a fun toy and something to do the shows in.

 

It will be the 2nd car that i have ever owned that i will clean properly 

[JonnyAlpha]

NIce work Ben as ever

[clubman91]

Just caught up again!...its looking great.

Great work as always ben very tidy.

Reading this gave me some inspiration to go do a bit on mine.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

[Ben_O]

Just caught up again!...its looking great.

Great work as always ben very tidy.

Reading this gave me some inspiration to go do a bit on mine.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

Nice one. Cheers!

 

I've not had much time to do much on it the past few days and i'm going away next week so progress will be slow until August

[clubman91]

What thickness steel did you use for the rear quarter panel repair.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.