409 replies to this topic

[1984mini25]

Just a small update. A few weeks back I drilled off the bonnet trim panel to asses the condition of the bonnet lip. The more I poked the worse it got. So as a temporary solution I covered the sharp edges/holes with duct tape, so it was still drivable (even if I'm not a fan of the 'rat look'). That was until the weekend when I decided to just chop the whole lot off and give a go at repairing it properly. Although predictably the inner structure needed further repairs
 

 

 
Repair sections made and welded.
 

 

 
And the new bottom repair section I made, with nothing more than a pair of pliers and a hammer.
 

 

 
 

 


 
It still needs a little bit of tweaking and the welds grinding back. But I was getting a bit knackered today, so it can wait for another day.
 
 

Edited by 1984mini25, 26 July 2016 - 09:25 AM.

[1984mini25]

Pretty much spent the entire day trying to get this to fit under the n/s inner wing.

 

 

Or to be more precise, trying to drill 4 holes. Witch only involved jacking it up, removing the front wheel, damper and bracket, fresh air ducting, front grill and n/s headlamp (wiring also needs attention). All I have now is the fun job of wiring it up and adding the switch.

 

And while the n/s inner wing was pretty much empty, I made a start on wheel arch liners mk2. With the mk1 liners, I chopped a bit more off than I needed, so hopefully using the old ones as templates these will offer more protection and look a bit neater.

 

[1984mini25]

Todays jobs consisted of...

 

N/s headlamp wiring cleaned, repaired, extended and re-taped,

N/s headlamp back in and working,

Front grill and trim bolted back on.

N/s wheel arch liner trimmed, finished and bolted (used plastic bolts this time round)

O/s wheel arch liner, trimmed, bolted up and just need the rough edges finishing of.

 

And while I had the front jacked up and the wheels off, it looks like I need to replace both front knuckles, n/s pot joint boot and both steering rack gaiters, all because the rubbers have split/perished. Although the threads on the high-lows look like they will be fun. Only been on the car a few years, but are already heavily corroded.

Edited by 1984mini25, 30 July 2016 - 09:08 PM.

[1984mini25]

Spent today chopping out this mess.

 

 

Although the jacking point I'll be re using.

 

 

And made a star of making up the new crossmemebr end and inner sill.

 

 

 

Although I could do with a measurement of the crossmemebr across the car from doorstep/inner sill to doorstep/inner sill.

 

As for some reason my crossmemebr section I've made, witch fits perfectly/matches the passenger side (the side I made the templates from) seams to throw the inner sill completely out. Although I think the front floor section/inner sill has been welded slightly out and isn't helping.

[1984mini25]

Todays progress before it started to pee down.

 

 

 

 

 

[1984mini25]

Crossmemebr section and inner sill done.

 

 

 

 

[lawrence]

Nicely done :) rugged but solid, I personally wouldn't bother grinding the welds down on the crossmember anymore and cover the crossmember in carpet!

[1984mini25]

I'll probably give them a little more of a grind back when I do the outer sill, as rather annoyingly the flying ants were out yesterday afternoon.

[megamini_jb]

Looking good. You still in MK?

[1984mini25]

Yep still in Mk.

 

Spent the last 2 afternoons with the wiring of the electric fan. What with  having to remove the washer bottle for access to the starter solenoid, feeding wirings into the car, wiring up the switch, finding somewhere to mount the relay, neatly running new cables and tidying them up with the loom etc.

[megamini_jb]

I'm moving there at the end of September, hopefully see you around in the mini

[1984mini25]

Been working my way through repairing/redoing this...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1984mini25]

Got most of the rear inner sill, stiffener and headboard reinforcing bracket done. But it would be a mini if there wasn't more rot than expected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1984mini25]

Started the day with this...

 

 

 

During.

 

 

 

And finished the day with.

 

 

 

 

[1984mini25]

What was left of the outer sill removed, welding cleaned up, jacking point re-welded, primed and sealed.