670 replies to this topic

[big-jay]

Update,

Well, today was the day, eight months of welding and grinding is at an end and the Mini is now off for her shiny new coat.

Started the day with a quick trip to Minispares to pick up a few things, boot lid, seam strips, clips and some new mirrors. Here's a few pictures -







Then we finished a few small jobs that needed doing, mostly sealing to be honest. Here are a few pictures of the finished door gapping's.

Passenger door -







Drivers door -







Wasn't an easy job, and probably the one I enjoyed the least, but is definitely worth doing to get nice tight shut lines.

Anyway, here's a quick picture of me and my dad waiting for the guys from the garage to come and pick her up -





Loading her onto the trailer, started to rain so we had to throw the car cover over -



All set and ready to go -



On the move, the furthest she's moved in almost a year -



We arrived at the body shop and went through what we wanted doing, paint codes and what not. Then it was time to go, this is how I left her -





Felt quite strange coming home to an empty drive, but the next time she's back she'll be fully painted and awaiting me to put her back together again

I'll also be checking in with the body shop regularly to make sure it's all going to plan, and is being done to a standard I'm happy with.

[Ben_O]

Those door gaps are spot on Jay.

 

You both look really proud of your achievement and so you should be!

 

At least you will have your dad's mini to work n now. Let the fun begin again!!

 

Good luck mate

 

Ben 

[big-jay]

Those door gaps are spot on Jay.
 
You both look really proud of your achievement and so you should be!
 
At least you will have your dad's mini to work n now. Let the fun begin again!!
 
Good luck mate
 
Ben

Thanks ben,

Not to much to do on my dad's car so shouldn't take us to long !

[big-jay]

Update,

Stripped down most of the running gear today, radius arms, top arms, hubs and drive shafts.

Here's a couple of pictures -









Still got to strip down the other hub and driveshaft, and remove the bearings from the top arms, radius arms and the rear hubs, then they can go off for blasting and powder coating.

Not to sure if you can remove the bearings from the drive shaft or the UJ that attaches to it, so will have to pop a question up on here.

[rally515]

Ooo how exciting, I bet you can't wait to get it back all gleaming and shiny and start building up :)

How long did the bodyshop say they'd be ?

 

I must say, you and your Dad don't look that Disimilar, if he shaved the beard off and you commented saying he was your brother id have believed you!!!

 

If you're referring to the inner pot joints then yes they do come out those bearings, although remember to keep them all located in there housings, apparently it's not a wise idea to mismatch them about.

 

Cliff

[big-jay]

Ooo how exciting, I bet you can't wait to get it back all gleaming and shiny and start building up :)
How long did the bodyshop say they'd be ?
 
I must say, you and your Dad don't look that Disimilar, if he shaved the beard off and you commented saying he was your brother id have believed you!!!
 
If you're referring to the inner pot joints then yes they do come out those bearings, although remember to keep them all located in there housings, apparently it's not a wise idea to mismatch them about.
 
Cliff

Can't wait mate, as i said to ben, can't believe I'm actually at this stage now, didn't feel like I was ever going to get here. Just glad most of the dirty jobs are almost finished now, then it's all shiny new clean parts to put back on !

They said between 2 - 4 weeks, but to be honest I don't mind waiting a bit longer, as long as they do a top notch job. I'll be popping in regularly anyway, so I can make sure it's all going to plan.

, not the first time I've heard that, everyone says we look very similar !

I may well just leave the bearings and what not alone, they look pretty good to me, I can't see any pitting and what not. Will just remove the old grease and apply some fresh when I'm rebuilding them.

[Badboytunes]

Just read all of this. Cracking work. Looking forward to seeing the painted shell.

 

Cheers

[big-jay]

Just read all of this. Cracking work. Looking forward to seeing the painted shell.
 
Cheers

Cheers fella, me too !

[big-jay]

Parts Update,

Picked up a few things that we took down to be blasted and powder coated last week, here's a few pictures.

Front Subframe -







A few various bits and pieces -











Stopped at Minispares on the way back and picked up my Newton Commercial carpet set, very nice bit of kit indeed -







And a nice little touch from them -



We're going down to the body shop tomorrow to see how there getting on, hopefully they'll be some good progress being made, will update with some photos when I have them !

[Jared Mk3]

That carpet set looks really good - nothing like that in this country 

[big-jay]

That carpet set looks really good - nothing like that in this country 

It's a real quality set, would recommend to anyone !

[Ben_O]

That subby looks great Jay!

 

I like the carpets, just wish they didn't put heel pads on both sides.

 

Look forward to the body shop photos tomorrow mate

 

Ben

[big-jay]

That subby looks great Jay!
 
I like the carpets, just wish they didn't put heel pads on both sides.
 
Look forward to the body shop photos tomorrow mate
 
Ben

Cheers Ben,

The powder coaters have done a quality job, will be getting the rest of my stuff done there too, including my wheels !

Update to follow...

[big-jay]

Update,

Got up early today and made the journey down to the body shop, fair to say I've been quite anxcious to see how they're getting on.

The 'paint', and I use that term loosely, Mr Bodge had applied before I bought it has taken them a bit longer than they thought it would to remove, seeing as it's been put on so thick, so they've not managed to get as much done as they would have hoped.

They have however completely removed the crap paint from the roof, and started fillering where it's needed, and have begun removing the paint from the rear and the quarters, also fillering where required. He's going to take it back down to the factory paint/primer so hes got a good base to work from.

Here's a few pictures -




(Note the VW bus in the background, next project for me maybe , that or a beetle anyway !)





They've just finished a land rover defender that's had a full respray, so will have a lot more time to work on my Mini now that's out of the way.

We're going back down on Wednesday as he says they'll be a lot more progress made, so should have some more pictures then !

[big-jay]

Update,

Been stripping down a few bits and pieces over the week, nothing major, just all the necessary parts that need doing while the Mini's away.

Stripped down the pedal box ready to be blasted and powder coated -



Master cylinder stripped ready for a rebuild kit, will clean up and paint this myself -



Didn't get chance to go down to the garage today, so will have to be Saturday instead. Should also be picking up a new rear subframe on Friday, so will take that down to the powder coaters along with a few other things.