12 replies to this topic

[yellowmini80]

Hi guys, last year I bought myself a 1984 Mini Van off of ebay and it is currently being subject to a full restoration. It was obviously not registered straight away as they stopped production in 1982. I go to Tamworth college where I am studying bodywork and paint refinishing, where I am lucky enough to be able to carry out this in depth restoration over as much time as I want. I am able to spend long hours on each and every panel and ensure everything gets done to the highest standards. I am paying for my tutor to spray the van when it is finally ready in the colour of my choice BS309 Canary Yellow (same as my saloon). I am doing this rather than painting it myself as I have seen her fantastic work and want the finished product to be as good as it possibly can be! It will have a black roof and black W&P arches. There are two other minis being worked on in the college, and a classic beetle which has just been sprayed too! I wanted to wait until I had got a substantial amount of pictures and work carried out before I started the log so there was something decent to look at. 

 

Once the van was stripped at my home it went to a mini specialist where the following panels were replaced:

 

Offside wing

Rear Valence (Will be wax injected)

Both corner Valences

Both sills (Will be wax injected)

rear floors 

Nearside front floor

Rear subframe mounting panel repairs

Bulkhead repairs

Part cross member

Both doorsteps and lower 1/4 panels

 

I have uploaded my photos so far to photobucket for you all to look at, so here is the link - 

 

http://s1341.photobu.../?sort=3&page=1

 

No work on the running gear has been carried out as of yet. The subframes and all running gear will be sand blasted and sprayed in the booth. I plan to use polyurethane paint for the subframes to give it a tough rubbery coating that wont chip yet still a great glossy finish. The 1275 engine it came with ran suprisingly well! no smoke, started fine, idled fine, drove fine. Despite this it will be thoroughly cleaned including de-coking the head, all new gaskets and painted gloss black to contrast against the bright yellow engine bay. 

 

Please let me know what you think so far! Many thanks, Ellis.

[SAL 821X]

What an excellent facility to work in.

Will be following this one as i love a yellow van me. ;0)

[SAL 821X]

Link some pictures to the site by copying the img code into a new post so people can see here too.

Just a thought ;0)

[alex-95]

Looks good, are you going to put a van grille on it? 2 things I noticed while looking at your pictures.

How come the wing has been welded on the seams?

 

And how come oversills were fitted?

 

 

[Rocket.]

Nice project ! will be watching this  I'm hoping to get a van in the not to distant future

[Simon1867]

Good to see another van being looked after... I like the colour too, another yellow van gets my vote

[jcslocum]

Looks really good.

I looked thru the pics and need to swipe that gas tank. Mine has a huge hole! I need a new tank :-(

[Bonkys van]

Any more updates? Pics. Would be good to see how you are getting on.

[yellowmini80]

Hi guys, sorry i havent posted in so long. The welding i am really unhappy with. I had it done at a mini "specialists" mantis minis. The old sills were removed and it was in his hands what sills he used, i asked for genuine panels to be used. At the time i was not aware of oversills and what they wete commonly used for and if i had known i wouldnt have accepted it back, nor the fact he welded the seams which caused me los of work... despite thenfact he spot welded the new door steps on lovely so i have no idea why he didnt spit weld my wing??? Too late now anyway. I know for a fact the old sills and inner sills were removed so although not great i know there is no nasty horror stories hiding behind the oversills he fitted. I sprayed it myself in college, which i was so happy with the result. Bs309 canary yellow, clear over base. Not sure how to add photos from my phone, will add photos when i get chance.

[minimissions]

Nice to see another van being saved, hope that those oversills come off as well :) had a fair amount of work correcting this on my sidewalk after it had rotted out the floor and inner sills boths sides, they are horrible things..

 

I am also looking for a van as well love them.... hmm maybe one day.

[Rocket.]

What people don't seem to realise is oversills are only really that bad when welded over old sills or rust

If everything was cut out and replaced with new metal I see no reason to worry

 

Yes in an ideal world everyone would have vented sills but these things happen

 

Could always open up the oversills to turn them into vented sills ?

 

Anyway good luck with the rest of the project !  

[surfblue]

What people don't seem to realise is oversills are only really that bad when welded over old sills or rust

If everything was cut out and replaced with new metal I see no reason to worry

 

Yes in an ideal world everyone would have vented sills but these things happen

 

Could always open up the oversills to turn them into vented sills ?

 

Anyway good luck with the rest of the project !  

Unfortunately my Mk1 was restored with them but as above, the old metal was removed before fitting and they are painted over stone chip they are perfectly sound. I keep intending to drill them, inject wax then fit rubber grommets just not got round to it. But it is rarely driven in the wet and never in winter on salted roads so I dont envisage mine being a problem. Much as Id like them replaced with genuine I just cant justify the expense.

[MiniCook]

Good to see a van being saved , one of those things sills, some times its better to just roll with what you have, rather than fix something that isn't broken. If the metals all good and theres no rot then no problem, just means you need to keep an eye on it and take care of it.