308 replies to this topic

[colinf1]

Got my rear seat panel welded in today, and fixed up a few holes. Then dropped it around to the painter who already had the doors etc. Said he found alot of dents that I had missed, but he has them all looking pretty good already so looks like it should be a pretty good job.

[colinf1]

Cleaned up most of the glass today, mostly overspray. A few scratches here and there, but nothing major. Will give them more of a clean once there back in the car.

 

Fitted one of the new quarter vent seals, what a job that was. Started with the drivers side when I noticed the bottom pivot point is broken, the bolt has come away from the piece of metal inside the frame. I'll look at taking the frame and glass apart next week, may need to heat it so it slides out.

 

Tried to cover the dash with grey leather effect vinyl..didnt turn out so nice on the first attempt. Used too much glue and put it both sides as per the instructions, but it went all wrinkled. Tried again just painting the dash with glue, worked much better, nice and smooth, not 100% perfect, but good enough. Just need to trim it up once the glue has fully cured.

 

Also, on the rear quarter windows, 3 of the 4 screw that hold the hinge onto the window frame had been snapped, so was just held in place with one screw on each. Tried to undo the remains but no joy and didnt have a small enough tap to make a new thread. Used some sikaflex to glue it together, wrapped the window in cling film then held it all in place with tape until the sikaflex sets.

Edited by colinf1, 26 November 2014 - 07:43 AM.

[colinf1]

Call round to see the progress on the car today at the painters. I thought I had the body pretty smooth, but turned out to be quiet a few dents in places that I had missed. Most of it has been primed and wet rubbed down, now he's filling any low spots and imperfections. Hopefully will have it back by the weekend. 

 

 

This one looks pretty shiny even with just the primer on.

 

A game of X's and O's

 

Nice smooth, dent free boot

 

And worked wonders with the bonnet..

 

On with clean of parts today, get everything nice and clean ready to put back in

[colinf1]

Managed to remove the drivers side quarter vent glass from the chrome surround without breaking it. Heated it up to 120c in the oven to soften the rubber, then slowly (very slowly) removed the rubber bit by bit to allow the glass to slide out. Needed to fix the bottom pivot point as it has rusted away.

 

 

 

Can these be got as a replacement part?

 

Needed to fix up the gear knob as it was all scratched and top plastic was cracked. Removed the plastic with a dremel and slugger bit, then wet sanded the knob 240, 400 and 2000, then a bit of meguires headlight polish to finish. Nice and shiny now, just need to get a centre insert.

 

 

Also made a start on tidying up the steering cowling. Its all scratched and weathered, going to try to wet sand it and polish, if that doesnt work I'll prep it and paint it.

 

[Jared Mk3]

Those quarter light windows look like fun. I'd love a car with them on, but unfortunately we don't get the replacement seals for them this side of the pool. The car is looking good.

[69k1100]

Couldn't make a replacement stud by grinding flats on a bolt?

[colinf1]

Trying to come up with some ideas for the gearknob centre. 

 

Red logo in the background, its kinda hard to see it when its in the gearknob

 

 

Then tried with Leyland Mini around the outside. Kinda hard to see because its so small.

 

 

Then tried this

 

Looks pretty good imo, just wonder if I can use some crystal clear arldite to fill it in and not make the ink run.

 

 

Couldn't make a replacement stud by grinding flats on a bolt?

 

 

I might need to cut a small piece of metal, long and narrow with a hole in, then weld that bolt in place, then adjust it to the correct angle.

[Jared Mk3]

I like that third one.

[colinf1]

Ordered some 25mm perspex disks, so hopefully will be able to make it fit.

 

More cleaning today, and finishing off the dash recovering. Its not 100% but better than the big crack that was in it.

 

 

These vents had gone all crumbly, tried to paint one, but it kept reacting due to the release agent embedded in the plastic. Used a blade to get all the flaky bits off, then wet sanded it, then give it a lick with the blow torch to bring some of the oil in the plastic to the surface and make it glossy again. Looks ok.

 

 

Cleaned up the door kick plates, also needed to straighten them up in places

 

Fixed up a piece of the door seal that was coming away from the pinch seal. Cleaned up the tail lights and housings, one still has some nightshade tint on it, so need to get a can of carb cleaner to remove that. 

 

Tried to fix on of the seatbelts which had wound up and was locking everytime you pull it. Opened the cover with the spring, seen it was all tangled. Managed to get it into my hands, then stood behind a wall and threw it into the garden to let it unwind. Its completly f'kd, so will need new seatbelts.

[colinf1]

No alot done today, picked up some nice dash vents from the wreckers for my dash build. Out of an old Ford Cortina, Twist the silver knob to close. Look pretty neat. No picture yet, as I have taken them apart to wash them.  

 

Also picked up a washer bottle and a coolant recovery bottle. Not from minis but will make them fit. Also picked up a boot liner in the same shade of grey as my new carpet, need to cover parcel shelf and cross member with that.

 

A few more pieces cleaned and polished ready to go back on. Rear lights have been cleaned and look much better.

[colinf1]

Got all of the brake lines tidied up today, a few of the threaded bits were hard to turn, so spent a bit of time freeing them up.

 

Finally got my grille finished, looks pretty good. Light surrounds black parts were really faded so quickly masked them up and gave them a shot of glossy black.

 

Edited by colinf1, 04 December 2014 - 09:00 AM.

[colinf1]

Got my acrylic disks in the post today, cut to 25mm diameter but out of 3mm. So will need to take 1/2mm off the bottom face.

 

Tried the text on the edge of it, but due to the refraction factor, its invisible, you can only see it looking directly at the edge if you press it against half of it. It was a good idea, but would probably need to use the resin to get it to show. It should look pretty good with just the new bottom piece.

 

Cut out some MDF for the parcel shelf and under rear seat. Cutting some speaker holes at the min, that will go on the underseat part, then cover them with grey carpet

 

[colinf1]

Got the speaker board finished up, hopefully it fits!

 

 

I will trim the carpet in the centre cutout once its fitted and sitting nicely.

 

Got a strip of metal welded to the bolt out of the 1/4 vent frame, so need to fit that tomorrow.

 

Car is ready to be painted now, he has all doors etc back on, done all the backs of the doors and around the door jams, around where the hinges mount to the body. All needs to be painted at the same time to avoid different shades of red.

Hoping to get it back some time on monday.

[colinf1]

Picked up some new bailey channel from clarks rubber, also picked up a seal to suit the 1/4 vent window and some 3mm foam.

 

Got both 1/4vent windows finished with new rubbers and fixed up the broken pivot point.

 

 

Heres the steering cowling I painted up

 

 

Also got the gearknob finished. 

 

Gonna try and sort out the wiring loom tomorrow. That should be fun!

[colinf1]

Cleaned up the vin plate, ready to go back on. 
Cut out some gaskets for the master cylinders and mounting bracket, and also gaskets for the front park lamps. 

Didn't really touch the wiring loom, laid it out straight, but weather was too hot to do much.

Hopefully I get the car back tomorrow, I'm so impatient, but would rather be cleaning parts and putting them back on the car rather than cleaning them and putting them back in a box...