96 replies to this topic

[zeemax89]

Ok, here it is.  I Just picked up this Mini with what could be light NSF damage.

This car has stood for a year, after the last owner met a curb with the front left wheel.  from what I can see so far, there is a bent track rod.  

 

I was told by her that also the " tubey thing that joins the wheel is bent "  As I understand it she meant driveshaft.  I will get it up on stands tonight and have a proper look under and over it.  With regards to the body, it all looks very solid with good sills, floors and general paintwork.  there is some bubbling under the rear screen rubber and the NSF A-panel seam is split at the top.  

 

the car started first time with the aid of a jump start and drove off the flatbed lorry under it's own steam.  So far quite a happy chappy.

 

The car cost £300

just spent £120 on rach and all the peripheral parts.  Lets see how much more it will drain my pocket money!

Attached Files

•  20140918_094940.jpg   78.47K   86 downloads
•  20140918_094953.jpg   87.53K   91 downloads

[megamini_jb]

Very good buy.

[zeemax89]

Hi Guys, I spent the weekend looking over and getting the engine and subframe ready to drop out.  

the car has definitely had a replacment front end at some point.  It almost looks like the seams were all only held together with seam sealer and no welding.  I think actually it was just quite poor welding.  

So yes the NSF wing - a panel seam has burst open, In front of the turret bolts where i think an inner wing repair panel would be welded to the back half of the inner wing (vertically) , looks almost like the weld was never actually done on both sides.  The OSF wing looks to have started coming away from the front panel at the top of the joint, under the grill.  This was either never done properly, or more likely due to the impact on the NSF.  While preparing to drop the drive train, I noticed the front right corner of the subframe has come apart!  EEEEEk, Hence my struggles in getting the teardrop bolt out. 

And yes the toe board in in such a state I will be replacing it ASAP.

 

So I am guessing I will be in the hunt for a subframe!  As luck would have it,  my uncle is helping clear a field for probate purposes.  This field has as a guess 150 cars sat in it,  most look complete they have found 4 mini's so far, and 1 shell and are only about 1/2 way back with regards clearing all the undergrowth.  I am thinking the further back they get, the older the vehicles will get.  might even unearth some MK 1s or 2s.

these will need to be moved quickly, if anyone is interested PM me, When I get the chance I will try and get some pictures,  they are all in somerset. so I am not sure when I will get there!

[zeemax89]

Here is the car lifted over the front drivetrain using a forklift.  It all came apart very easily and inspection can commence  

 20140924_171930.jpg   67.63K   30 downloads

 

This was the obvious damage from the initial look over the car 

 20140920_125608.jpg   66.67K   67 downloads

 

Previous repairs (of sorts)

 OSF mount.jpg   105.02K   82 downloads

 20140924_171944.jpg   65.33K   47 downloads

 20140924_172401.jpg   74.45K   35 downloads

 

Here is sone of the other damage done.  

 20140924_172241.jpg   50.57K   71 downloads

 20140924_172327.jpg   41.26K   39 downloads

 20140924_173259.jpg   60.19K   52 downloads

 

I am off to pick up a late subframe tonight.  And after a bit of reading have decided to go for the solid mount kit.  I rekon it will give me a better tolerance for the front rebuild.

 

I hope my bits turn up for the weekend.

 

Toe Panel

Solid subframe mounts

Welder

Auto tint welding helmet

Gas

 

 

 

 

Edited by zeemax89, 25 September 2014 - 12:40 PM.

[zeemax89]

Well I suspected as much.  whoever was maintaining this car was trying to kill someone.  the rear subframe was not even attached on the near side mount.  It just pulled off with the remains of the heel board mount.  Then theres everyone's favorite, cover sills, hiding the disintegrated original sills.

I hope to get stuck into work on it this weekend.  Have been suffering with man flu, so the last thing I wanted this week was to be breathing in weld / grinding fumes.

 

Any advice on making sure the heel panel is in square?  I was thinking of using a square to ensure it runs at 90 degrees to the centre line if the tunel.  then just measure back to the rear subframe mounts.   Any better solutions?

 

 

 20141012_162142.jpg   35.27K   57 downloads

 20141012_162206.jpg   38.34K   45 downloads

 20141012_162225.jpg   43.02K   42 downloads

[zeemax89]

I felt well enough this weekend to get a few hours in on the mini.  I really want to get it out the way and make room for this Mk1, should I get it.  

I spent hours cutting seam welded repairs and drilling spot welds out.  

and was left with this

Attached Files

•  20141019_194023.jpg   31.52K   69 downloads
•  20141019_193951.jpg   26.53K   65 downloads
•  20141019_193922.jpg   26.24K   60 downloads

Edited by zeemax89, 20 October 2014 - 09:29 AM.

[zeemax89]

Hi Guys, hope you are all well.  I got a few hours in on the mayfair last night. I trimmed the floor back to meet the inner sill/floor repair panel.  The fit looks great of the m-machine panel.  the magnum front floor panel is absolute crap.  the recess in the footwell is quite clearly not the same size or shape. and I an sure the inner sill is not the same height as the old one.

I also fabricated the rear wheel arch to heel board closing panel. here it is in between fettling for a good fit.  I hope to start putting some of this good metal back in tonight.

 

 20141027_200929.jpg   19.16K   44 downloads

 20141027_200942.jpg   40.33K   60 downloads

[zeemax89]

I hope to get my subframe template made up tonight.  I will use this to make sure the heel panel i all correct and in keeping with the rearwards subby mounts

[zeemax89]

rear Mini subframe jig template.

 

OK, so here is the outer of the subframe jig.  After lots of careful measurements I am sure the frame is straight and the mounts are all where the should be.

This is the outer (part 1).  Now I have a good solid frame to start the final jig.

 

 I am wondering If I should have started with new mounts all around  DOHH

 

 20141112_173857.jpg   28.67K   27 downloads

 20141112_173839.jpg   28.3K   8 downloads

 20141112_173829.jpg   33.09K   4 downloads

 20141112_173814.jpg   33.62K   12 downloads

 20141112_173800.jpg   39.93K   36 downloads

 20141112_173753.jpg   40.09K   23 downloads

[Badboytunes]

looking good, keep the pics comming

[zeemax89]

I got a bit done on Sunday, Welded most of the OS heel panel in.  I just need to finish the plug welds inside fto the seat base.  I also removed the jacking point from the outer sill and have patched the hole.

 

 Image00003.jpg   36.39K   45 downloads

 Image00001.jpg   19.14K   28 downloads

 Image00002.jpg   105.55K   17 downloads

 

 Image00004.jpg   28.23K   30 downloads

 

Tonight I want to repair the front floor pan and get ready for fitting the outer sill

[andrewblueboy]

some good progress going on there

[rally515]

That's your Subframe Jig ? , to be honest I think it'd be better if you used it as your subframe looking at it!  .

 

Cheers,

Cliff

[zeemax89]

That's your Subframe Jig ? , to be honest I think it'd be better if you used it as your subframe looking at it!  .

 

Cheers,

Cliff

LOL  thanks for looking Cliff.  That was the pattern for the jig.  The jig was made using the internal mount points from that jig.  I hope that makes sense,  Been working on the floor pan till now, my brain is fried!

[zeemax89]

some good progress going on there

Cheers Andrew.

I did get a bit down on the whole thing.  I think that was mainly due to suffering some chronic man flu...

 

I got the front floor pan measured and cut tonight.  Partially welded in.  I plan to finish it of when I have done the other sill, got it on it's floor and replaced the toe panel

 

Also I seem to be having a nightmare butt welding the thinner material like Magnum floor panels.  I have the welder set to minimum and have even gone down to 0.6mm feed wire.  It just keeps blowing through the panel.  I an not to worried as most of the seams have welded nicely and I will run along the join on the inside once the body is down flat.

 

Any tips or advice on the welding would be greatly appreciated before I start the other side.

 

Anyway, here is the progress from tonight's endeavors.

 

 20141117_230244.jpg   76.28K   72 downloads

 20141117_230515.jpg   73.37K   44 downloads