107 replies to this topic

[finch661]

I though i would actually create a rebuild thread, seeing as i have been asking so many questions on here (to the annoyance of Ben_O and Sonikk4).

so here is my motor, "smaw baws" (due to the number plate), i bought her in 2007, and have had so much fun driving her, even took it up to Orkney for my wedding. But i started to notice that the paint was dull, rust bubbles were appearing, and some of the electrics were iffy at best. About 3 months ago i decided to strip the car down (minus removing engine etc) and see what was what. Sadly a quick spray job has turned into something more expensive. Ther car was part restored when i bought it, so hasnt done bad in 7/8 years or so. Some things have been replaced fairly recently, mainly the inner and outer sills on both sides and front floor pans.

 

Main jobs i thought would need done were; new passenger a-panel, new drivers door, redo the webasto roof.

 

so here she is

 

 

I have had Italian job 3 spotlamp bar on for a while, but decided to keep the car looking slightly retro (grill, side trim).

[Ben_O]

looking good in those pictures mate!

 

So what are the plans for it?

 

oh and questions don't annoy me! I'm always happy to help where i can.

 

Ben

[lyndseyp27]

looks lovely :)

[RedRuby]

Nice car and spectacular views, love the number plate it's quite close to what I say when work on our minis

[Rocket.]

I like the style of this mini will be watching !

[finch661]

looking good in those pictures mate!

 

So what are the plans for it?

 

oh and questions don't annoy me! I'm always happy to help where i can.

 

Ben

cheers, shes a lovely wee car, my first ever car in fact. Shes been a bit neglected though, i became a dad a year ago, so my priorities have changed (until he is old enough to help me out).

No major plans for it at the moment, I like the early style, so will most likely keep it that way. main thing is to treat all the rust The webasto fabric sunroof is leaking badly, so will try and replace it as well. tempted with group 2 arches with the chrome trim, but cant afford to change the wheels  

 

looks lovely :)

aww cheers, those pics were taken 2 years and 1 year ago, plus cant see the rust lol

 

Nice car and spectacular views, love the number plate it's quite close to what I say when work on our minis

cheers, one is on the way to orkney for my wedding, needed a bit of "encouragement" to get there :) second pic was in ardnamurchan. Aye the plate is cracking, didnt notice it until my friend pointed it out to me a month after i bought it!

 

I like the style of this mini will be watching !

hopefully i will finish the project off, money and time are very scarce at the mo!

 

 

 

Pics to come.  

[finch661]

Well, could find any pics of the rust spots, but here was my first task, replacing the passenger side a-panel. I should say that i have never done any bodywork/welding/cutting before, so it has been a massive learning curve for me!

So basically no lip left for the a-panel, plusthe rot had spread into the flitch.

wee cut out

 

New repair panel in place

 

and welded in place!

[Ben_O]

Good work mate ;)

[finch661]

new panel on, not a bad fit , though i think the old one was pretty shot...

 

and the car is back together (for about 3 weeks before i stripped it down lol. not a bad job for my first body panel :)

Although i have found the rear quarter at the bottom is rotten and the bottom of the door is away... sigh

Edited by finch661, 29 November 2014 - 04:12 PM.

[finch661]

Had a bit of time, so started stripping it down.

There is a lot of surface rust around the drivers side headlamp, so will need to sort that out. also both indicators just fell apart when i tried to remove them!

 

Excuse the junk in the garage, my wife has been slowly adding stuff when i'm not looking

Edited by finch661, 02 December 2014 - 01:23 PM.

[finch661]

so basically stripping down the car at the moment, finding a few nasty surprises, but nothing major



Managed to get all the bright work off, found my indicators were absolutley gone, and some rusting has occured under the drivers side headlamp. looks like surface rust so will sand back to bare metal and treat! there seems to be other bits of surface rust appearing, but looks like nothing major!
Found that the rear bumper is knacked as well, with the bolt bits disintigrating when i tried to remove them. its on the list!

looks like i will need to replace the following

• Indicators (both)
• head lamp rings
• rear bumper
• door seals
• rear quarter window seals

not a big list, but it all adds up
The hole for my ash tray is bent to hell, when i removed the padded dash rail, so have a small repair section to add in. My replacement door is ready to fit, just needs a bit of adjusting, and a new door check bracket welded in



a big chunk of last night was taken up with removing my webasto sunroof (for those who dont have one, they are a PITA to remove). You have to have a helper, and be able to get a screwdriver in the smallest of spaces. Originally i intended to replace the outer skin and the attached headlining, but it looks like i will have to wait until next year.

 

 

My mini is now art!

 

 

thats the interior and other bits and pieces now removed! now the fun task of the body work!



found a lot of surface rust along the sill/door seams, so will need to sand and treat

Edited by finch661, 02 December 2014 - 01:25 PM.

[finch661]

I started to replace my ash tray holder bit in the dash rail. when i removed the padded rail, the bolts were rotten and i ended up bending a bit of the metal. Iam finally getting round to repairing it (several years later). t has been annoying me for years!

all cut out

roughly in place - helps if i could cut straight..........


bit of etch primer. Need to weld a bit more at the back by the windscreen lip, but a bit of filler and a sand and it should be ok. I am planning on putting a cover oin it anyway! Only the second time i have welded on my car, sill getting used to it. keep blowing holes
 

[finch661]

So much for a light sand. the rust bubbles have been there for a few years, should have fixed it a while ago

Sigh!

Shows you what can be hiding under rust bubbles!

Edited by finch661, 03 December 2014 - 08:21 AM.

[Ben_O]

Problem with the rust on Mini wing seams is that it starts from inside and the bubbling you see is it breaking through.

 

Alot of people mistake the bubbling as the start of the rust but in fact it's the end of it.

 

Keep going mate, it's going to be cracking when done.

 

Who did the art work?

 

Ben

[The Clubby Hubby]

Nice 1