589 replies to this topic

[jamesquintin]

So, back to work on this. More or less hit the wall and have been feud of the constant work. I have been doing bits and bobs, just not been posted about it.

 

Anyway! Back to it:

 

 

Chopped out the bad metal behind the upper suspension arm to see whats what. Inside the cross member was fine, so just cleaned it all up

I removed the inner plate thingy (no idea what its called) and made a template for a new one:

 

 

So got that in and welded up

 

 

Next plate was a bit more of a complicated shape... Had to get the hammer out on this one. Quite pleased with the results!

 

 

and welded in...

 

I even included these two studs that are next to the arm bracket. No idea what they are there for, but originality is key here...

 

Thats it for now...

Q
 

 

[MacGyver]

I believe they are for attracting the rusts attention so it goes for that rater than something els... Or not... 🤔

[Cookiez]

I believe they are for attracting the rusts attention so it goes for that rater than something els... Or not...

 

Maybe so, but as we all know. Rust is great at multi tasking....

[jamesquintin]

Not on my car, all rust be gone!

[MacGyver]

But seriously I have never seen anything attached to these, maybe on some a/c versions?

On my 2000 Cooper sport:  DSC_1350.JPG   38.71K   9 downloads

Edited by MacGyver, 11 August 2017 - 11:05 AM.

[jamesquintin]

So more work completed on the drivers side flitch. Finished up the bulkhead patches

 

(This was after unsuccessfully trying to spot weld it in) 

 

​

Plug welded

 

 

 

 

Got the flitch in and more or less welded up. Still need to chase a few pin holes

 

Then cleaned and retapped the air vent holes and got the scuttle closing panel welded up:

 

 

 

 

Now I have to do the same again on the other side... Here's hoping for less rust!
 

[leadly]

Just read from start to finish. Impressive work so far mate. Keep it up and you'll be done in no time!!

 

Are you trying your hand at painting the car once the welding is done?

[jamesquintin]

Just read from start to finish. Impressive work so far mate. Keep it up and you'll be done in no time!!

 

Are you trying your hand at painting the car once the welding is done?

 

Nah. I looked into it but you need special breathing gear for 2k paint, or if using cellulose you'd have to wait months for it to dry properly. I will probably prep the body as  much as I can and at least get a guide coat of primer on and the underseal. 

[jamesquintin]

OK, onto the other side! Time to chop the wing off:




I was hoping for less or, in an ideal world, no rust under the upper suspension arm. It looked pretty good until... 

 

 

 

I found a perfect patch of rust right behind it!!

​I cut the top layer off...

 

and it was pretty bad, but quite localised. The upper shock mount is toast though:

 

​I cut back as much as I needed to:

​Got the first layer welded in:

​and the outer:

 

Actually much easier than the other side...



​Then I turned my attention to the scuttle closing panel. I've found an annoying hole right up at the top, so I'll have to get the dremel out to cut the bugger off!

 

 

[jamesquintin]

I've been off this for a while, life getting int eh way etc. I have replaced my garden fence, so will be using the fence posts to build a trolly thingy to sit the body on when I take both the subframes off.

​Anyway, I broke the toruch on my welder so refurmished a few parts. First off was the breather. I was having a problem with fumes entering the car when stopped at traffic lights, as had a look over the breathers, but didn't actually do anythign about them. Turns out the clutch cover one was completly blocked! I blocked up the end and filled it with petrol and slosehd it around. It broke up all the gunk inside and eventually I could blow through it.

 

I wired wheeled it and sprayed it up. Looks ok to me!






​I also got together all the parts I wanted powder coating. The quote I got was a bit too expensive, so I'll wire wheel the ones that will be hidden, and send off the more on show parts

 

 

Thats it for now!
 

[jamesquintin]

Right, back on it. Had quite a productive day today, although at first glance it doesn't look like I've done much...

 

Went to Minispares last weekend and got some more panels:

 

 

It'll take a while to put all these in... Anyway, I got the end of the inner wing finnaly welded in:

 

I then finally took the bracing out!

Luckily nothinu went bang, so looks like I did a good job keeping everything alinged...

Thought I'd pop the carpet in for a laugh

 

Still need to do a bit of work on the inner wing, as the magnum panel flute didn't quite line up

 

I also got the rear seat support bracket welded in



And then made a start on finishing joining the two floor halves together

 

Lots and lots and lots of grinding to come...

 

Sigh

 

Edited by jamesquintin, 17 September 2017 - 09:22 PM.

[jamesquintin]

Had a half day at work today, so when I got back I cracked on with a bit 'o cutting!

​Bye bye front end:

​

 

 

 

Annoyingly the guy who put  the front end on a few years ago didn't bother cutting the tabs from the old font panel off! Will have to tidy these up and maybe let in new metal

[jamesquintin]

I've run out of cutting discs, so while they are ordered, I started takign the engine/subframe out, EEK!

 

I've never taken a driveshaft out before. The bugger was stuck fast...

 

 

 

Annoyingly I ripped the rubber boot, so will have to sort that out
 

[jamesquintin]

So as I;m fed up with bodywork, I've been mostly refurbishing the suspension parts. FIrst off was the pot joints. One side was stuck fast, and it took me AGES to get it out. Brute force was the only way with a big chisle and a sledge hammer finally getting the job done:

 

Next up was a lot of wirewheelig all the parts, lots of prepping, spraying, reprepping when it went wrong etc:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

 

 

Still loads more to do!
 

 

 

[rich_959]

Amazing work James. especially in such tight quarters! I need a good old garage tidy before I can get much beyond stripping the interior of my MPi, but it will be going to somebody less ham-fisted than me for any metal work and then paint.

 

Looking forward to the next instalments.