159 replies to this topic

[Chappers]

Thanks minimans that would be great!
Do you have a pair youd sell?

I havent got a whole lot of progress to show on the mini over the past few days. I repaired the inner A post panels and the front cant rail, particularly the ends as they were very corroded and thin.

I ended up remaking the ends from flat patterns.

Then on Wednesday the panels arrived.


I thought Id have a look at what is required to get the companion bin in.



Because I fitted the closing panel in first, the companion bin will have to go on the inside of the closing panel lip, rather than sandwiched between the boot floor and the closing panel.



I dont think it will be that noticeable. Ill do it correctly on the opposite side.

Then I realized I cant fit this panel until Ive got the inner sill panels in, which requires the door step to be fitted properly, which means I want to fit the floor properly at the flitch area. Which brings me to the inner wings! Phew...

So that kind of dictates the order for me.

So....as everything is a mess in the garage anyway, I had a tidy up.


My son decided he wanted the space to scooter around in.


Then we span the rotisserie around to work on the front.


Heres the challenge



As the left side has more original metal in place to act a large a good reference point, Ill do that second. So onto the right hand side then.

But first as I had been procrastinating, I think I better had refit the inner A posts.
Completely zinc primed inside.

If you go back to the original photos of the inside of these A posts you will see how bad they were.


Clamped up.


Plug welded on. Surprising how few spot welds were on this.


Compared to this waist rail. Which has a million.


And here is the repaired and zinc primed front cantrail ready to be fitted next.


Oh and I had an accident with the can of weld thru primer!

[GraemeC]

I'll get some pictures for you tonight. I may have a pair of windows here. I think trying to modify MKIII will be a real pain in the arse!

Especially as they’re a different size!

[Chappers]

Are they a different size? Im which direction? Height?

Does anyone have any dimensions of the mk1 windows?

Thanks

[minimans]

yes different height. I'll be up the shop today and get those photo's of the hinges and look for a couple of spares

[Chappers]

Thanks Minimans, let me know if you have spare windows!

We drove 550 miles to Canada yesterday.
Were at Niagara Falls today, its pretty sunny and very cold, but amazing to see in real life.
Tomorrow Im going to get the mk3 windows from the seller in Canada and he has some other parts that may be useful.

Im still looking around for mk1 quarter windows. I can always sell the mk3 windows on.

All in all weve still had a great trip into Canada.

[Chappers]

Heres us at Niagara Falls.



No thats not some vagrant that photobombed a good looking lady and her good looking kids. Alas that is me.

I also got talking to a certified 1960 mk1 mini nerd who lives in Canada too.

He told me not only are the mk1 windows very different than mk3, but the 1959/60 had different catches.

He sent me this photo of 2 sets that he owns.


The early one is kinda horizontal to the car, wheres the post 1961 mk1 catches are perpendicular to the back edge of the window.

So not only am I looking for hens teeth, Im looking for them blind with both hands tied behind my back!

I just grabbed those mk3 windows from the guy in Canada. You never know what i might need them for later on.

But the mk1 nerd said he will sell his later mk1 windows to me, maybe swap with the cooper s wheels I have.
Hes coming down to Indianapolis for the Indy 500 in May.

Edited by Chappers, 19 March 2018 - 01:56 PM.

[Chappers]

Hmm strange I cant get the images to display in the post above. No other problems with Photobucket hosting on any other images.

Ah well. Everyone knows what quarter windows look like anyway.

This week Ill tackle the inner wings.

I dont know if anyone cares or reads this thread. So I may take a break from posting on this forum for a while.

[Jared Mk3]

I quite enjoy seeing the updates on this car, so keep them coming 

[matto224]

Hmm strange I cant get the images to display in the post above. No other problems with Photobucket hosting on any other images.

Ah well. Everyone knows what quarter windows look like anyway.

This week Ill tackle the inner wings.

I dont know if anyone cares or reads this thread. So I may take a break from posting on this forum for a while.

 

i've read through from the start till now & im loving your work and looking forward to seeing the finished product so don't get disappearing! 

[CharlieNZ]

Outstanding progress, it was a brave move to even start but it's actually looking like a solid shell now. You said you wanted it off the spit in May - still on schedule?