9 replies to this topic

[GTIAlex06]

Some of you may remember my Mini, Katy, which I used Daily for four years before taking it off the road, heres the old topic on it....

http://www.theminifo...ine-of-my-mini/

 

mini day 1 by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

katy3 by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

 

Other things get in the way including starting a new job a JLR and I also got through a few cars including a 205 GTI Cabriolet, a Clio 182, a £400 yaris and most recently a brand new Fiesta Zetec S 'Red Edition'...oh yeah and restoring a VW camper that had been off the road for 7 years.
 

20150925_172107 by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

van collection by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

2015-09-02 18.33.52 by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

DSC_0516 by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

Katy has been sat on the drive since it failed its MOT in September 2013 so after a bit of focusing the mind and saving, decided to track down someone I trusted enough to tackle the bodywork. After a very bad experience with a bodyshop in the West Midlands who work closely with the British Mini Club I decided to take the advice of many people on here and get in touch with CradleyHeathen otherwise known as Jez. 

Transport day:

Mini leaving day by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

20160604_100349 by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

The work on the list is your standard Mini rot really, with the flitch panel areas being the worst offenders. Jez quickly got to work and I visit Katy once a week to check progress, have a chat and stroke his cats n that.

Heres some photos of the rust and chopping away

 

Chopchop by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

flitch by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

sill by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

Helpful having the van around 

 

subframe by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

Subframe and other components I fitted during my daily use have stood up well but will be tidied, treated and painted before refitting.

 

Some new metal going in 

 

Flitch repair panel to replace the fibreglass and rust 

flitch repair 1 by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

Full inner sill section including the often ignored rear bin section

 

Full sill section by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

Lovely lovely 

 

Full Sill section 2 by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

Jez Cat by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

Jez cat 2 by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

That brings us up to date and will be heading over on Thursday.

The basic plan going forward is a fibreglass front, boot and rear valance and then focus on getting Katy driving spot on before I worry too much about paint although my plans are subject to change on a daily basis.
The fibreglass aspect is staying and I only plan to use the car for runs to classic car meets, sundays, hillclimbs and other such events. I've always been a believe of 'Go before show' and thats the ethos I am carrying forward.

I've always made changes to please myself and not other people.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by GTIAlex06, 20 June 2016 - 12:04 PM.

[neon1991]

thats a lot of chopping out!     best of luck with the resto! Nice Bus by the way! Ive got a t2 double cab as my daily 

[WPD]

Good luck with the resto, I couldn't leave a car on the drive for 3 years 

[GTIAlex06]

thats a lot of chopping out!     best of luck with the resto! Nice Bus by the way! Ive got a t2 double cab as my daily 

 

Bus life is the best life 

[GTIAlex06]

Underside looking fairly good apart from the section under the crossmember 

 

floor2 by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

floor by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

 

Front end looking much better 

 

flitch 3 by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

Seconds inner sill section complete 

inner sill section by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

welds by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

Progressing well 

[GTIAlex06]

flitch done by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

 

cross member by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

 

panels by Alex Robinson, on Flickr

 

 

Some more progress for those who are following 

[olly33]

Alex can you ask Jez for his new number to pass onto me.

Who was the garage you was on about in the midlands, as mine is due some work and wondered who they are and what issues just in case I may use it myself. If you like to pm me instead of posting public that's fine. Cheers Olly

[cradley-heathen]

ah my three legged wonder cat!

 

nearly finished on the welding now alex, looking forward to giving it a splash of colour underneath and refitting the subframes, soon be back on 4 wheels and solid again!

[GTIAlex06]

Forgot to update this.

 

Had the Mini back for a while now and not touched it much really. Trying to recover financially and get my head round in what order to tackle all the jobs left over.

 

 

 

The decision was made to go with a metal front end afterall.Me and jez just wern't happy with the fitment of the fibreglass.

 

The inner wings have still been removed and braced so I have the benefits of better access to the engine bay/suspension although will need to come up with some sort of arch liner to protect the bay from the worst of the water. A long way off worrying about that anyway.

Will get some better photos soon.

 

 

Plan of action really is to tackle the bay, boot floor and interior in terms of prepping, cleaning and painting and hopefully by then I will have decided what to do with the outside.

[dyshipfakta]

You can buy front arch liners from mini spares well worth it.