457 replies to this topic

[JDImini]

Hi Ben,

 

pleased that the spit jig is finally working and it wasn't me setting it up wrong

[Ben_O]

It's a joy to use now!

 

Update coming tonight. Things didn't go to plan yesterday at all so didn't get done what we planned to do on the Mini.

 

back on it fully again today though!

 

Ben

[Ben_O]

Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong yesterday. Not with the Mini though, i just didn't get hardly any time to spend on it.

 

This is what i did get done.

 

I fitted the front cone springs, hi-lows and top arms

 

 

 

And stripped the hubs ready to clean and paint

 

 

 

And cleaned up these to fit to the subframe along with the brake pipe that runs along the front of the subframe

 

 

But i don't yet have the front brake hoses so that halted that.

 

I got the Mini in the spraybooth

 

 

As we are going wet on wet inside the shell, i needed to prime the repair areas so they could be flatted prior to painting. Colin was using some black primer on another job so i pinched the gun and laid some on over the repairs

 

 

I did get it flatted down too.

And that was as much as i got done yesterday 

 

So onto this morning, i started by priming the underside of the car in preparation for sealer and stonechip

 

 

Then once that had hardened, i flatted it down

 

 

And seam sealed every join

 

 

 

 

Followed by brush sealer where required

 

 

 

Then out with the stonechip, i started by laying down a heavy coat over all seams

 

 

 

 

 

And then finished with an even coverage on the rest of the floor

 

 

 

 

 

Then back over to Colin to prime the shell whilst i did some body repairs on a Ford ranger thing 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The places where the jig is bolted to in the boot and under the bonnet will be primed when it comes off prior to painting them.

 

Colin is painting the underside and inside this evening so tomorrow we will be fitting the cage, masking off the interior and then flatting the primer on the outside ready for top coat.

we are on target for having the shell finished this week! 

Edited by Ben_O, 13 September 2016 - 06:04 PM.

[mini-geek]

What etch primer did you use ?

[Ben_O]

What etch primer did you use ?

Ill check and let you know. All i know is that it's by Kapci as is all our paint

[GT Jimmy]

Is it a bad thing I feel this jealous?

Great work by the way, now I'm going to find a dark room and sulk

[JDImini]

Hi Ben, It's looking brilliant with some paint on the shell! So pleased we've gone for body colour on the underside, can't wait to see some topcoat on it.

[rusty30]

The qualty of this work is simply astounding!

[Ben_O]

Thanks for the comments.

 

I really appreciate it.

 

Thanks

 

Ben

[skoughi]

Looking great Ben, it's such a good feeling to even get to this stage!

[JDImini]

Ah ha, a rare picture of your glamorous assistant

 

[JDImini]

great paint work Colin

[Ben_O]

 

 

[Ben_O]

Lots done today but not many photos i'm afraid.

 

First we removed the shell from the jig

 

 

And then prepared to fit the cage by lining the inside with corrugated card to prevent the paint from getting scratched/scraped

 

 

And then as if by magic, the cage is fitted 

 

 

 

 

It all went in smoothly and most importantly, no paintwork was damaged in the process.

 

Then back into the booth

 

 

The plan was to get the primer flatted down ready for paint but Colin changed his mind and wanted to get the engine bay and boot painted first instead.

 

Whilst he was getting ready for that, i prepped up the following

 

Door hinges

Boot hinges

Bonnet lock

Bonnet hinges

Door shims

Check straps

 

Once they were done, Colin hung them in the booth ready for paint so they can be done at the same time as the boot and engine bay and i stripped the old bearings out of the front swivel hubs and degreased them ready for paint.

 

As i left this evening, Colin had just finished basing up so they will be painted for the morning and then I shall flat the shell ready for paint (Colin is off pffftt, part timer)

The plan is for Colin to come in tomorrow afternoon and paint the shell so it can start being put back together on Friday!

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[JDImini]

the underneath and inside looks great, we'll either have to leave your interior trim/sound proofing in or buy some slippers so we don't scratch the paint