481 replies to this topic

[Avtovaz]

I’ve known people to build the edges of the doors up with weld to tighten shut lines.

 

Yes, ill probably do that to it. You may get to see the car when its done your not far away in in widnes.

[pete l]

Ordinary primer will not stop the metal from rusting, it is porous.

 

Use zinc primer

[Avtovaz]

It is zinc primer !

[TRP]

Just read the entire thread. Nice work thus far. You guys who take on these massive welding jobs are amazing.

Keep at it!

[Avtovaz]

cut most of the front panel off today, and the scuttle. 2k epoxy Primed the inner wing, and scuttle ready for fitting soon

 

 

 

 

Edited by Avtovaz, 24 March 2019 - 06:19 PM.

[Harryrothers93]

seen a few..... well lets just say unnecessary comments on your topic. 

 

all im going to say is top work, and keep it up!

[pete l]

Is that directed at me ?

[Avtovaz]

now with my parts in 2k epoxy, ive started doing the front end

 

 

Inner wing sorted on the n/s, but still some to do on the o/s

 

 

 

 

Tec screwed the scuttle on

 

 

 

 

 

 

All seems to line up ok atm, but will be checking this a good few times as i get closer with the welder. The plan with the roof worked out well in the end, the only outer join is to the scuttle.. May try a screen in it before i fully weld it as the edges seem to be in a slightly differernt place, although the measurements from doing the roof seem right. Ill be happy if i can just get the front lined up and screwed on this weekend, amazed if its welded!

[Ben_O]

Looking good mate.

 

One tip for the front end, if it takes 2 weeks of messing about to get it right, then so be it.

Don't be tempted to rush it as I promise that you will regret it if the front end isn't spot on especially after all the other great work you have done so far.

 

I only say because you mention it would be great to have it welded this weekend.

 

Keep it up!

 

Ben

[Avtovaz]

first thanks for looking and posting, i really appreciate it! .. I really want it right, it may take a lot of time. In a way its a bit frustrating, but in other ways, when the car is done, ill have a lot of spare time, and not sure how to fill that time then ! I am enjoying doing this part, im not sure im looking forward to the prep before paint. I think now i may paint it myself in stages in the garage though. Do it in stages, engine bay, boot, inside, paint the seems, then mask the front, roof, sides, then back panel. WIll take a long time to do but i am not rushing it now.

[Avtovaz]

so today pushed the car outside, and turned it around

 

 

 

 

 

 

I put the door on the o/s

 

 

 

 

Took a pic of my mini and my finger.

 

 

 

While it was outside i bolted up the mounts on the front subframe to the floor, and tightened the top mounts

 

 

Then back in the garage and remved the last bit of the front panel and added some rust convertor

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not sure what ill be doing now this weekend, got the air compressor on the e39 to change, and a set of front discs for it, and then there is still the other bmw to sort out. So if i get time ill be out there doing the mini...

[Avtovaz]

Just read the entire thread. Nice work thus far. You guys who take on these massive welding jobs are amazing.

Keep at it!

Thank you so much mate for reading !!! sorry i just saw your post, i thought the car just needed a few bits before i started it!

Not sure where it will lead after the welding.. Im really interested in this microsquirt etc atm, just put it to the bmw rally car, i wont be tuning that myself... , Bits that seemed scary before just arnt if you go and do it! Plan is to make it factory apart from wheels and a few bits that make it start and be reliable. Id like to have the 998 cc engine on injection that looks like su's or not so obvious, but has low end power...

Edited by Avtovaz, 30 March 2019 - 08:20 AM.

[TRP]

Simply top notch effort and results thus far. I'm going to keep watching your progress.

Mine is in the early 'blocking' stages now. I picked the colors yesterday. I hope I don't regret my choices later. :)

[Avtovaz]

thank s again mate!

 

 

did a bit today and as promised, i welded the whole front end on...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.... In my dreams!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I started to think about it, and im not far enough along with the welding, i mean, there is lots of bits to sort and bits to grind, so i started with those

 

 

Front posts both id acidently cut threw when doing the roof

 

 

 

I started cleaning the metal, and then started to sort the welder, but it was annoying me, it was on the floor and it was all messed up. So i bit of diy and here is a shelf!

 

 

 

Lots more room less change of damaging the welder and myself by tripping over it.

 

I hadnt done this post repair either!

 

 

 

Welded the one from the first pic

 

 

And then set to with the roloc discs and took as much paint off the car between the front and rear seam

 

 

 

Panel wiped it and 2 pack epoxi primed it

 

 

A cut on the other side that i hadnt noticed!

 

 

 

 

I had primed this panel before, then filled a few little marks, but i had gone some in the pressing so i rubbed that out and brush primed this

 

 

People always seem to think that 2k epoxy needs spraying but you can brush it, you can roller it, and it seems to be a good weld threw primer too...

 

 

I then cleaned up the top dash rail and did the welds. I primed this with electrox...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I need to sort this out too but now sure how yet, maybe with fiberglass. See where the post bends and the return on the quarter isnt quite right, that will bug me!!

 

 

 

I was then bored of cleaning up metal today, it was a long day on teh mini for sure, so i did a little welding table mod

 

 

 

Will try to get all panels in 2k epoxy before i do the front end. Then its front, turn it over and sort welds out, stone chip it all white, and back over! Getting there...

[Avtovaz]

Not a lot of time today, did a bit though!

 

There was a little bit of rust in the gutter at the back

 

 

 

I cut it out as best as i could but tried not to cut into the roof skin. I got so far and had to use the belt sander to remove part of the lip.

 

 

 

Tacked a plate in

 

 

 

welded in plate

 

 

 

Its not perfect, but i think if i use a hammer and dolly on it, i can get it a lot better, it needs more of a radius to the lip. I think with a bit of work itll be ok.