355 replies to this topic

[Wiggy]

Wow, Ben. Your work always inspires me.........never to try bodywork myself. As I'll never do as good a job as you! ??

[Ben_O]

Bit more done on the Pick-up this afternoon.

 

I need to fix this before I fit the floor

 

 

 

This is a section of the lower rear cab bulkhead where it meets the load bed floor.

 

And from underneath once I had marked out the section of floor I want to remove

 

 

First a section of the reinforcer needs to be removed

 

 

Then the section of floor

 

 

Bit frilly...

 

 

 

And with everything cut back, I can start making up some new sections to go in

 

 

 

I have made a start on fabricating the bulkhead section which ill finish and fit tomorrow afternoon.

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[KTS]

nasty - looks like the water's got in behind the seam sealer and just rotted it away.  is the rest of that bulkhead-to-loadbed join OK ?

[Ben_O]

nasty - looks like the water's got in behind the seam sealer and just rotted it away.  is the rest of that bulkhead-to-loadbed join OK ?

The damage seems to have started from the cab side of the bulkhead although I am not too sure what started it.

The rest of the bottom flange of the bulkhead looks to be in very good order so ill clean back the sealant from both sides once this repair is done and check for any more damage.

 

Cheers

Ben

[Ben_O]

Continuing on, I made up a section of lower bulkhead and clamped it in place

 

 

 

Once I was happy, I welded it in

 

 

And ground up both sides

 

 

 

 

Then made up a fresh piece of floor and welded that in too

 

 

And then re-attached the front section of bracing

 

 

 

I still need to finish up down here

 

 

But as you can see, I have spot welded the new return to the new piece of floor

 

I also need to clean up the welds on the load bed floor too

 

 

I gave it a coat of zinc to protect it for the time being and that's a very fiddly repair sorted.

 

 

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[KTS]

fiddly little job nicely executed as usual Ben

[InnoCooperExport]

Amazing stuff as ever Ben!

[minimissions]

As ever such tidy work!

[Ben_O]

I've had the floor back in again just to finish up a few bits of prep and sort the positions of the seatbelt sill mounts and the bottom of the battery box

 

 

I salvaged the captive nuts from the old seat belt mounts

 

 

And welded them onto some new plates

 

 

With the floor back out again, I prepped the bottom of the battery box for fitting to the floor

 

 

And then spot welded it into place

 

 

Once I was ready to fit the floor for the final time, I prepped and primed the underside of the load floor and heelboard

 

 

Then after sealing up the heelboard to loadbed and heelboard to floor joins, I applied a coat of the green topcoat

 

 

It would be very difficult to get complete coverage in here with the floor fitted hence putting some on now. It's only the one coat but ill paint in here again as much as I can when it comes to painting the car.

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[KTS]

..it's got paint !!!!  i've a distinct feeling i've changed nappies that were not dissimilar to that colour...

 

looks good though Ben - i did wonder how you were going to try and paint that bit.  now i know 

[Ben_O]

The long job of modding and prepping the floor is now complete

 

 

And can now go in for the final time

 

 

 

And the weldathon can commence

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next time, I shall weld the back of the floor to the extension, weld the seat crossmember to the floor and then probably fit the toe board.

 

Ben

[KTS]

fantastic - that should keep her going for a few more decades !!

 

i'm curious - what issues would doing it the other way solve ?

[Ben_O]

 

 

i'm curious - what issues would doing it the other way solve ?

I'm not sure what you mean 

[KTS]

 

 

 

i'm curious - what issues would doing it the other way solve ?

I'm not sure what you mean 

 

 

i was referring to this comment

 

                 "Next time, I shall weld the back of the floor to the extension, weld the seat crossmember to the floor and then probably fit the toe board."

 

i read that as, if you were to do it again, you'd fit it in a different sequence, instead of that's what the next exciting instalment of Mini Pick-Up @ Mill Road Garage will comprise

 

D'oh !

[Ben_O]

 

 

 

 

i'm curious - what issues would doing it the other way solve ?

I'm not sure what you mean 

 

 

i was referring to this comment

 

                 "Next time, I shall weld the back of the floor to the extension, weld the seat crossmember to the floor and then probably fit the toe board."

 

i read that as, if you were to do it again, you'd fit it in a different sequence, instead of that's what the next exciting instalment of Mini Pick-Up @ Mill Road Garage will comprise

 

D'oh !

 

ha, i get it now

 

yep, you are right, that's whats to come.

 

Ben