598 replies to this topic

[colinf1]

Back to it after being ill last weekend.

Finished off some repairs to the passenger wheel arch tub, probably would have been much quicker to replace the tub but it's done now. Boot floor to arch bracket also welded in. Plenty of grinding down to do another day...



Also cut off the passenger quarter panel, just need to get the lip off then it's time to offer up the new panel.

[colinf1]

Got fuel tank strap bracket in today...



Then onto the long slog of grinding off the remainder of the lip of the old quarter panel. Seemed to take forever, had to switch between flap disc and grinding disc as some parts were getting too thin and too much heat build up.

Cleaned up the inside of rear bin and inner sill, then got on with getting the new panel on. About 60% there with the welding, some felting needed around the corners of the window as they aren't any way close...





Hopefully get the rest done during the week with a few evenings on it...

Edited by colinf1, 25 September 2022 - 06:19 PM.

[Viktor]

That is starting to look like a car again! Good progress!

[colinf1]

Had planned on getting the B and C pillars finished on the passenger side today, I got the rest of the spot welding done during the week. But have not been feeling great today but attempted some work, called it quits after an hour or so as was too achey and tired!

The passenger quarter panel didn't line up as good as the drivers side around window curve at the B and C pillars, had to make a small cut to allow me to fettle it into the right shape.

Welded it up slowly, then started to linish it back, then discovered 2 small tears on the rear panel lip that I'll have to sort out next.





Need to add a bit of material and reshape the lip for the window seal...the the list is slowly getting smaller...

[Retro_10s]

Keep it up, bud! Slowly coming together

[colinf1]

The passenger side quarter panel finished off today, just needs a light skim of filler along the join.



Then inner wing plug welded to the inner box section of the A-post, had been meaning to do this for a while.



Dressed down the welds on the passenger floor repair panel, not fully as they'll be hidden with stonechip and soundproofing.

Small repair on a pin hole on the roof gutter, had to open up the gutter slightly to get the tip of the gun close enough to get a good weld.



I've a bigger hole to fill on the drivers side, so at least I know to what to expect...

Also small tear on the rear panel repaired, nicely blended in. There was another small tear along the waist rail that I managed to get with a few welds.

[Viktor]

Well done Colin. That quarter panel looks superb! :)

[colinf1]

A few steps closer to the finish line...

Roof gutter repair on drivers side, started with this...



Welded, ground to shape and zinc primed.



This took about an hour to get done, used up plenty of small cutting discs on the dremel but worked out great, minimal heat going into the welds and grinds at a controllable pace..

Also got the stiffener on the rear bench panel, rescued the old one off the old panel, cleaned up, primed and spot welded on.



Also got the seat back fully welded now, added some extra weld along parts of the join that I felt was a bit hit and miss...just need to grind it down slightly.

[colinf1]

I've ordered some alloy wheel inserts



One wheel has all 4 damaged, best guess it was been driven on with the nuts not tightened up enough.

Had to press one of the good ones out to get accurate measurements, these ones from raceways.co.uk seem to be right, we shall see, then once there seated I can get the wheels powder coated...

[colinf1]

not much done today on the mini, the joys of countryside living - dealing with mice in the attic

I did receive my new wheel inserts, there pressed in now so wheels should be ready for painting.

Been fixing my door hinges, all but one had snapped studs, so ground them all down ready for drilling and replacing the studs. It's very hard to drill through the small bit of weld on the inside of the hinge, even though I ground it flush. Ended up drilling as much as I could then using a punch to bang out the last bit.

Got 2 lower hinges done, one pin was very loose so replaced that also. Top hinges are being a bit more challenging, tried to weld in new studs 3 times and just can't get good penetration, it just comes loose when I grind it back flush. Very frustrating.

One in zinc primer...




One primed and top coated gloss black..



Top hinge on drivers door has 1 screw that refuses to budge, will try some heat on it before resorting to drilling it out...

[colinf1]

Made a start on the door repairs, well, more of a restart having initially started the repair back in July 2021!

 

Both doors needed bottom frame repairs and skins.

 

What a great place to put a sticker! 

 

 

Not many photos of the repair before welding, lots of holes blowing through..

 

Zinc primed

 

 

Then a good top coat on the inner part of the door and skin..

 

 

 

Just waiting for paint to dry before putting the skin onto frame again and offering it up to the car for alignment.

 

Have been trying to find some old photos of the mini, then was looking at previous owners in logbook. Managed to find the mini on streetview back in 2009 in a small rural village. 

 

[colinf1]

Got the passenger door skin on today, started by putting the door frame back on the car, then offered up the skin. Had to add a shim to the top hinge then got skin set in the correct position and welded up. Folded the lip around using a dolly and hammer, very slow process and felt like my arm was going to fall off!



Needs a bit more fettling to get the gaps better.

Also got scuttle closer on and battery box stiffeners, plus the seam weld on boot floor to closing panel.

[Viktor]

Wow, that almost looks like a car again! You will be thinking on paint colours very soon...

[colinf1]

Could anyone give me a rough dimension for the fuel pipe and breather hose holes on the boot floor, found my cardboard template but I think they should be in line front to back rather than left to right?

[Viktor]

Hi Colin,

 

I think I still have the bit from the old floor in the garage.  I will send you a photo later if I can...