464 replies to this topic

[Ben_O]

Top restoration work Ben, better than they left the factory.
You need to to have a YouTube channel, it would be very useful.

Cheers.
Doing a youtube channel might be fun, however I just dont have the time to create and edit content.

Cheers
Ben

[Jase]

 

Top restoration work Ben, better than they left the factory.
You need to to have a YouTube channel, it would be very useful.

Cheers.
Doing a youtube channel might be fun, however I just dont have the time to create and edit content.

Cheers
Ben

 

I prefer the updates in the forum, not keen on flicking back and forth to you tube, good to see a written commentary. Amazing work Ben.

[Project_Green]

Love this thread Ben so inspiring. 

[Ben_O]

On with the bootlid.

I have finished repairing the various dents and applied some epoxy primer.



Next up,I drilled the holes to mount the new badges



Then the buffers for the number plate frame



I also added a hole for the wiring loom

Next the hinges for the number plate frame using rivnuts



And that completes the modification



Looks great on the car



It's not legal to drive with the bootlid open but the hinged number plate is a nice touch.

[Ben_O]

Cast your minds back a few pages when I was mocking up the front end.

This is the style we were going for



Looked great but no quite retro enough so a new plan was hatched and this was purchased



In order to fit this, I first removed the lip from the front of the bonnet



And then the grille, frame and whiskers could be aligned, mounting holes drilled and then screwed in place





I think it looks loads better
Cheers
Ben

[JXC Mini GT]

Looking good Ben, what colour is the paintwork going to be ?

[Ben_O]

Looking good Ben, what colour is the paintwork going to be ?

BLMC Island blue with Rover NMN white roof.

Cheers
Ben

[JXC Mini GT]

Is that the same colour as the MPI you did a while back?

[Ben_O]

Is that the same colour as the MPI you did a while back?

No, that was Aston Martin flugplatz blue.
This colour is the same as the blue mk2 cooper belonging to floor manager.

Cheers
Ben

[JAYSONIC 79 IOW]

Looks so much better Ben great work

[blacktulip]

Outstanding work

[Project_Green]

With the grille and bonnet back off, there is this bracket to go on for the clutch line and engine steady

 

 

 

And thats the front conmplete

 

 

Next up, door skins

Ill start with the worst one

 

 

 

First the door needs stripping

 

Hinges come off first

 

 

Followed by the locks and associated parts

 

 

To get the old skin off, I need to drill these spot welds

 

 

 

Cut these welds

 

 

 

And then grind through the edge of the skin fold all the way round like this

 

 

There may also be some spot welds securing the skin to the frame in places around the edge but they don't put up much fuss so not really worth locating and drilling in my opinion.

 

And that's the skin off

 

 

Leaving the frame for me to repair

 

 

I start by cleaning up the areas that don't need to be cut and replaced

 

 

 

And then I begin by making up pieces for either end at the bottom starting with card templates

 

 

And in

 

 

And the other end

 

 

 

And then the middle

 

 

 

Then I can try on the new skin

 

 

 

It all seems to fit well. The next stage is to partially fold the skin on so it can be tried on the car for fit but first I want to epoxy prime the frame and the inside of the skin.

That's just been done and is drying as I type.

 

More tomorrow.

 

Cheers

Ben

 

 Ben How to you get your ground down weld to look so smooth?

[Ben_O]

I finished mocking up the back end just to make sure that everything fits as it should before paint.



Only issue to note is that the petrol cap doesnt fit the reproduction right tank.
I'll sort something

Cheers
Ben

[Ben_O]

[quote name="Project_Green" post="3681002"
 
 Ben How to you get your ground down weld to look so smooth?[/quote]

Lots of patience, time and using various grades or sanding disc to gradually bring it down flush

Ben

[Ben_O]

Wing mirrors