464 replies to this topic

[nicnoo]

OOOOOOF, I can see the guys from MiniSpares and M-Machine rubbing their hands together from here.

[Ben_O]

Finally after some delays I'm ready to start cutting next week!

 

[floormanager]

Finally after some delays I'm ready to start cutting next week!

 

 

Sorry

[Ben_O]

 

Finally after some delays I'm ready to start cutting next week!

 

 

Sorry

 

It's ok Paul.

it was nothing to do with your mini. I've been sorting out some other cars to get them out of the door. That's what has caused the delays as I haven't had the space to get this mini into a suitable position at a working height until now.

 

Cheers

Ben 

[JAYSONIC 79 IOW]

Looking good Ben

[Revd]

Me and my ‘vantage are on vacation

Attached Files

•  064442BF-9D27-470B-A02A-94378532B3A7.jpeg   111.22K   2 downloads

[Ben_O]

Today we have the beginning of the panel work.

 

When I rebuild bodyshells, I always start at the back and work forward. I want/need to put the shell on the rotisserie in order to replace the floors but as the arch tubs need doing too, it doesn't make sense to do that yet as i won't be able to keep it safely mounted to the rotisserie when removing the tubs.

 

In this case, the arch tubs will be replaced first. As the boot floor is being replaced, I can weld the new tubs to the rear bulkhead, the stiffeners inside the boot and obviously the radius of the arch lip on the quarter panel. This will be plenty to hold everything nicely until the boot floor is replaced.

 

Anyway, enough jabber, I started by locating and drilling out the spot welds

 

 

 

The arch tub is also welded in a few places with big slugs of mig. Namelt the rear bulkhead, back edge of the companion bin and the stiffener at the back of the boot floor that the subframe trunnion bolts through.

I tend to locate these and then cut round them to release the tub as you can see above

 

 

I also cut round the radius of the arch just inbound of the arch lip. you can see this in the pic above

 

With it loose, I then pulled it out

 

 

Then I had a clean up of the weld areas ready for the new one. I remove the remains of the arch lip by grinding through the skin with a flap disc all the way round until its thin enough to peel off

 

 

 

And now I can start looking at the repairs to the quarter panel. I started with this part which could have been cleaned up but it was a little too pitted for my liking

 

 

So I cut it off and made up a new piece

 

 

 

I then looked at the section infront of the arch

 

 

Again, I could have cleaned this up but the backside of it particularly was very crusty. 

 

 

Ill be using lower quarter/step repair panels on this car so there is no need to fabricate a section up here. I'm still waiting for delivery though so Ill leave it there

 

 

I also welded up the arch screw holes as this is probably going archless.

 

Just need to do the same the other side now.

 

Cheers

Ben

[floormanager]

Serious work going on there!

[gaspen]

Hello

 

I just like  to ask one thing : the stiffener of the inner sill is fitted this way by the factory ? I mean it slopes forward ?

 

 MZznuzp.jpg   44.08K   6 downloads

[JAYSONIC 79 IOW]

Great work Ben

[Ben_O]

Hello

 

I just like  to ask one thing : the stiffener of the inner sill is fitted this way by the factory ? I mean it slopes forward ?

 

MZznuzp.jpg

No.

I think they get bent down overtime by things getting put in the companion bins and falling into the gap.

I often see them like this.

Cheers

Ben

[gaspen]

 

Hello

 

I just like  to ask one thing : the stiffener of the inner sill is fitted this way by the factory ? I mean it slopes forward ?

 

MZznuzp.jpg

No.

I think they get bent down overtime by things getting put in the companion bins and falling into the gap.

I often see them like this.

Cheers

Ben

 

I have a new floor, new stiffener and new wheel arch closing panel. If  I trial fit the stiffener to its place it won't fit parallel to the floor edge. 

[Ben_O]

I imagine that the front edge is probably hard up against the underside of the step.

If you need to bend it down to clear, then it's not going to make any difference.

As long as the top edge is parallel to the top of the inner sill you'll be ok

[Ben_O]

Well after an absolute nightmare trying to track down the panels for this car, we are finally starting to take delivery of them.

I guess with everything that's going on right now in the world, panel production must have slowed down and demand increased. I've had to go to several suppliers and am still coming up short. 

 

this is today's delivery although there was supposed to be a complete floor pan there too......

 

Cheers

Ben

[Avtovaz]

does that have mk1 lights but also the later rear window size? thats interesting if it is!

 

your work is so good mate!