281 replies to this topic

[Crazy]

Glad your having the mini restored. I remember it for sale not long ago on Facebook. Glad it's in the hands of Ben really solid shell.

It'll probably be listed again once it's back in all fairness.

[Ben_O]

I've got a modern in this week for some accident damage to be repaired but I've been dipping in and out of the mini.

 

There is the other quarter panel to sort out.

This one is visibly rippled although hard to pick up with a camera.

 

 

I stripped all the peely paint off back to bare metal

 

 

And then stuck a skim of filler in to even things out

 

 

Next on the agenda is to sort out the door gaps this side.

All the other gaps are nice and even except for this one

 

 

Which despite being reasonably even, is much wider than the others.

 

I added welding rod 

 

 

And once fully welded, I ground back and shaped to match the other gaps

 

 

With that done, I need to fix the storage dings in the new door.

I took a photo earlier to try and capture the dings but it's not awfully clear..

 

 

I'll get on that 

 

Cheers

Ben 

[Crazy]

Enjoy these updates Ben

 

sorry for the lack of replies on some updates, been away a few times and recently lost the motive with the mini again how ever trying to tell myself It was the right decision to make to go ahead with it.

 

I knew the doors would of potentially had some storage dings they've been moved around a couple of times before they were put in the shell, but then the shell got used as a storage place for other various parts from my other car, They don't look as bad as I potentially would of thought though, 

 

What would cause the wider panel gap with the door? Or is it just one of those things with being a mini and different doors to what it came with from the factory.

 

Luke

[Ben_O]

Enjoy these updates Ben

 

sorry for the lack of replies on some updates, been away a few times and recently lost the motive with the mini again how ever trying to tell myself It was the right decision to make to go ahead with it.

 

I knew the doors would of potentially had some storage dings they've been moved around a couple of times before they were put in the shell, but then the shell got used as a storage place for other various parts from my other car, They don't look as bad as I potentially would of thought though, 

 

What would cause the wider panel gap with the door? Or is it just one of those things with being a mini and different doors to what it came with from the factory.

 

Luke

Hi Luke.

 

No worries about the lack of replies. It's all here to look through whenever you have a chance.

 

As for the motivation, perhaps seeing it come together will help?

There won't be a huge amount left to do once I'm done to see it finished and its largely the fun parts so perhaps that will help too.

 

As for the doors, the passenger side looked to have been dropped on pretty much all the edges but all straightened out fine.

The problem with new complete doors is the skins are fitted to them with no mind to its position on the frame and as minis vary so much anyway, it wouldn't make any difference anyway.

In the case of the drivers door here, the skin was too far forward on the frame so to get the gaps even, j would have had to shim the door too far back which would result in the window frame being too far back so I have to put the door where the window frame looks good, fit the a panel far enough forward to give a good gap there and then add add welding rod at the back to close that up.

 

It's by no means the most trouble I've had. Intact, it was pretty straightforward and didn't requite the use of great lengths of timber and a club hammer to force the door into shape like I've had to do before.

 

Cheers.

 

Ben 

[Fred&Rex]

Looking good, interesting way of sorting the door gaps looks great, like you said once it’s painted I’m sure the motivation will come back for the build.
Thanks
Daz

[blacktulip]

Such great work Ben!! 

[Ben_O]

Thats the drivers side finished now.

 

 

 

 

Cheers

Ben 

[Ben_O]

Onto the back end prep now.

 

There was some unevenness below the rear lamps so they have had a skim

 

[Crazy]

Was nice to meet you today Ben and see the mini I got the feeling your as excited as me to see it in the colour it's going.

[Ben_O]

Was nice to meet you today Ben and see the mini I got the feeling your as excited as me to see it in the colour it's going.

Nice to meet you too luke.

Yep, I'm looking forward to seeing how it looks!

 

Cheers

Ben 

[Crazy]

Have to also add in It's bought the motivation back today seeing it, all afternoon and evening I've been like yep need to get this done and enjoy it. 

[Ben_O]

Have to also add in It's bought the motivation back today seeing it, all afternoon and evening I've been like yep need to get this done and enjoy it. 

That's great news luke.

It's going to be a cracking car when it's done. 

 

Cheers

Ben 

[Fred&Rex]

Great stuff 😎

[Ben_O]

Today, I wanted to finish up the external prep by getting thr roof ready.

 

 

I sanded the paint back to provide a key and all looked good however when I blew the dust off, this happened

 

 

The top layer of paint started flaking off revealing shiny paint beneath...

And it happened in various places so I resorted to paint stripper and we will go bare metal

 

 

Cover with a sheet and wait

 

 

After 15 mins ,I can see the paint starting to blister

 

 

I'll give it a bit longer then break out the scraper.

 

Cheers

Ben 

[sonscar]

As a pro painter can you afford anything other than bare metal unless you are very sure of the paint history?Steve..