1658 replies to this topic

[johnbest981]

Do it!

your plans sound like a very HANDY way to keep the rusty at bay!

sorry, i'll leave now.

oh, but not with out saying how cool it is to see updates on this car again!

[Deathrow]

Hehe, thanks John . I'm hoping I can carry on giving at least one update a week, I'll do my best.

The only thing that concerns me about my planned paint methods is the fact I want to get agreed value on Elliot, in case the worst happens and I can't see them thinking that the hand prints are as "valuable" as I see them to be haha.

[1275 SPRITE]

Good to see the updates popping up again. Once the rear valance is on I think it will look like a big step foreward, as pretty much all of the rust visable from the outside will have been cut out and new panels and plates fitted. Its starting to look a lot more solid now. Keep it up.

I'd definately consider heating the garage for the spray job though, because if you hand painted it I think it would be tempting to leave it how it is and not get round to rubbing the whole car down again and doing a proper spray job on it. For the work you have done on it I'd say it definately deserves a bit more effort at the end for a good paint finish rather than roller it by hand.

James

[Deathrow]

Good to see the updates popping up again. Once the rear valance is on I think it will look like a big step foreward, as pretty much all of the rust visable from the outside will have been cut out and new panels and plates fitted. Its starting to look a lot more solid now. Keep it up.

I'd definately consider heating the garage for the spray job though, because if you hand painted it I think it would be tempting to leave it how it is and not get round to rubbing the whole car down again and doing a proper spray job on it. For the work you have done on it I'd say it definately deserves a bit more effort at the end for a good paint finish rather than roller it by hand.

James

Yeah I agree with you completely, once the valance goes on it will look alot more complete . There is now only 4 rusty bits left on the car that need my attention and she's rust free (as much as any Mini ever is) .

I know what you're saying about the paint job, however, regardless of whether I painted Elliot properly or not, she's never going to be finished thus, if I had paint her, the drive and option is still there to strip the external stuff off, sand it down and paint it. At the moment, I just need her road worthy as soon as I can so I can get back behind the wheel . Then I can carry on with little jobs here and there.

I appreciate all the comments and input you guys are giving . Cross your fingers for it to be dry tomorrow!

[tedmcedd]

i think i have to agree with 1275 sprite... you will regret not painting her properly.... :/

although its your car man! i always regretted not sorting the bean out properly paint/rust wise....

[Deathrow]

i think i have to agree with 1275 sprite... you will regret not painting her properly.... :/

although its your car man! i always regretted not sorting the bean out properly paint/rust wise....

She will be painted properly, just not yet. No point painting her properly when she isn't finished. But I do want her on the road, which is why I need to do something to keep her protected.

It's good anyway because I can have a bit of fun with the paint job and not really care about it and at the same time, If I see any bits I feel I could do better, I can redo them before I do the proper paint job.

Really, I need it to be summer when I spray her anyway because I don't have access to an oven or anything and as it stands, the people that own the garage want her out of there long before it'll be warm enough for me to paint her. So even if I didn't feel good about painting her like this, it's going to be tough stuff!

For now, I just want to get back behind the wheel of my trusty little motor which I've given alot of time, money and effort to, shine doesn't make you go faster .

Edited by Deathrow, 22 November 2009 - 04:36 PM.

[Deathrow]

Hello! Little update, not vast but still progress just the same.


I don't know if any of you saw my thead in Problems and Technical but this is how I eventually managed to remove the nut from the radius arm pin. The combination of heat and force managed to get it to give. The brackets are scrap anyway as I've got adjustable ones .


Nut removed.


Opposing end.


Both brackets now off.


Drum removed. That wheel cylinder isn't very old but I think I'll renew it for the sake of being thorough with the brakes anyway.


Radius arm on my desk at my Uni house ready to strip down and rebuild.


Stripped down as far as I care for, I didn't want to mess with the bearing as when I removed the hub cap, the bearings are completely mint and still have plenty of grease on them, I don't think they're that old to be honest.

I need to continue cleaning the arm before I paint it up and start putting bits back on. I also need to make an order to Mini Spares.

Thanks for looking guys and girls .

[dezshearer]

Nice idea for the nuts, thats one of those "special tools" you'll keep forever!

If you're this far down, you may aswell put new bearings in? It's super easy to do, and not to pricey.

New everything, new brakes and new bearings, piece of mind etc?

Edited by dezshearer, 30 November 2009 - 12:44 AM.

[Deathrow]

Nice idea for the nuts, thats one of those "special tools" you'll keep forever!

If you're this far down, you may aswell put new bearings in? It's super easy to do, and not to pricey.

New everything, new brakes and new bearings, piece of mind etc?

The only reason I'm not replacing everything is that I didn't want this to become a complete nut and bolt replacement type of rebuild, if a part is still doing it's job as well as it ever was, I'm very happy to leave it in place and let it continue doing it's job and replace it when it's had its day . Does that seem sensible? It could just be me being a loon hehe.

It's probably actually easier to replace it on the car anyway because of the torque on the hub nut?

Also: I won't go in to many details now, but mentally Elliot seems to be getting a complete make over on how I want her to look. She's probably getting painted as per my signiture again now if I can get the garage warm enough or find someone willing to lend me a hand with it. Also, I think I'm going to pop my spotlight grille and spotlights in the classifieds section and buy a plain vanilla thin slat grille for her, not sure I'm fond of spots anymore, we shall see!

Edited by Deathrow, 30 November 2009 - 01:59 PM.

[analogue_radio]

Are you replacing the bearings in the radius arm yourself or getting them reconditioned?

[Deathrow]

Are you replacing the bearings in the radius arm yourself or getting them reconditioned?

The bushes and roller bearings in my current arms are fine, again, no need to be replaced. Everything is getting cleaned up, painted, thoroughly greased and put back together .

[analogue_radio]

Oh okay, I had no knowledge of when mine were replaced so I figured it was best for peace of mind if I got my arms reconditioned. But if yours are okay then that's good

I need to start bringing mini parts to uni

[camp freddy]

Oh okay, I had no knowledge of when mine were replaced so I figured it was best for peace of mind if I got my arms reconditioned. But if yours are okay then that's good

I need to start bringing mini parts to uni

Can you get your shell in your room!!!!!!!??????

[Deathrow]

Oh okay, I had no knowledge of when mine were replaced so I figured it was best for peace of mind if I got my arms reconditioned. But if yours are okay then that's good

I need to start bringing mini parts to uni

Can you get your shell in your room!!!!!!!??????

I could get Elliot in mine if there was a door big enough .

I'm not in halls though.

[Deathrow]

Well I've been to the garage again today, not a great deal done but I'm moving in the right direction.


Lifted her up a bit more to make working on the underside a little easier.


Driver side heal board.


Passenger side heal board.


Driver side cleaned and primed up.


Passenger side cleaned and primed up.


Thin metal where oversill was sat.


Thin metal cut out ready for a 1mm sheet patch to be let in .

I also chopped off the valance closing brackets again as I'd put them in the wrong place like a berk. New ones are on the way in the Mini Spares order I placed the other night to the sum of £110 , I've also ordered myself a Mini 50 hoody .

Thanks for looking guys and girls, we'll get there in the end.