Dean's mk1

[Miniböttcher]

Very close to start moving my toolbox and tools over and get back on with the car.
Had a few set backs with the floor . due to the water level outside the garage. ( little flood etc ) but now sorted and should not happen again. Half the floor is painted and dried so we can now move bits over to the painted side and paint the other half.

There are a few little bits outside to do but weather permitting.but this will not hold me up from working on the car. ( they can wait for the spring)

It's been 9 months since i stopped working on the shell and sent it away to be painted which they never did , so I would like to finish the little body work the body shop started and have it sent off for painting early in the new year. (if all goes well )

[Miniböttcher]

Well for the first time since I took it out the bodyshop in September, I spent a good few hours working on the shell ( with my new welder for the first time) and grinding .

I now have the drivers door done, fitted in the frame with a nice gap and straight with the body. I just finished off what the body shop started and a bit more as I went.

Felt good to work on it. So hopefully it won't be long till I be ready to send it away again and hope it comes back painted this time.

[Miniböttcher]

Oh dear 6 weeks since I last worked on the shell but there has been a few reasons. I was away for 2 weekends. Been playing with my engine ( setting timing) as I had a trailer in the way which filled the garage.
But now that's out I have room to pull the shell out the corner and start playing again.
Also been looking into other bits and prices and also spending more money on quality parts.
A bit of a bad thing Some Parts I had previously cleaned. Painted and rebuilt. Which were done a few years ago have got gubby and like my calipers have spots of rust. Which is a bit annoying as they are all buildup with new piston and seals. Half tempted to get alloy calipers so I won't get that problem again. But can't get my head round spending £308 to get a set of calipers when I have a rebuilt set. May see if I can get them zinc plated. That's a good idea. Still need to rebuild the gearbox once I cleaned my gearset. But once the engine is all together I will see if I can get it running out the car. As I don't fancy removing it from a freshly painted shell.

[MiniGT5]

Dean

A mate of mine was asking who you used / recommend for blasting and etching I read back and all I could find was so one in billingshurst but no company name

N.

[Miniböttcher]

This is them

www.blast-cleaning.co.uk/index.php?menuid=38&component=contact

They soda blast and coat it in a zinc sulpha coating. It's all on there website.
It's not cheap tho. To have my shell totally blasted inside and out . Ever knok and cranny. Then have that zinc coating was just over £1000 inc vat.

But that coating is good. Mine was done 15-16 months ago and is only now just showing very slight,odd bits of rust spots in some places, They say it best to paint with in 6 months and will be fine as long as its dry stored.

You and your mate are more than welcome to come over and have a look at there work.

[MiniGT5]

Thanks dean
I will send him the link he has just bought a mk1 cortina which is in a right state he mentiond surface processing ltd but they are quite far away so he was looking at closer options

Cheers Neil

[Miniböttcher]

Just flicking around on eBay and found a Churchill hydro pump, so had a look and it was " elva recovery".

That was there bodyshop where my mk1 was.

Well started to read the discription on the pump, and at the bottom it read , I whole content of a bodyshop for sale.

Clicked on other items, and there are spray booths, Plazma cutters, mixers, etc etc.

So I was glad my car came out of there as I bet it would still be there if I did not remove it, and it would never of got done , and now there bodyshop is closed. (can't talk too loud as its still not in another bodyshop)

[MiniGT5]

Lucky you most places that go bust list the customers cars too!

Neil

[Miniböttcher]

Well it's stil not in paint. Been busy doing other things, holidays , weddings , private work. etc etc. but just looked back and it's 6 years in novemebr since I bought the mk1 and its still not done.

But this gave me some really arse kicking to get it done. Made me go weak at the knees

mk1-forum.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7637

I will get my finger and get it done

[MiniGT5]

Nice gear linkage is that off the shelf or home made?

[Miniböttcher]

Looks home made to me. Are you thinking for your pick up

[MiniGT5]

I am if it stays a-series... But I think you have to solid mount the engine?

[Miniböttcher]

Yes you need to solid mount the engine as the linkage is solid mount inside the car and only has 1 rod coming out instead of 2.as the one missing is there to kind of solid mount the linkage to the engine instead of the car

If you can understand what I mean. I not sure if I can understand what I mean what I wrote

[MiniGT5]

I know what you mean lol

So when you planing to be finished now 2014 ??

[Miniböttcher]

Shock horror, I worked on the mk1 for a good few hours today. And it was good

Done a little mod to my boot hinges that Stephen has done to his and is a great idea, very simple. And not noticeable once fitted.

All you do is to remove the hinge pin. Split the hinge into 2 bits. Put the pin back in its hole , then cut a slot in the other half up to the hole.

Makes the boot removable but still function able.






Also touched up a bit of welding, cleaning up and making a few bits better, also played with my drivers door and got it, right. There was only abit to do after it came back from the bodyshop but took a bit to get the gaps right AGAIN!!!