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Post by MiniGT5 on Jan 10, 2012 21:04:20 GMT
OK so as some of you know I have another project on the go... I decided the shell was probably too good to scrap and as it owes me nothing and I have most of the parts to put it back on the road I though I would give it a go. First off I bought a rollover frame from www.rolloverjigs.com/ its the same one as Ian got for his sprint but I also got the pickup brackets. The pickup was the main goal here so this is really just a practice attempt. Got the shell stripped and on the frame but have been experimenting a bit with centre of gravity, its certainly not where the instructions say it is...   I have been having a prod arround and the rust dont seem too bad Hopefully the bulkhead will clean back to bare metal  Need to fix the front floor pan corners and hing panel along with inner / outer / top sills.   I'm a bit worried about repairing the rear window frame  and in a past life I did this to the shelf... oops  not sure what to do about that plate it or fit a scrap shelf... descisions descisions. The other bit i'm worried about is the top of the window frame  Also have you ever seen the weld rip on a rear seat support to the window frame?  Not sure what would have caused that  Anyway plan is a budget rebuild. I will be running coilvers with turreted and tubed rear arches with a strut brace and a flat boot floor. mainly because I already have a full set of coilovers going spare. Body will be sports pack with flip front. will also go with mk1 rear lights as I like them. not sure on paint may leave it black and white but would also consider other colours Engine wise not sure there... I have my bargin turbo that I could fit but will wait to see what happens as it will probably take me ages to get this solid again but as I say the main goal is to get a solid shell. not to worried about paint as long as its a solid shell and mechanically sound. Thats all for now N. |
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Post by monkeyjim on Jan 10, 2012 23:22:55 GMT
Great to see you are going to rebuild it . Wont mention the parcel shelf to much.  . Worth drilling out the spot welds and fitting a replacement ? |
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Post by MiniGT5 on Jan 11, 2012 6:17:00 GMT
I was quite surprised once I started stripping it back as I new the sills, front pans and rear subframe mounts were bad but to be honest I have seen people put a lot worse back on the road and i'm not going to kid myself about budget or finish. it will cost more than I think and the diy finish will probably be a bit rough but as long as it is sound thats the main thing. parcel shelf... yeah what can I say, many years ago I did manage to squeeze 2 6*9s in there along with a 10" sub which used to make the window flex. replacement shelf is probably the best option. Dean has mentioned has has one, just need to do a deal  N. |
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Post by Miniböttcher on Jan 11, 2012 22:27:59 GMT
ke i said at the club meet, brace that car up, to hole is true, with the sills and floor corner rotted away, there is alot of strenght gone.
that shell in the garden is pefect for your car, all genuine panels which you know will fit, ha ha
i cut out the bits you need, i even have that roof section.
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Post by MiniGT5 on Jan 12, 2012 8:46:06 GMT
Thanks Dean I will make sure I get it braced up before I remove any more rusty panels. Let me now what you want for the repair sections from that old shell and I'm sure we can sort something out Cheers Neil  |
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Post by MiniGT5 on Jan 22, 2012 15:10:26 GMT
Been scraping off the underseal from the floor looks pretty good in places but the orignal factor finish seems to be grey etch paint followed by wax followed by stone chip / underseal as photos.  What should I be using to paint the floor with now I have removed this? N |
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Post by monkeyjim on Jan 22, 2012 16:30:16 GMT
Get it all back to bare metal. Etch red oxide whatever, stone chip and a top coat colour .
I would worry about getting it braced and welded up before you get to the cosmetics of the underside.
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Post by MiniGT5 on Jan 22, 2012 17:37:31 GMT
I dident realise that the stone ship just went on top of the etch prime... I thought there had to be paint then stonechip... obviously not looking at all the adivce from people and the way the orignal pannels were prepd... not to worried about the cosmetics at the moment just scraping off the old underseal to see what it solid and what is rust. not removed any panels yet just picked at a few holes.
Floor tunnel and centre of the heal board are a lot better than I thought which is a bonus. think I might be looking for a set of sills with the inner and outers already welded together apparently they go to the first rib of the floor pan only thing is they are £180 each side from minispares. I would post a link but their website is down... is there anywhere cheaper I can get them as that is really expensive for sills.
N.
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Post by Miniböttcher on Jan 22, 2012 20:15:46 GMT
Get them from m-machine. The sill on mini spare you are on about are properly from m-machine anyway. Don't ever remember them being £180. Maybe £70 odd when I looked when I ordered the panels for the mk1 a few years ago. Garfie used them on his estate when he did the sill on that and was very happy and made life easy. They do them short or to the first rib They even do it with the door step as well This is the online catalogue , but for some reason the prices are not there. Maybe updating it. www.m-machine.co.uk/Parts%20Cat%20doc.pdfI won't use anywhere else for panels. The cheap ones you get at shows are ok but never fit. M- machine are fair priced and fit. Close to genuine as you going to get. Saying that some of the heritage panels don't fit as well as they should. I have you cut the other panels off that car for you. |
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Post by monkeyjim on Jan 22, 2012 20:20:30 GMT
Well you know you got to use the primers etc but stonechip is overpaintable . No point painting floor than covering it in black smuck. All underside of mk1 was done in it (grey) and although I have done my best to scratch it off on various flying activities and crossing curbs at track days its faired very well and even the 50year rear floor pans are perfect .
Reckon there could be a couple of pro paint guys on here by now who could actually tell you ( us ) the correct process form protecting the repaired shell and what products are available .
Unfortunately Mini shells are expensive to repair . People used to gob a oversill on them to get through a MOT , it would need to be a real scrapper to do that these days in my opinion . The cars are actually worth some money and encassing the corroded sill under another one is a false economy and will only make things worse .
So good quality repair panels are a at a premium . There are the pattern parts..... panel quality and fit are something to bear in mind here . As always , you get what you pay for . Even the so called genuine heritage panels are not as good as the originals .
Sure I have mentioned before that one of the mk1 door skins is of a differant shape under the window aperture to the other because one was a genuine new old stock 1970's BL SKIN , complete with chicken poo and the other a heritage panel . The BL one is heavier too.
As for prices , Minispares can buy in bulk and could be cheaper , had this out with one of the Harpers who own Minisport , they could not match a Minispares price when I asked if they could . Having said that there could be a recommended retail price across the board for Heritage parts .
The only other option is M-Machine , been around for years used to be called Mini Machine untill I guess BMW went all high and mighty some years ago and threatened to take everyone using the word Mini to court .
They are legendary in Mini panels , give Doreen a call up there and get some prices from her .
Dean has replied while I was typing out my reply .... lol
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Post by Rachel on Jan 22, 2012 20:58:37 GMT
I don't think M Machine have ever put their prices on the website, but I have used them in the past, very reasonably priced, good quality and item was delivered in under 24 hours ;D That's service!! |
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Post by MiniGT5 on Jan 23, 2012 18:03:38 GMT
Cheers guys think I will ping off an email to M-Machine then.
N.
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Post by MiniGT5 on Jan 25, 2012 13:13:47 GMT
I have you cut the other panels off that car for you. Thanks Dean I only just noticed this on the very last line of your post. can you hang on to them until the next club meet please. Cheers N |
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Post by Miniböttcher on Jan 25, 2012 23:31:36 GMT
Not a problem. I still have not cut them off but I will by the club meet
The parcel shelf I have has been cut for 2 speakers I think around 6-7 " holes but not as bad of what you have
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Post by MiniGT5 on Jan 26, 2012 13:34:18 GMT
Cheers dean parcel shelf will be fine with small speaker holes
N.
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