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Oct 18, 2012 19:08:08 GMT
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Oct 19, 2012 17:14:26 GMT
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This morning i put underbody seal on the back side of the front panel, in places which would be hard to get to once it was welded on. I then seam sealed under the scuttle closing panels and other bits which would be hard to get to once the wings were on. Then i gave the a-panels some more prep. I took all the curse word paint off the inside, zinc'd parts to be welded and then gave the inside a coat of etch primer. Then i ran out of stuff to prep and bit the bullet and started welding it all together. Its not quite finished yet, i have some more welds to do underneath, but its all solid and isnt going to come off again! Tomorrow i hope to finish the welding, then fit the sportspack arches. Then i should only need another day to do misc touch up welds and then seal little bits and pieces, then its off for paint.
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Oct 19, 2012 22:26:11 GMT
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Looking really good, I'm jealous.
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Oct 20, 2012 14:35:50 GMT
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Finished welding up the front, then ground down some of the welds along the tops of the wings so i had the bonnet off. Ive put the big wheels on, and started looking at how the arches are going to fit. At this point its just taped on, but it looks really high up, so I'm gonna check out photos of others on the internet to see how they are meant to fit.
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Oct 20, 2012 20:57:10 GMT
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They do often look very high. Is the car standard height. When I bought mine with 13x7 Minilites and sportspack arches the gap was right, the there was no suspension and the back box was hitting every dip in the road. I had to raise the car a little, but then it ruined the arch gap and looked a bit funny. It's very hard to get them sitting right, are they genuine sportspacks? Minispares have a template fitting guide I think, otherwise I think it's a case of bending and manipulating the arch and trimming to make it look right.
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Oct 21, 2012 17:39:28 GMT
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The car is at standard ride height so i guess thats why they look a bit high. I downloaded the templates, but they arnt much help as they only show the mounting points for originals. These are fibreglass copies, so ill just put them where they need to be and drill holes accordingly. Found these two photos of original cars with big arch gaps. And found the third which makes for a good fitting reference.
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Oct 22, 2012 17:57:59 GMT
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Put the arches on today. Even though these are fairly poor quality with very thin gel coat, they fit pretty well. I welded bolts to the backside of the mounting tabs because it was a pain in the butt having to keep doing up the fastenings with such poor access. I put the bonnet back on after having given it a bit more adjustment. I have someone coming round tomorrow to give me a quote for painting it.
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Oct 22, 2012 21:32:49 GMT
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Ooh, make sure you post where you decide to get it done and how good a job they do.
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Last Edit: Oct 22, 2012 21:33:27 GMT by oli8925
Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Well got a quote for paint, but they couldnt do it till January, so the car is going to be taken back north to get painted. Ill be taking it on Thursday, so ive got 3 days to finish all the metal work. So i had a long day on the front arches. I adjusted the sportspack arches again as i wasnt happy they were level. I had to enlarge the front 2 holes on both left and right side of the car. I then welded penny washers on the inside, so that it was neat. Then i set about trimming the arches so that if the car gets lowered in the future they wont rub on the tyres. I used the templates from mini spares website. That showed i needed to cut an inch off all the way round. So i measured up and got cutting! That left me with this The remaining wings were now quite floppy, so i used the bits i cut off and some new metal to create a new arch lip flange. I then stitch welded this along the top edge and all the way along underneath. So its strong, should be easy to seal, and if the tyre does hit then it will hit a flat face not a sharp edge. As the radius of the new lip was greater than the original, i had to cut slots and open it up to give the right curve. All of it was zinc'd before and after. I also cleaned up the other welds under the front and zinc'd all the seams Starting the other side Welded Inside This actually took all day!
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It was pretty cold in the garage this morning, so i tackled a job which involved heat! When teh passenger door was reskinned, i don't think the frame was square, or if not that, then maybe its had a knock since. Anyway, the top of the door frame was too far to teh rear at the top edge. So i heated up the four corners with the blow torch then gave it a few knocks with the rubber hammer, so it now sits much better. Well happy with this as i didnt think this would work. Next i took both doors off to roll the a panel lip around, and finish welding up the front edges of teh door steps. I hadnt done this before as i couldnt get in there with the doors on. I used a hammer and dolly, vice grips, a block of wood wrapped in foam and an old number plate to do it. After lunch i took a look at the passenger door again. The new one is from an earlier car and didnt have the crash bar in it like the later cars. So i tried to see if i could swap it into the new door. First problem was how to get it out. The bar is a tight fit inside the frame with a bolt either end, so even with the bolts out it took a hammer to get it to move. I couldnt get it out though so i cut a hole in the frame and extracted it that way. Next i looked at how to fit it in the other door. After a lot of messing around i finally got it in without cutting holes in the frame. I didnt think it was going to go, but its in now. Still not sure quite how i did it. After it was inside the door i drilled holes for the bolts using templates i took off the old door. Then using the hammer i knocked the bar into position and bolted it up. I'm chuffed with this as i didnt think it would work. I think these bars are fitted with the door skin off the frame. Next i welded up the holes in the floor that are usually plugged with bungs and love to rust. Did the four at the front. Then i welded up the hole in the wing for the aerial and the two redundant holes in the scuttle. Last thing i refitted the bonnet latch that i had cut off the old bonnet. I'm Knackered!
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Ian
Part of things
Posts: 977
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I still cant get over how much work this has needed, Such a great standard of work, hope the recepient of all this know how involved it all is. Also looking forward to seeing it finished so we can see more of the SD1.
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Thanks very much. Yeah cant wait to get the SD1 in the garage. Had another long day on the mini, mostly seam sealing. Ive done all the seams under the front wings, all down the a panel inside, along the top and around the headlamps. I did around the front floors where i repaired them. I also did up under the dash and behind the bonnet hinges and in behind the a panels where the lip is rolled round. Then i ran out of sealer so the body shop will have to do the rest. I refitted the passenger door, the bonnet and the arches. Then i went round the car refitting little bits that wouldnt get in the way during painting like rad mounts, handbrake cable etc. I played about with the fit of the bonnet again. I'm still not totally happy, so i tried to roll the top of the wing in. I did this using hammer and doll, but access is too small to swing a hammer so only a little success. Then i put the grill and chrome on the front. The bonnet chrome needed some fettling. I actually bent the bonnet lip down to get it level. Last thing i hammerited a couple of bits under the front, and started packing up bits ready for the trip north tomorrow. I still don't have the drivers door on. The original hinge bolts snapped when i removed the old door, so ive been using the boot bolts temporarily instead. I ordered some new bolts yesterday and paid for fast postage, but they still havent arrived. So i hope they turn up tomorrow!
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Its been a while since i last updated, but the Mini was delivered back to the paint shop in Sheffield from where it has emerged looking like this! I cant wait to see it in the flesh, it looks great. The colour is Almond Green. Hopefully ill be up to Sheffield before Christmas to help in the re assembly.
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all the hard work paid off looks great, looking forward to seeing it all fitted up
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loving the dub
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Dec 30, 2012 14:05:44 GMT
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MJK 24
Part of things
Posts: 175
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Dec 30, 2012 15:24:14 GMT
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I'm amazed a car that isn't really that old can get so rusty! To be fair: 1) It's a Mini 2) It's 16 years old 3) For all we know, the original owner could have commuted in it through the depths of winter without ever washing out the arches let alone adding some meaningful rustproofing to the car. Salt kill poorly protected steel in no time at all. The biggest factor in how rusty a Mini is IMO is the way that the owner has cared for the car. Keeo going OP, top effort and you'll end up with a solid Mini that should last a further 16 years if cared for properly!
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Jun 15, 2013 18:18:09 GMT
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Its passed its MOT!
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craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,993
Club RR Member Number: 35
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1996 Mini 1.3icraig1010cc
@craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member 35
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Jun 15, 2013 22:00:41 GMT
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Cool, nice too see another one back on the road
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