Project: 1979 Austin Mini

[FROSTY:Me]

Oh and the blow torch is a bad idea, use paint stripper (automotive), prepsol and scrapper, otherwise you'll just warp the panels or worse send the car up in a puff of smoke

mate --a Mini is what remains AFTER someone hits a car with a blowtorch

[Disco Dan]

The body is almost ready to be sanded down ready for painting.... the engine and some of the auxilleries will be sent away to be rebuilt soon so time for some bodywork fun!

After I have finished a few minor repairs to the shell I will be having a "sanding day" - inviting everyone thats willing to bring a sander and get sanding! Will supply food and lots of beer for 'helpers'

PM me if your interested!

[peasea]

they are mini's

OMG, people with too much time on their hands.....

[Mooch]

Are you restoring to standard or going to do some modding ?

I'm doing a similar project at the moment

[Highlander]

Engine is coming completly apart....... well if I can get the clutch out without a clutch puller...

We did that a while back. Was a somewhat bigger job than we thought it would be.The shaft is tapered so once you break the seal the fly wheel basically jumps off allowing easy access.

[Disco Dan]

Are you restoring to standard or going to do some modding ?

I'm doing a similar project at the moment

Going standard, but with a few modern components.

We did that a while back. Was a somewhat bigger job than we thought it would be.The shaft is tapered so once you break the seal the fly wheel basically jumps off allowing easy access.

Yes, they are a pain to get off, especially when I dont have a large enough socket!

[Kflasher]

[QUOTE=Disco Dan;1131010]...Basically, if you have any knowledge of mini's, mechanical knowhow.. even tools... I want to hear from you!...[QUOTE]

Hey dude I ahve a box of bits (carbs etcs) just sitting around.
I'm on the shore if if ya wanna hook up.....
I converted mine to a tilt front... way cool at shows.

[crashe]

Yes, they are a pain to get off, especially when I dont have a large enough socket!

What size socket piece are you after?

[Disco Dan]

What size socket piece are you after?

Regretting this already... inch and a half. Went and bought one... got it off...

[crashe]

Regretting this already... inch and a half. Went and bought one... got it off...

Was it expensive to buy a single one?

[skidMark]

I'll help you if you promise NEVER to let the last owner touch it

hardee har har........

[skidMark]

Good to hear the mini is back in good hands again.

that wasnt rude at all

the minis bolts were all loose....because the car all needed to be in one place...the old man got sick of mini bits all over the garage, so i put the bolts in everywhere so when i had the funds to actually do it up that i knew where everything went, rather than them all sitting in a bucket,

all of you stop digging shit at me, the only reason dan has it back, at a very very cheap price i have lost alot of money on it, but i don't really care about that as i know dan has the funds and time to make a really nice job of the car, which i knew i would not have for sometime, i will be buying another mini when i have some money, but thought it was best dan got this one as i would rather see it on the road, than up the side of my house doing nothing.

i'm done, keep going hard dan, i will check progress when i next come to work on the vfr, wednesday hopefully, i will come at 1030/11ish but will call you first.

and nobody go on and on about this, ive said my bit and i don't need a bitchfight in here ruining another good thread, as i can only take so much being dug into and used for satire.

regards: Mark

[Disco Dan]

Hey dude I ahve a box of bits (carbs etcs) just sitting around.
I'm on the shore if if ya wanna hook up.....
I converted mine to a tilt front... way cool at shows.

Cheers for that, my carb has just been reconditioned and is ready to go back on the car. Keen for any other bits though like door handles, guages, mirrors etc etc

the minis bolts were all loose....because the car all needed to be in one place...the old man got sick of mini bits all over the garage, so i put the bolts in everywhere so when i had the funds to actually do it up that i knew where everything went, rather than them all sitting in a bucket,

Yeah... just gave me twice as much work to do though ay hehe

Ok folks, paint stripper is not looking very cost effective so far - so after talking to a few friends 'in the know' im on the hunt for sand blasting gear... I will buy it if I have to, but would prefer to 'borrow' or pay for someone to do it for me, which ever works out cheaper/easier. PM me if you can help please.

Also, I need a flywheel puller to get the flywheel off the engine - will only need it for 5-10 minutes. So again - if you can assist please PM me!

Mark - thanks for your post... I moved your 'bits of bike' so the mini shell can fit in my garage again. My makeshift paint booth will be used for sandblasting soon.... mwuahahaha...

Update on progress: suspension parts arrive soon, front/rear subframes have been treated and painted ready for suspension parts to go back on. Engine is waiting for flywheel to come off before pistons and rings get replaced, and the whole thing can start going back together with new (yes new) gearbox. Then all the bits go into storage for a few weeks while I work on the bodywork - sandblasting then painting. Then the really fun part begins... I get to put the subframes back on, wheels etc so I can start work on the interior! I have a few ideas, but wont be letting on colour schemes for outside/inside... will be a surprise

[Disco Dan]

*Bump Bump*

[Busy]

While sand blasting it yourself "could" be cheaper it is very time consuming unless you have a very BIG compressor. So, two options I'd suggest is 1/ get it sand blasted - there is a crowd down Henderson valley road who does it, among others, fairly reasonable, or 2/ get it acid dipped - kiwk strip is down Partiki Road and is probably cheaper but they have a smaller tank, probably could take a mini but wouldn't take a full car, closest place for that would be Rotorua.

The reason I say it could be cheaper is because if you buy say four bags of real sandblasting sand and seal the room your in (to recycle the sand) you could probably get away with just the four but it will take at a guess about a month and a bit after work and weekends with a 15cu compressor. Thats if it's the original paint, otherwise add a few weeks and it wont take off thick (rubbery) underseal and sealer very well