1990 limited edition mini 'studio 2' project

[floydrob]

hi, this is my first post on the forum so i'll introduce myself here too. i'm 16 and from helensburgh (scotland) and decided to tackle a massive mini project. it is a small and simple car so relatively on the mechanical side of things and i have a mechanical engineering qualificatios so that side of things doesnt taunt me whatsoever, but the welding does.

i picked up this shell for next to nothing but being a limited edition i took it with the intent of restoring it in a 'classy but not quite origional' way, so it is standard looking on the outside, standard looking undwr the bonnet (but by no means standard) and my twist on classy on the insede, integrating modern technology with a great little classic, but all hidden away nicely (thats the plan anyway)

i've been on scottishmini.co.uk for a while and started this project about a month ago...so heres what i've done so far. pics can do the talking for now

and this was it a few weeks ago...its now on its side so i can work on the floor

couple of repair patches i made up...

rear seat and floor painted inside

 

[floydrob]

but then it all went downhill....

previous owner tried to "repair" it by putting 9" aftermarket oversills which just cover up the old rust and lock in moisture so it rust everything else quicker!! :C

so i flipped it on its side and cleaned thje good bits of the floorpan back to metal and gave a coat of cheap and cheerful paint to seal temporarily before i put the underbody seal on it

then cut out all the bad metal to be patched up and zinc primed what was left

but now my problem is, my arc welder is too heavy for bodywork and my mask is smashed to its a nightmare trying to tack panels and patches on with my eyes closed!

so looking for a wee favor from anyone nearby! i'l;l pay for materials and consumables, but if anyone could come and do some welding for me i'd be VERY grateful and return the favor anytime. also, promise a go of the wee bute once she's on the road (shud be august ish)
thanks

 

[rtbcomp]

Why not get a new MIG and an auto-darkening helmet? From your pics "wee favour" is an understatement!

Welcome to the forum by the way!

 

[floydrob]

well that inner sill is only the really bad bit, rest i can arc probs.
cant afford a mig and an auto darkening mask...although i might geta wee portamig and a cheapo mask if i can get some cash together

 

[malcolm]

You'd be a lot better picking up your own MIG - we've seen arc welding on bodywork here before and it wasn't nice. Also welding with eyes closed without a full face mask is daft - fixed shade mask is a tenner.

You can pick a MIG up for as little as £50 second hand (so long as it works you'll only need to spend another £30 servicing it, or a new Clarke 90 comes in just short of £200. If you are short think of it as something to do before you need to buy tax and insurance.

 

[chunkolini]

I say young man shouldn't a chap your age be out chasing young women.

Top marks for taking on such a serious project, let us know how you get on.
Chunko'.

 

[madkayaker]

or building tall bikes?

 

[chunkolini]

At my age this is less of a problem. This type of behaviour effectively removes you from the gene pool, I have done my bit of breeding so my DNA is safe.

Why does it remove you from the gene pool? because when confronted with two males of the species the female will usually elect to reproduce with the one who can communicate about matters other than those technical, and does not wonder around talking to themselves and covered in grease.

Chunko'.

 

[madkayaker]

is talking to your self endemic of such matters as i have always muttered to myself

 

[chrisg3103]

if you were a bit closer i could of helped, about 50 miles too north and on the wrong side of the clyde

i have a spare clarke 90en (gas/no gas) that went a bit mad, would be depositing a glowing snake one min then obliterating the panels the next. so flung it in a corner and got a better clarke probably about 30 years old but welds lovley.
anyway, if you can get the 90en going again then you can use it as long as you need think it might just need the rectifier connections cleaned?

splash out £10 on a mask though end up with sunburnt eye lids

 

[Wozzaaah]

Right, floydrob, I'm going to grab you by the scruff of the neck and give you a good shake!
You have the basis for a cracking little car and a really good experience! Get yourself a small mig, for a mini even a 100A one will do, read the tutorials on here, ask questions and get on with it!
I'm planning on selling my Mazda MX5 within the next couple of weeks and a mini is on my shortlist for it's replacement so I'm interested to see what you do with it.

 

[floydrob]

thanks everyone for the tips.
chris, thanks that sounds like another wee project to keep me busy. i pm'd you on scottishmini. i'll discuss with u wen is ok to come down for it. might make a day of it, my dad and i go to the shooting ground quite often and shoot some clay's .

wozzahhh, DEFFO GET A MINI!!! they are by all means the most fun cars in the world! i dont even hav a licence, but i can tell you already, in a feild and on private roads, its MUCH more fun to drive a mini than it is to drive a 2.5L navara 4X4, which you would expect to be more fun off road!!
they are amazing little cars, and if u think size is an issue, the internal size is massive!! its actually realli spacious inside, i can comfortably sit in the back while the front seat is all the way back!

think i'll learn alot from this project, and it will save me £££ if anything goes wrong!, be able do fix it myself!!

 

[Wozzaaah]

wozzahhh, DEFFO GET A MINI!!! they are by all means the most fun cars in the world! i

Hehe, I'm no stranger to them, I've had three in the past, my 'little black bomber' cost me £50 and was a great little car! Also had a Mayfair which I repaired and sold and another I got given, stripped it to a bare shell, painted it then lost interest and sold it before I rebuilt it .
I put so much work into it I wish I'd kept it.
If I get another I'm thinking of doing something a bit radical to it, not sure what yet though .

 

[madkayaker]

what about a mini /L200 hybrid

 

[harryb124]

now your talkin!

 

[Wozzaaah]

I'm not cutting my L200 up!
Unfinished projects so far:
Mini
Beetle 1302S
Triumph Spitfire

It's about time I completed one really

 

[madkayaker]

it is really give the portamig an outing

 

[floydrob]

geta suzuki jimmy 4x4 chassis with a 1.6 and plonk a mini on top! looks like a monster truck! guy done that with a mini van on the forum... http://www.scottishmini.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=5389&page=7
its a beast!

 

[madkayaker]

now that is a mini

 

[harryb124]

now thats a project!


Harry