1964 Rust project

[Frogeye61]

Another Tuesday and more group work on the blue 64 Mini.
Peter got some seats a while ago and we test fitted the general position. I think I have a plan for properly mounting them now. More on that when the time comes.

IMG_20171114_180646 by frogeye61, on Flickr

I made a template of the left side petrol tank opening, then using that Peter cut a hole in the right side.

IMG_20171114_191750 by frogeye61, on Flickr

The fit is quite good when the tank is properly in place.

IMG_20171114_191839 by frogeye61, on Flickr

Stationary mounting of the roll bar implied tweaking a bit. The top corners aren't exactly the same side to side

IMG_20171114_192625 by frogeye61, on Flickr IMG_20171114_192634 by frogeye61, on Flickr

Half cm on right and 1.5 cm on left. And this was after compressing the legs trying to install it.
No problem! Just a bit of cable pull. Mounted chain grips to the main bar on the left side to keep the cable in place;

IMG_20171114_191736 by frogeye61, on Flickr

and put a chain holder on the top right side.

IMG_20171114_191728 by frogeye61, on Flickr

I tweaked it a bit by pulling - hard, a bit more, and again a bit more.

IMG_20171114_192727 by frogeye61, on Flickr

In the end it was "much" better, that is to mean nearly the same distance on both sides. I had to take it out to bend the right side main bar a bit outward, just to relieve static stress.

Actual positioning of the main hoop is primarily done by placement of the rear left foot. It is the one with the diagonal (triangulation), which generally can't be tweaked.

IMG_20171114_214341 by frogeye61, on Flickr

Positioning of the main hoop (front) feet is done by tweaking the main hoop.

Despite what I wrote before, it will come out for painting.

[Andrew1967]

Just started re-reading the thread and studying the pictures carefully.

Giving me ideas and solutions to problems that I am coming up against with HOY's shell and also making me realise that it IS feasible.

Fantastic thread

I know I've said that before......and I will say it again I'm sure

[Frogeye61]

There are lots more pictures on the flickr site.

[Andrew1967]

There are lots more pictures on the flickr site.

Brilliant

[Frogeye61]

Well, last night I decided to do something about the seat mount. Tim who will drive the car daily is a bit taller than I am and quite a bit taller than his father Peter, who initiated this build. The seat needs to be adjustable!
I suppose I could have started off with the standard front seat mounts, which are a very cost effective solution, but we really wanted something that would mount the seat adjuster a bit further back and since I would have to modify it anyway, I decided to just make some myself.

IMG_20171116_175252 by frogeye61, on Flickr

They came out quite well but way too long time. I won't do that for my own car. So far only one bolt hole along the length.
IMG_20171116_195107 by frogeye61, on Flickr

As can be seen above, there is only one mounting bolt on the seat bottom. I had cut off the other two height adjusters which all would have mounted the seat much too high. I'm considering cutting down the back legs.




Now there are only questions of: F / R adjustment. Height adjustment. Angle adjustment. I will have to get Tim here to test it.
Both supporting the rear seat legs at the bottom, and latching the seat down in the back are also considerations.

As it is, it does slide;

IMG_20171116_195232 by frogeye61, on Flickr

and tilt, which gives a very limited access to the back seat area (for not much more than small things).
IMG_20171117_080258 by frogeye61, on Flickr

[Frogeye61]

A very rainy Tuesday and we didn't get much done on the Mini. Mostly the seat mounts. Aside from adjusting the seats for Tim, who didn't come to help, both in front height, rear height (for angle), we found that they were too close to the B-post. Again modifying the existing seat mounts by offsetting to the inside,

IMG_20171122_073557 by frogeye61, on Flickr

and making two more for the other side.

IMG_20171122_073653 by frogeye61, on Flickr

The seat now appears to not conflict with the B-post and slides front and rear with no problem. It also still tilts.

IMG_20171121_214657 by frogeye61, on Flickr

[Frogeye61]

Few images from Tuesday evening, though quite a bit of work done.
Final adjustment of the seat with Tim the final operator - and steering wheel in place. The picture is not the final fit!
Welded force-distribution-plates onto the back legs. Otherwise the seat legs will put dents in the floor.

IMG_20171128_175913 by frogeye61, on Flickr

Made hold-down straps for both the right side tank in Peter's Mini and also for my own 64 Mini left tank, just because I didn't have one.

Cleaned rear trumpets including removing the completely rusted-on rubber cones. Had to use a Wood saw, lubricated with WD40. It worked a charm to peel the rubber back. Then used a grinder to relieve the rust-fit onto the cone. Then just a bit of clean-up and they're fine. Also cleaned and readied for paint at least one rear suspension arm. The brakes are already new so it's only paint.

More cleaning on the fuzz glued all over the back seat and parcel shelf, and all ready for prepping for epoxy primer which will happen next Tuesday.

[Frogeye61]

Well, after all this cleanup it's starting to look good.
Firstly, cleaning up the trumpets didn't do a lot of good since I asked Peter why he didn't just get some hi-los. So he pulled a set out of a box laying around. OK, enough for that!

After huge amounts of sanding and smoothing of the body, this Saturday was primer day. This is the first coat of epoxy, thinned well enough to go on with a "roller". I didn't think too much of the idea, but it worked a charm. A second coat, and a first coat where it isn't done yet, will happen after the holidays.

IMG_20171210_160329 by frogeye61, on Flickr

IMG_20171210_160345 by frogeye61, on Flickr

IMG_20171210_160337 by frogeye61, on Flickr

IMG_20171210_160359 by frogeye61, on Flickr

IMG_20171210_160605 by frogeye61, on Flickr

[Frogeye61]

Yesterday Tim started with seam sealing the bottom...

IMG_20171212_191031 by frogeye61, on Flickr

while Peter prepared the suspension components for epoxy black.

IMG_20171212_192858 by frogeye61, on Flickr

Once the suspension components were covered...

IMG_20171212_203546 by frogeye61, on Flickr

IMG_20171212_203549 by frogeye61, on Flickr

there was some epoxy paint left over.

Rather than it going to waste, Peter applied it to the bottom of the car, just not where the seam sealer is. The intention is that the bottom and engine compartment is black epoxy anyway, so one more coat should be fine.

IMG_20171213_080210 by frogeye61, on Flickr

We have slightly different road conditions here than the chaps in America with lots of salt in the winter. Since this isn't a trailer queen car, and intended to drive in the winter, it gets epoxy everywhere necessary and other rust prevention methods.

[Frogeye61]

Well, holidays were long enough and with family visits I haven't had much time to work on the projects, but here is what we have gotten done.

Bottom of car completely sealed and epoxy'ed
IMG_20180107_155208 by frogeye61, on Flickr

IMG_20180107_155157 by frogeye61, on Flickr

All external seams
IMG_20180107_154957 by frogeye61, on Flickr

Boot floor, main floor
IMG_20180107_155013 by frogeye61, on Flickr

IMG_20180107_155005 by frogeye61, on Flickr

Engine room
IMG_20180107_155022 by frogeye61, on Flickr

Rear subframe powder coated, suspension parts epoxy'ed and all assembled
IMG_20180102_211710 by frogeye61, on Flickr

And we dug out the wheels so once the suspension is mounted we will be able to roll it around, like for example to the paint shop
IMG_20180106_122828 by frogeye61, on Flickr

[mk1]

Thanks for the update!

Some great work there.

[Frogeye61]

So, it's been a while. What with Christmas and a visit from my son who lives near Virginia/W.Virginia border, My trip to America for the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona Ca, A trip to India for electronic hardware configuration on a test facility, and of course a little bit of work on the old-rusty 64 Mini.

Between all that, Peter and I managed to get the rear suspension assembled with many new parts, bushings, Hi-Los, brake pipes, shoes etc. Notably with liberal amounts of copper grease, apparently to help prevent future rusting of the fasteners.
IMG_20180213_211346 by frogeye61, on Flickr

We then found time to assemble the front suspension.

IMG_20180220_211711 by frogeye61, on Flickr

The one in the back is for my own car painted with epoxy paint, while Peter's subframes are done with power-coat.

Peter had not been at our Tuesday work evening for several weeks. While he was away in Greece one time, I mounted the steering rack.
IMG_20180309_175739 by frogeye61, on Flickr

The next week I got another friend to help put the subframe in place then take the car down and set it on it's own four.
IMG_20180313_193448 by frogeye61, on Flickr
IMG_20180313_205108 by frogeye61, on Flickr

With steering mounted I didn't have the key, so by the next week Peter had emailed me the location of the key so I could actually turn the steering wheel. (sorry purists, no original steering shaft on this one)
Peter has since been back and mounted the front subframe top bolts while he delivered the engine/gearbox for some work.

I apologize for the lack of updates, but frankly we haven't gotten much done due to work considerations and the Beast from the East, not to mention the wife decided that a bit of domestic work is necessary (rebuild stairs in home and tile floor in summer house, neither of which are completely finished)

[baptiste]

you ve done so much work since that



it's not the same car anymore , well done

[Frogeye61]

It's been a while now. I've been on vacation to Florida, round birthday celebrated in Juelsminde, confirmations, and other social stuff had been getting in the way of the real interests.

So since the Mini has wider wheels than standard, and there are laws about covering the tires, we had to add wing extensions. A cheap set, difficult to install

IMG_20180521_195229 by frogeye61, on Flickr

We made a few repairs to the non-new replacement parts, meaning doors and boot lid.

IMG_20180521_202017 by frogeye61, on Flickr

The wings were GRP bonded to the wings.

IMG_20180521_220150 by frogeye61, on Flickr

With a set of wheels, it's looking OK. This includes the set of long steering arm joints so the wheels point straight.

IMG_20180605_191446 by frogeye61, on Flickr

The car now rolls for the first time out of the garage in about 21 months.

IMG_20180605_192112 by frogeye61, on Flickr

It is on it's way to the paint shop as I don't think I can do it justice in my little garage, and I don't want to get paint all over everything.

IMG_20180605_194335 by frogeye61, on Flickr

I had been fitting new cam bearings in the engine

IMG_20180524_203026 by frogeye61, on Flickr

for a MD266 cam.

IMG_20180518_061017 by frogeye61, on Flickr

So on Constitution day here in Denmark, while Peter drove the car to the paint shop, Tim and I cleaned the engine thoroughly both inside and outside

IMG_20180605_183438 by frogeye61, on Flickr

IMG_20180605_185103 by frogeye61, on Flickr

Then I taped it up and painted it.

IMG_20180605_212654 by frogeye61, on Flickr

In the meantime, Tim cleaned up the starter and generator so I could paint them too.

IMG_20180605_212716 by frogeye61, on Flickr

IMG_20180605_212721 by frogeye61, on Flickr

[trevorhp]

Great progress

[Frogeye61]

Thanks, but it still seems very slow. But as long as it's progressing I think we're ok.

[Frogeye61]

I HAVE MOVED THESE LAST TWO POSTS TO ANOTHER THREAD.

[Frogeye61]

I HAVE MOVED THESE LAST TWO POSTS TO ANOTHER THREAD

[Frogeye61]

We finally got around to assembling the motor

IMG_20180703_194510 by frogeye61, on Flickr

It should all be ok, but everything is tested anyway. A couple marginal clearances cleaned up and the short block is done

IMG_20180703_211525 by frogeye61, on Flickr

[Frogeye61]

Not too much this week. Finally got a correct transfer gear so put these two major components together. Also fiddled with the speedo drive and bearings.

IMG_20180710_202656 by frogeye61, on Flickr

Then cleaned up the third major component and installed it also.

IMG_20180710_211554 by frogeye61, on Flickr

It's not the final valve cover.