Projects from across the pond

[eightport]

It's been a while since my last post and I promised to include some photos of my project cars. The 8 port is complete and since it doesn't really fit into the Mk1 forum, I won't bore you with the details. The pictures should be enough. The surf blue car is a 1962 Morris 850 that I purchased in 1978 and have kept in in storage until I was ready to restore it After disassembling it needed to replace the nose panel which was accident damaged before I got it. The Heritage panel was incorrect in a number of ways,not unexpected but the parking lamp stamping was too wrong to go unaddressed. It seemed easier to replace the whole corner than mess around with patches and since the new panel is much thinner than the original, the less welding the better! I wanted to keep as much of the bodywork as possible so panels have had patches let in rather than replacement. I'll let the pictures do the talking. Since this is my first picture post don't crucify me if it doesn't come out as well as you would like. Building a mini is easier than posting!
Don

[SMOKE GREY]

Surf blue car look's good Don. I like the fact your repairing original panels.

[sandman]

How come you opted to replace the front subframe on the 8-port?

[tomkidd]

Both projects are cool. I love the 70s feel of the big arch one, don't think I'd sport them on my own vehicle but there is something period looking about them

[nick@dunsdale]

Good metal work skills there

[JC T ONE]

That is 2 very different Mini,s

That Blue 8 port has that "race car" look must be fast, what gearbox do you use?

Do you have Hydro or Air ride suspension ? how does the car handle on such a setup?

very nice work

Jens Christian

[eightport]

Guys
I built the front subframe to save weight and to get the geometry where I wanted it. The rear has a single bar on the heel board and fabricated trailing arms.They are alot lighter than the std cast pieces. The car has Quantum coilover dampers front and rear.The gearbox is a close ratio straight cut box with Timken taper roller drop gears and a Salisbury LSD.
Don

[bluemin]

I'm jealous of both the cars AND the garage.

[eightport]

Guys
It's been too long since I have posted anything but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy.
After months of body repairs it was off to the soda blaster. I was really surprised by the results but it wasn't
cheap. That night we washed the body and all the extra parts and dried them and shot the epoxy primer. The rest of the shots
are blocking the body and respraying it with more epoxy primer and then sanding and finally the paint.
To say I'm pleased with the results would be an understatement! I figure that there are about 800 man hours
in this body work so far.

[SteveG]

very nice work, well done.

[eightport]

It seems that I didn't get all the pics posted. I was cut off at five shots so here are some more at paint.

[guru_1071]

very nice!

[36inter]

That is gorgeous, brilliant work.

Pete

[Pete]

Now that does butter my crumpet.