Reunited with an old friend

[Pandora]

Not sure of the plan yet. Once I get it home I'll gut the insides and also get under it for a decent look to properly assess the floors.

There is a good case for a rolling resto 'as is', maybe even with a temporary engine to spread the cost over time. even that would take a wee while though, as all brakes, fuel system, suspension etc will at least need gone through, even if it's not a full rebuild.

Plenty time though! it's going nowhere.


Al

[Pandora]

Well, it's arrived at the house, of course I've not yet managed to clear the garage as I managed to hurt my neck the other day. Bloody slabs!

I've given it a wash and striped the seats out, (and the bespoke colour coded door trims / rear lining panels which are not to my taste), so I can get a better look at the work needed.

The front frame is just balanced in place, so I've not got it jacked up for a proper appraisal yet, but having had a quick look it certainly needs a rear N/S arch as it's rotten front and rear, and there might be some rot extending towards the heel board on that side too, but a repair should be able to be let in when doing the arch, if that's the way I go with it. The arch would need done for the MOT, as it is close to the subframe mounts, and I think they was what took it off the road originally.

The main floor is a bit of a patchwork of repairs, so it probably wants a whole floor doing, but that might be a longer term solution, not necessarily something that happens before it goes on the road again.

I'll get it up on stands over the next few days and get its wheels off (shouldn't take long, as there is only 2 nuts to each wheel ) for a fuller assessment.

Still, from a distance it looks OK, the boys like it, and even Jennifer is making positive noises about it being 'jolly', so I think my gamble has paid off!

Photos to follow.

Al

[mk1]

Glad you have got it home Al!

Have lots of fun prodding around it.

I look forward to seeing the pics.

What is Rob like at welding

[Pandora]

What is Rob like at welding

Irritatingly good. He's had lots of practice! you've seen his A40

Al

[mk1]

Always a good idea to cultivate a good mate who can weld well

[Pandora]

Here's a fun way to spend a Friday night, going through the Mini Machine catalogue working out what the panels would cost if I were to replace everything I already think would need done to see it 'right'.

I'm banking on it needing:

A full floor
rear load floor
one rear inner arch
door skins and bottom repair
full rear valence
and it's a mini, so let's assume a front panel, wings, inner and outer A panels....

The grand total comes to around £2200 (plus another £500ish if I replaced the GRP back doors with steel)

To be honest, that doesn't seem too bad!

Still, this is just to give me a very rough idea of how to spread the costs at this stage.

Does this seem about average panel spend?

Al

[Pandora]

Today I bit the bullet and lifted the carpets to see how much of the floor came with them.....

On the whole, It's not too bad.

Drivers footwell has had a drop in replacement panel in the past. It looks like a cheap panel and the welding isn't pretty, but it's solid.

Passengers footwell is original, with a wee repair having been done in the corner, but it's gone 'lacy' between the outer flute and the inner sill (it's had oversills on both sides ) and in other places it's a bit thin.

Passengers front inner wing has had some repairs in the past (maybe even during my time with it), but needs a bit more.

Drivers side rear looks reasonable enough, with solid enough patched repairs

Passengers side is similar.

Passengers rear arch however..... Well, I knew it needed work, but ouch.

It's fairly solid in the middle, and in fact the inner part of the assembly only needs a small patch at the back. The front edge however is absolutely shot, down into the box section above the rear frame mount. The load bed is very ropey in this area too, so I'm hoping I can cut it away to get access to asses the hidden box section and maybe get away with patching it up, but doing the whole arch might just be easier to get decent access. I hope to avoid dropping the rear frame if I can though.

Unfortunately, the rot has just got to the return lip of the wheelarch of the side panel, and I don't want to wend that if I can avoid it for fear of distortion, so may have to come up with a spot welded repair from the inside.

On the whole though, I'd say it's better than I could have hoped, and might mean I can get away with patch repairs for the next wee while.

Oh, and the Oh so 2000 stereo is no more. Just the underfloor Neons to follow

Al

[rich@minispares.com]

Just updating my share portfolio


I'm going long on mig wire derivatives and underseal.

[Pandora]

I meant to say, Rich, if you'd like the under floor neon's for one of your fleet, You're more than welcome.



Al

[rich@minispares.com]

It's OK thanks!

You can put them in the back of van when you turn it into a sex grotto.

Again.

[Pandora]

Looking at the options of Hadrian, Mini Machine etc what are the quality of fit like? Hadrian are cheaper, but is it a false economy?

At the moment I'm looking at the body side / outer wheel arch lip repairs (I plan to spot weld a small section on from behind the original, trimmed, panel to avoid distortion whilst replacing the lip) and also the complete inner wheel arch assembly panels.

Obviously the better the accuracy of the panel, the better.

Any opinions based on experience, the better (also interested in any comments on front floor pan repair panels)

Al

[IAIN]

M machine for best results and Heritage where possible. I hope your mate is a GOOD friend.

[Pandora]

Thanks for popping over Iain, nice to see you, and plenty food for thought.

Al

[mk1]

Hadrian panels aren't as bad as a lot of people make out, but you will need to do a lot more fitting & fettling.

That looks like a lot of panel work, will be like a new pin by the end though.

[Dearg1275]

At the moment I'm looking at the body side / outer wheel arch lip repairs (I plan to spot weld a small section on from behind the original, trimmed, panel to avoid distortion whilst replacing the lip) and also the complete inner wheel arch assembly panels.

My experience with these repair panels is that they are not particularly shaped. Flat with a lip is probably the best description. If there is only rot in the fold and you can keep the repair you let in tight to the lip then you may get a good result but getting the right shape for a more extensive repair is more problematic. The van is more slab sided than the saloon so you may get away with it.

D

[Pandora]

The grand total comes to around £2200 (plus another £500ish if I replaced the GRP back doors with steel)

To be honest, that doesn't seem too bad!

Having poked further, I think I might get away with lowering this cost significantly. At a very rough calculation after Iain left last night, the panels we were talking about (using half floors rather than full floor, as the tunnel is actually pretty good etc) came to just over £800 using MM panels. Still a big spend, but not anything like as much as my initial fears.

From what I've heard, the saving in panels when using cheaper options is lost in the fitting, and I'm amazed just how comprehensive the body panel availability is for the vans, which surely make up a tiny portion of the market. We sometimes forget how lucky we are with suppliers.

And weirdly, I'm coming round to the yellow - on sunny morning our hallway now has a very cheery glow, like someone has parked a massive buttercup on the drive The kids, Jennifer and all of the neighbours are aghast at my plan to paint it grey. Robin has threatened that if I paint it he won't speak to me anymore. I may have found a way to silence a 12 year old!

Al

[mini_surfari]

Clearly have little taste when it comes to colour haha,

As my van will be going grey also, i back your choice

[Pandora]

I think the original colour is 'cumulus Grey', if anyone has a photo of a van in that colour? That seems to be the grey available in '71

(EDIT - or could it be 'Skymist'? Not a colour I've ever heard referred too? https://www.morrisminorforum.com/article/bmc-paint.html )


Al

[mk1]

Dreary...... Here's 1 vote for sticking with yellow!

Or why not go Marigold!

[Pandora]

My my, the artist went all out on the names on those ones, didn't he!

I did think about Marigold and even a 'Downton' livery, given the engine mods, but I think it's just too obvious, and the original Marigold was an early van.

I'm now thinking B.Butcher would be a good idea.

Al