Every cloud...... British Vita

[mk1coopers]

Just a thought on the window, if you have an old back panel (any one with the recessed window, it doesn't matter what MK) you can cut two fillet plates (one from each side) that have the right amount of material on them / butt weld them in which saves putting the window recess into a flat sheet (and trying to curve it etc)

[trevorhp]

Just a thought on the window, if you have an old back panel (any one with the recessed window, it doesn't matter what MK) you can cut two fillet plates (one from each side) that have the right amount of material on them / butt weld them in which saves putting the window recess into a flat sheet (and trying to curve it etc)

l
I do have one and that was my plan
It's just around 1" each side which is quite narrow but better than trying to jiggle a piece later
Thanks for the input ....always welcome

[rich@minispares.com]

its easy to do this, but if you are after a old panel to cut up, you need one that's as early as possible, the 'z' shape of the panel where the seal goes gets less and less as the years go by and the presses wear out.

ones on 1990s cars are about 2/3rds the depth of proper mk1 ones.

[GraemeC]

Frost's 'Cold Front' compound is apparently be pretty good at reducing distortion:
https://www.frost.co.uk/cold-front-heat ... 414ml.html

[trevorhp]

its easy to do this, but if you are after a old panel to cut up, you need one that's as early as possible, the 'z' shape of the panel where the seal goes gets less and less as the years go by and the presses wear out.

ones on 1990s cars are about 2/3rds the depth of proper mk1 ones.

Hi Rich
Thanks for the tip .... the ones I have are from a 1966 car (still attached to the roof and cut off at the waistline.
Seems a pity to cut up the panels but I really hace no option....unless someone out ther has a pair of early panels and needs a roof with them still attached.

I will fetch it down from the loft this week and check on the condition, however the lower half of the 1966 Copper shell it came from was toast, having sat in grass on the ground for 18 years

[trevorhp]

Frost's 'Cold Front' compound is apparently be pretty good at reducing distortion:
https://www.frost.co.uk/cold-front-heat ... 414ml.html

Thanks Greame looks like a possibility.

My father used to use halved potatoes (don't ask why, something to do with the Army and Africa) to soak up the heat when gas welding

I can still smell the aroma when going in to his workshop and thinking where did he get those chips from?

Iain also kindly pointed me to this product:
http://www.kenteurope.com/en/products/heat-shield-gel/

[trevorhp]

Next update
Grind
Weld
Linish
Repeat
I am still not sure about linishing
It does seem to thin the metal somewhat regardless of what I use:Angle grinder with flap disc, 90 Die grinder with ROLOC discs, Power file.
All seem to have have limitations so is there something I am missing?

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The last two pictures are of the rear window joggle/recess lines that I have to match to return to Mk1 width
FYI the holes in the boot lid recess are also for the bag tank.

[Pete]

Bloody Whizzo!! What did he need such a great rear view for anyway??

[mk1]

Looking good.

As I always say, it always takes more time to undo other peoples modifications than it does to restore un messed with metal.

Will be well worth it in the end though.

[trevorhp]

Bloody Whizzo!! What did he need such a great rear view for anyway??

Rear lights, Rear window and .........worst of all....... black paint on the seats and interior trim.

[trevorhp]

Looking good.

As I always say, it always takes more time to undo other peoples modifications than it does to restore un messed with metal.

Will be well worth it in the end though.

Agreed Thanks Trevor

[trevorhp]

Hi Folks
Back in circulation again after a bit of a break for some NHS magic.......long story but enough to say: don't go to work in Shanghai and come back with Rheumatic fever and ignore it ...ended up with a heart valve failure.
Missed Le Mans but soon to be back on track at WEC Silverstone.

I have been unable to find out the identity of the third shell we have (sold to us as ex-Vita and looks the part) all we have is the commission number and no UK registration number to trace it back. Tartan Red and Black, it was delivered to Appleyards in Leeds and is a genuine February 1967 Cooper S.
Other than that no ID so will build it into an App K car for son Alex to race.

No progress on KDK ot HDK but will soon be back in the shop to pick up where we left off in December!!!
Meanwhile some pictures of the progress up to then.

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[trevorhp]

More pictures

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[mk1]

Hi Trevor,

Sorry to hear about your recent troubles & I hope you are now fighting fit again!

Thanks for the latest photos, this is a car I can't wait to see finished.

[trevorhp]

Last ones I promise !!

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Blasted and cleaned...
Now treated with Bilt Hamber Hydrate 80

[trevorhp]

Hi Trevor,

Sorry to hear about your recent troubles & I hope you are now fighting fit again!

Thanks for the latest photos, this is a car I can't wait to see finished.

Thanks for the kind words.
All good now and ready to get started again
I can't wait either ...it's been a bit of a struggle

[Peter Laidler]

Keep up with the photos Trev, I'm following them avidly and I suspect other wannabe restorers are too.....

[trevorhp]

Keep up with the photos Trev, I'm following them avidly and I suspect other wannabe restorers are too.....

Thanks Peter
I can't wait to get back in the shop
This forum has sustained me through some dark days, the standard is amazing and the contributions are top notch
it is undoubtedly the best resource for Classic Mini owners

[Tim Harber]

Piffling excuses aside

Was looking forward to some sort of celebration of 50 years

Any chance of you getting it out and about mid resto even?

[trevorhp]

Piffling excuses aside

Was looking forward to some sort of celebration of 50 years

Any chance of you getting it out and about mid resto even?

I know it's a pretty tame excuse really, considering what other have to go through.

Well......... Pete tried to get something together for Shelsley Nostalgia but no one else was interested other than you and I

He is now trying to get something on for Gold cup weekend and I am up for bringing the shell mid-flow, so to speak.
However it's tricky with no subframes/wheels at the moment (maybe someone has some prepped and ready to fit that I can hire

It does seem a shame not to do something after 50 Years and such a unique achievement never before and never repeated since
Trevor