Mk1 restoration-race car to road car

[Matty]

Ive finally managed to get some time in the garage again!

It doesn't look like a lot of progress...but the bulkhead is near enough all cleaned up and ready for the whole front end to be welded on. Im hoping to get the front end on in the next couple of weeks.

Door frame all finished and painted in the closed sections



I decided to redo the bulkhead plate, as I made a bit of a mess of it last time round!

[InimiaD]

Coming along nicely Matty, great work.

[Matty]

Cheers! Should there be a harness tab next to the speedo whole?

[InimiaD]

Cheers! Should there be a harness tab next to the speedo whole?

Have to check, but I think there should be.

[Gray]

Here you go Matty:

[JC T ONE]

Hi Matty

awesome job

Jens Christian

[Matty]

Cheers Gray, I'll add a couple of tabs on.

I started with my door gap today on my reskinned door....this is going to be an 'interesting task' to say the least!

The gap seems fairly even along the front edge, but the last section below the bottom hinge is too close. Im not sure whether to grind a bit off the edge, or try and peen the edge over some more?

I'll be glad when the A panels are in place. I'll take some pics tomorrow of my progress.

[Matty]

After some words of advice from Rich, I decided to get cutting and measuring and hoped fro the best!

Its not looking all that bad to be honest, I couldn't get a pic as I haven't got enough space in the garage. The front lower corner need a little off the door and the catch area needs a bit of reshaping, but apart from that it looks good!

Here's some pics of where I got to today. Just waiting for the front panel now, to check the alignment of the inner wing then I can tack in place. Im going to crack on with the passenger A panel in the mean time, whilst its fresh in my mind.

Pics aren't great...but you get the idea!

[robert]

good job matt , keep at it !

[slowboy]

very impressive , nice change to see one going back to std

[Matty]

Thanks for the comments.

I got the front subframe back on...a bit of a nervous moment as I was worried that the bulkhead might of distorted as it was very floppy with both inner wings removed and A post. Thankfully everything bolted up fine!

Im still waiting for my front panel to arrive but I trial fitted the old steel removable front and it lines up perfectly with the bonnet, scuttle, front of subframe etc...just need to resist the temptation to weld the inner wing in now before I recheck with the new front panel.

[Matty]

A small update!

Ive decided to tackle the parcel shelf...Ive dreading this panel as it is so flimsy, and there is more holes than I bargained for to weld up!

Here's the progress so far. Ive filled both of the big square holes and ive just finished making the first curvey fillet panel with the two curves in it...one to go!

[graham in aus]

Hi Matty, great progress, you are brave taking this one on!

Can you tell us more about your technique to avoid distortion when welding?

I see you tack everything first, then what? small welds opposite each other? do you cool with a wet rag or something?

I have to do some big flat panels (one day ) on a van I have......

Cheers

[Matty]

I generally just go round doing 3 consecutive tacks next to each other, and spread them out.

If the panel starts to get hot then I leave it to cool, and get on with something else.

The parcel shelf has distored, due to the fact the metal is so thin and there wasn't anything to it in the first place.

You can see the length of the welds here...

[850GT]

Matty, i can not beleive what you have done with this shell. having just last week done the two doors on my 62 OZ 850 using M Machine panels to do all of the upper sections, i can not imagine how much work and or how many hours you have put into this project. keep up the good work! you say that the temp is very low at the moment, over here we have had our 7th straight day above 36, even @ 2:00 am it was still 30+, as Graham in OZ says minis dont rust in Australia.

[nunecos]

Great work. Like to see that the great quality is still the main course

[Matty]

Cheers!

Progress has been slow due to waiting for the second inner a panel...been on back order since mid December!

The back end is 95% prepped now, although trying to get the heritage boot to fit should be another interesting challenge...A freind of mine is a fitter in a bodyshop and he burst out in laughter when he saw the fit!

Im hoping to have the front end on next weekend, then its on to finishing the door gapping...Then paint!

[Matty]

PANELS...I have panels!

I cracked on with getting the second inner wing in place this evening, and checking everything lines up ok.

All looks good, apart from my passenger inner wing has a 1 inch vertical swage line, where my drivers side doesn't...looks like another heritage balls up! It also took alot of trimming, compared to the other side.

Anyway here's where im at..

[JC T ONE]

AMAZING well done

[apbellamy]

That looks great