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timmy201 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 17, 2020 10:41 pm Should be pretty quick now that the hard bit is done

Oh, I wouldn't say so. Even when the external modification and panel shaping seem to be done, there is a lot of internal work following to stiffen the bodyshell.

harrymini wrote: ↑Sun Oct 18, 2020 8:38 am Looks amazing, what colour will it be going?

The colour will be excactely as on the first post, Surf Blue with a white go faster strip

That will be a super colour combination!!!

From the external view the conversion seems to be done and the hard work is over. But in reality the internal modifications and the detail work is sometimes even more challenging. To make the new modified body stiff and strong causes a lot of head scratching.

First the aperture of the rear screen. To cut out the correct aperture was easy. But usually screen and seal are sitting in a recess, except on 59’ Minis . To form the recess like that, it’s the job of a beadroller. But therefore the panel is separated from the body shell. And as I had to weld several panels together to form the rear screen aperture, there was no way to use the beadroller before welding.


Thus I had to form the recess after the cut out was made. To make matters even more worse, the bead sits very prominent in the visible area and therefore had to be perfectly shaped . My creativity was challenged quite a bit to perform that task. Finally I took one of my welding clamps and modified it to a homemade hand held beadroller.


With this it just took me 3 minutes to form the recess around the whole aperture, without the time of taking this photos . I would never have expect that myself. But it worked in just one go.

I like that, Very trick

Very ingenious - looks to have worked perfectly.
That tool would also be a lot easier to use than off the shelf jogglers!

You can buy a tool similar that you can put a ratchet on

You never cease to amaze me Doc. If it's not for your skill it's for your ingenuity.

What fantastic progress you are making!

Necessity = invention. Keeps the mind busy. Fantastic.

D

Amazing stuff as usual Doc. I love a bit of tool bodgery, especially when it works so well!

The recessed aperture of the rear screen makes the panel only slightly stiffer. More strength comes only through an internal frame. For this I used a part of the former roof skin, which I had already cut out from the side areas. I formed several small stripes in the beadroller, some corner pieces and some straight ones. Welded together they formed the new inner window frame.

What a fantastic work as usual!! you make me feel like a dummy

Congrats mate!!!

Congratulations!!!! Very good job!!!!

I want one!!!

Thanks for all your realy motivating response

The inner window frame should ultimately meet the rear parcel shelf. Thus I had to build it next. Starting with the side panels, which will later carry a pair of classic speakers.


Two small profiles will connect both side panels.


The center part of the parcel shelf will be made out of a wooden board. This will gain quick excess to the boot from the top. Of course it would be easier to simply build sharp edges at the corners. But I prefer rounded edges, because they looks nicer and it mad the shelf stronger. That’s why I took the trouble to build round corners in the profiles.

Oh Very slick

I want one too

Thanks for the updates Doc. It is great to see that you have thought your way through how your conversion will actually work as well as how pretty it will look when it is done.

GREAT progress.

Stuff like this always makes me realise how untalented I am

mk1coopers wrote: ↑Fri Nov 06, 2020 12:34 pm Stuff like this always makes me realise how untalented I am

Ditto!

JR

You truly have the skills!
I salute you sir

I hate metal work so what you/he is doing is the top of it in my opinion.

Kees

Are you making a contest with Paul Wiginton?

Incredible skills Doc!! I'm truly amazed by your car and your sense of detail