Mk2 Cooper

[Callum]

Nice, just out of curiosity, what technique did you use to lift the shell up and over the subframe assembly with engine?

I picture just attaching the shell's front slam panel with soft straps to a cherry picker, and carefully lowering it over the engine assembly, but wondering if there's anything to watch out for? I have to do this (hopefully in a few months).

The shell is on a two post ramp so just lifted it up on that which made it nice and easy. I think it would be awkward if you didn't lift the whole shell up flat. I suppose its worth a shot though.

[Callum]

Looks really great Callum

Just an observation, you don't appear to have fitted the rad shroud rubber surround - that'll be tricky with the rad in place.

What did you paint the headlining with as a matter of interest.

Thanks Andrew

Bollocks! I forgot about that! is it still possible to put in place now or will I have to take the radiator off?

I used a spray vinyl dye for the headlining, TRG super colour vanilla 355/67. About 5 cans I think it was for all of the cream crackle parts.

[Highnumbers]

Nice, just out of curiosity, what technique did you use to lift the shell up and over the subframe assembly with engine?

I picture just attaching the shell's front slam panel with soft straps to a cherry picker, and carefully lowering it over the engine assembly, but wondering if there's anything to watch out for? I have to do this (hopefully in a few months).

The shell is on a two post ramp so just lifted it up on that which made it nice and easy. I think it would be awkward if you didn't lift the whole shell up flat. I suppose its worth a shot though.

Good point, a two-post lift would make easy work of the job, whereas lowering the shell front end would place it at an angle to the subframe.

I don't have access to a two-post lift/ramp, so probably best to lift the rear up at the same height as the front, and then jack the front subframe/engine up into place in the shell. I'll give it some more thought..

[Andrew1967]

I suppose it depends how much clearance you have between the rad and shroud. Maybe there's enough to slip it past and into place.

Nice to see a headlining without the non-optional factory stains

[Callum]

Good point, a two-post lift would make easy work of the job, whereas lowering the shell front end would place it at an angle to the subframe.

I don't have access to a two-post lift/ramp, so probably best to lift the rear up at the same height as the front, and then jack the front subframe/engine up into place in the shell. I'll give it some more thought..

Yeah that would work, just the opposite way round to how I did it. If you could prop the whole shell say 3ft off the ground then use a block and tackle to lift the engine /subframe up.

[Callum]

I suppose it depends how much clearance you have between the rad and shroud. Maybe there's enough to slip it past and into place.

Nice to see a headlining without the non-optional factory stains

I will have to have a look tomorrow. Yeah it looks better than it was, I dont mind most glue stains but I think there was a heavy smoker with this one as well as the stains were very brown

[mini_surfari]

Looks excellent that!

Can I ask where you got your engine paint from?

[Callum]

Looks excellent that!

Can I ask where you got your engine paint from?

Sorry only just seen this, i bought it from amazon. Just typed in mid bronze green I think

[Callum]

Fitted the bootlid the other day



Also treated myself to a lifeline quick release steering boss to try and help stop it getting nicked



Got the column machined so it slips on the end



Test fitted before I weld it up

[Callum]

Spent the past week or so rebuilding the quarter windows. They were very rough to begin with the hinges and rear catch bracket rusted through



I stripped a few sets to try and get enough hinges to be rechromed but they were all pretty bad so I decided to have a go at making new ones, an old fire extinguisher donated a piece of stainless.



Original chrome ones on the left, new stainless on the right, not 100% exact but once fitted its hard to tell. The stainless was slightly thicker gauge so i made them a bit narrower so they flex enough to open the window



Polished the frames up and fixed them back in place with brass rivets



Made new joints out of stainless as well with a cut down spire nut fixed in place so I could screw them back together





Tried putting them back together with the rubber supplied by minispares but it was too thick so I used an inner tube



And finished! Dont want to think about how many hours went into them

[AndyPen]

Great jobs like that take time

[AndyPen]

..and just bought 4 cans of paint to test on my headlining. Any tips on prepping it please?

[Callum]

Thanks Andy, for the headlining the only thing I did before painting it was give it a really good clean. I used cillit bang grease and sparkle as it's what was in the cupboard at home, worked it in with a nail brush being careful not to stretch the material.

[Callum]

Glass is all in, another job I have been dreading but everything went fine.

[AndyPen]

I am watching with interest as you are about two months ahead of me at a guess

[111Robin]

Great work Callum

[Callum]

Thanks lads.

Been finishing off a few little jobs over the last month so nothing picture worthy. I fitted the doors tonight though, passenger side needs adjusting a little bit more but the drivers side fits well

[Daz1968]

Looking superb, can’t be too far away now, although as I am finding out all the little jobs take time

[Peter Laidler]

I just hope that at the end of all this Callum, you sit down for a couple of evenings and write the whole thing up and get it published in a little booklet form. There's loads of publishers who have self-help -helpers who do the lay-=out for you hoping that they will do the small-run printing. The good thing about car restoration books, written and published by the person who did the job is JUST that, the person who did the job knows best! And the books good sellers at the shows too! I'll take the first one of yours please..........

[Callum]

Long overdue update, loads of little bits been finished off so not really worth updating. Fitted the bonnet, gaps are nice and even





Finished off the interior today




Then gave the whole car a quick compound and polish before I finish off fitting the rest of the trim