Parallel to the challenges of the interior, there are of course also "normal" restoration activities. Since both doors were missing on the Radford, I didn't have any hinges. I managed to find a used set, but this had to be overhauled first.
I started by stripping the paint and rust. The hinge pins were of course worn out.
Don't be fooled here. Even hinges that appear to have no play in the hand but feel rather smooth-running usually have play when installed. They should therefore be rather stiff without this being caused by rust. Once the hinges have been painted and fitted, it is particularly annoying if you only then notice play in the hinge.
So I knocked out the hinge bolts and pressed out the bush with a suitable bolt. With a slightly smaller bolt, that fits exactly into the bushing, the new bushing can be pulled in.
Mini Radford De Ville comes back to life
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Dr.Mabo
- 998 Cooper
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Re: Mini Radford De Ville comes back to life
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Dr.Mabo
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Re: Mini Radford De Ville comes back to life
Now you can drive the new hinge pin back into the assembled hinge. It is important to be sure which side of the hinge will be on top later, so that the toothed or knurled and chamfered end of the pin is not in the visible area later.
With old hinges, however, it can happen that the holes in the short hinge part are worn out. The hinge pin then rotates in the hinge piece instead in its bushing. This was also the case with my hinges. The unwanted movement can be avoided with a small spot weld that goes from the hinge part to the pin. This should usually be done by the knurling, but if the hole is already too big, you have to take tougher measures. The welding spot can also be filed smooth afterwards so that nothing is visible after painting.
With old hinges, however, it can happen that the holes in the short hinge part are worn out. The hinge pin then rotates in the hinge piece instead in its bushing. This was also the case with my hinges. The unwanted movement can be avoided with a small spot weld that goes from the hinge part to the pin. This should usually be done by the knurling, but if the hole is already too big, you have to take tougher measures. The welding spot can also be filed smooth afterwards so that nothing is visible after painting.
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Peter Laidler
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Re: Mini Radford De Ville comes back to life
I have recently done a technical article about these hinge pins and restoring them Doc. You will have realised that the axis pins and studs/bolts are exactly 90 degrees to each other, but............. The underside, door facing surfaces on the TOP sets are inclined at 107 fdegrees. Making holding them difficult to hold if you have to drill out broken studs or bore oversize axis pin bushes.
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java gt
- 998 Cooper
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Re: Mini Radford De Ville comes back to life
Excellent work as always Doc,I saw your Broadspeed at the IMM in Germany and was in awe of your craftsmanship
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Dr.Mabo
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Re: Mini Radford De Ville comes back to life
More and more, I have had to switch from my previous approach of reverse restoration to the classic method of primarily dismantling the vehicle and refurbishing the parts in due course. Nevertheless, I am pleased to have already stored numerous parts in an overhauled and completed state.
With the sunroof, it is inevitable that many individual parts can be dismantled together but only refurbished separately. The WHITE sunroof, which is now a good 50 years old, has no significant damage either inside or out. And as it is best cleaned when stretched, I cleaned the outer cover with the help of “Leather Cleaner Stark”, which I had already used successfully.
Apart from a few small tar stains, which I had to tackle separately, the cover turned out to be very good. There is absolutely no need to replace it.
Inside, the sunroof and the covers around it are undamaged apart from a few small blemishes. Cleaning overhead is not particularly tempting. Therefore, only the removal and cleaning will be done later.
The wind deflector was quite easy to clean. I made the chrome fittings shine again directly with Nver Dull.
With the sunroof, it is inevitable that many individual parts can be dismantled together but only refurbished separately. The WHITE sunroof, which is now a good 50 years old, has no significant damage either inside or out. And as it is best cleaned when stretched, I cleaned the outer cover with the help of “Leather Cleaner Stark”, which I had already used successfully.
Apart from a few small tar stains, which I had to tackle separately, the cover turned out to be very good. There is absolutely no need to replace it.
Inside, the sunroof and the covers around it are undamaged apart from a few small blemishes. Cleaning overhead is not particularly tempting. Therefore, only the removal and cleaning will be done later.
The wind deflector was quite easy to clean. I made the chrome fittings shine again directly with Nver Dull.
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