Just figured Id share the new project. New to the forums to didn't feel like posting anything until I actually got the car. So far only major problems is rust in the trunk, and the interior is trashed pretty much.

 

do you know how to, and have welding equipment?


If not .... I hope you have DEEP pockets full of money ... or a relative that owns a body shop.


Mine was better than this ... after one paid welding job I took classes and bought a MIG unit

 

Yeah no worries I have a shop but I'm stuck overseas for two years so the trunk pans gonna have to wait. Got a new door and disc brake setup to put on it next weekend but was just surface rust in the floors and no holes. Honestly better then I thought it would be.

 

you best remove all that cracked black tar sound deadning and then repair and apply an anti rust (red oxcide) paint than a good primer then the new sound proofer......as for your boot (trunk) floor this involves 3 pieces of body 1 rear valance (under bumper(fender) 2 boot floor 3 rear panel you can get genuine panel repairs from http://www.bmh-ltd.com/ and My advice always use a geniune repaie panel they fit better less messing about reforming then to fit......good luck and enjoy your project

 

mk1leg has sent you down a good path to start, the British Heritage panels are made on the same tooling that the originals were, so they fit much better than pattern parts. The savings in time making it look good more than compensates for the little extra cost. There are a number of good sources here in the states for Mini parts too, a quick Google is all it takes to find them.


And do scrape off all that undercoating, with any luck the metal underneath is sound.


Check the A panels carefully (just behind the front wheels) and the areas under the headlights - both prime rust areas. The rust on the right quarter under the window will require some major surgery, chances are the inner support panels are just as rotten, also where the floor and quarter panel meet, directly below the rusted out area. Also check the bottoms of the doors, pull the interior panels and take a good look.


Good luck, and keep posting pics as you work on it!

 

one comment


POR 15


http://www.por15.com/


not so good for surfaces you will later color coat


but underside and floor pans ... it IS the bomb . . . paint over rust and later beat this stuff with a hammer . . .

 

Thanks for the panel site. I do plan on replacing the trunk. The rest I was lucky mostly surface rust except about a 3 inch spot on the left window which is repaired. I already started putting the interior back in. By the way this isn't going to be a show car I care more about performance so probably a Honda swap. I got the disc brake conversion, and a door last weekend. Definetly excited.

 

In Italy this stuff is called oxystop works for a while. Definetly used it on everything before priming.