HRMINI

Well, as promised, I would like to share a few snaps of my progress so far. I started this project on Monday, April 14th.My intentions are to make a complete story about the entire project on Car Domain, as theres alot more room there for such a huge amount of car talk about one car.

(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/MD-IN-UK/BertiesRefurbishthestart006.jpg)
This is of course the "BEFORE" shot.




(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/MD-IN-UK/BertiesRefurbishthestart047.jpg)
Some bits and pieces removed.



(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/MD-IN-UK/BertiesRefurbishthestart065.jpg)
An "OUTBACK" shot in some better light.




(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/MD-IN-UK/BertiesRefurbishthestart084.jpg)
Is that a white roof? Nope, just what clearcoat looks like when sanded on.



I'll post more as I proceed. Needless to say, some rust was indeed found in the usual places. Nothing so extreme as to require major cancer surgery. Most should be easily repaireable, thereby allowing me to not have to spend a ridiculous amount of time welding everything up.

Enjoy.....

Keep it up...... I've really been jonesen for a classic.....  maybe someday!

Some snaps of new stuff I laid out in the driveway for inventory.

(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/MD-IN-UK/BertiesRefurbishthestart088.jpg)
this is a bit of old and new put together.



(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/MD-IN-UK/BertiesRefurbishthestart089.jpg)
some weather stripping and windshield mouldings. There boxed up, but theres a couple chrome mirrors and a license plate light assembly. I also had to buy the rear boot sheet metal (typical rust spot). And theres of course some new carpeting and insulation as well.



(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/MD-IN-UK/BertiesRefurbishthestart090.jpg)
I had hoped the steering wheel would have turned out a bit better, once it's installed, I'll let you touch it  :045: Theres also a Cooper chromed grille in that shot too. That's a windshield in the box underneath all that.



(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/MD-IN-UK/BertiesRefurbishthestart091.jpg)
And what project is complete without these bad boyzzzzzzz  :023:

Looks like Berties getting some really cool make over stuff.  I'll need to stop by one day and have a closer look.

Very nice. My classic is waiting for it's number to come up on the priority list before it gets anymore work done on it.

Where did you get the windshield? Mine looks like someone cleaned it with a DA sander.

First of all Steve, you know your welcome at the shop anytime. Pop in when you like. That goes for anyone reading this. Bringing your Mini/MINI along helps.  :054:

Roy, I just placed an order with Mini Mania, and poof.........all this really cool stuff just showed up. I haven't got the bill yet though  :017:

Anyway, more to come..............................

Looks like a good project John.  Have fun.

If there are no chips in your windshield, you might be able to buff it out with diamond powder and a buffer.  One of my relatives told me that a local guy used to do that but I don't recall any mention of the guy or company's name.  Binswanger glass would probably know who though.  :icon_mrgreen:

The original glass isn''t the same standard as USA regulated stuff. Not safety tempered? The new piece has the laminate between two pieces of glass thereby improving it and keeping it all together should it get hit by a rock or anything similar. The current glass would just explode into a million or so pieces and end up all over the inside of the car and me as well.

Who did your paint?

Tim, I assume your asking me this particular ???

The color on the car is original paint, except for the two doors. It looks like whoever did the drivers side failed to prime it for some reason or other. The paint is not feathering out at all and theres no prime that I can see. It'll have to be stripped of course.

Actually i am trying to figure out who to give my business to when i come back because i am planning on totally re-doing elvis!

and from the pictures....   i cant tell that at all

Alright, lets settle this now. I can clearly see the dent in the left front wing on Elvis. That should make your decision simple. See me when you get him stateside and I'll see Ya right .

If you require refrences, so far all I have is Lil Stinker, and Racing Roy.

YOU do body work?  and paint?  you have your work cut out for you because the rear bumper has been pushed into the trunk too but if you want to take it on i have a great plan for how i want him to look!....  tell you if you ask

Not just for my benefit, but all those reading this thread.

What are your plans for now? I say for now because my own plans seem to change on a daily basis. (especially when I hit rust pockets)

well all black for starters....  a deep smooth black.... with the pin stripes on the side being changed to red...  a red to match the rims at the bottom of this post.....   then the Cooper Wreaths will be the same red.  and on the bonnet where the stripes are now there will be an outlined pinstripe in red and in the outline will be the John Cooper Signature aslo in red...  to go along with the below rims... the headlight plus the four fog lights will have the red angel eye rings...   the interior is already black with red piping but i am pretty sure that i am going to go to racing seats but they will be black with red as well.

(http://www.minispares-online.co.uk/images/products/2083.jpg)

Your thoughts for Elvis are gonna be all yours, as I don't believe I've seen one to fit that description yet. As I already own a Jet Black Cooper S, I don't think I'll being going with black on my classic. In fact, I'll be using BASFs Diamont paint line "Carizzma" Indigo. It's a cross between blue and purple. Too challenging to describe in detail here, but very tasetfull. The roof will also be classy with a tasetfull pearl white.

My only decision now is what stripe to lay out. I thought of just doing the classic Cooper stripes up each side of the bonnet. Then I thought, why not be different and run one wide stripe up the middle with pinstripes on each side, and down the boot too while I'm at it? Either way, the stripes will have ghost checkers in them.

Here's a couple snaps of some rust I found and the repairs made so far.

(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/MD-IN-UK/BertiesRefurbishthestart096.jpg)
this whole area had some nasty bits in it, so I cut everything out that needed to go.

(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/MD-IN-UK/Bertiesunderside026.jpg)
this is after some metal removal

(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/MD-IN-UK/Bertiesunderside024.jpg)
a view from the top side of the boot. that whole edge was a mess

(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/MD-IN-UK/Bertiesunderside029.jpg)
and this is the patch panel in place.

more to come........

Some updates on my progress so far. I've been dealing with an eye infection for nearly three weeks now, and I can safely say that looking at the PC now is no longer like looking directly at the sun. So, I'm back. Don't ask me how I managed to paint in a brightly lit paint booth, you wouldn't believe me if I told you......LOL

(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/MD-IN-UK/Bertiesunderside009.jpg)
just some more rust in a wheel well

(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/MD-IN-UK/Bertieinprimer004.jpg)
a nice coat of epoxy primer(great rust prevention)

(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/MD-IN-UK/Bertieinprimer008.jpg)
and now for the 2K primer. gonna have lots of this stuff, I want to block him down as smooth as possible.

stay tuned.......

Put it on, sand it off, put it on, sand it off, put it on, sand it off.

I'll bet the car has more patience than you do.

Looking good !!!!!

Roy, the block party has begun. I've done it twice so far and have just about finished up. Last spot priming was done today. Maybe I'll get some paint on the roof next week. I'm gonna have to save the rest for a weekend so as not to be disturbed while working.......

Yeah I know what you mean. Your working away trying to get something important done then the boss comes along and actually wants you to do something for the company. I hate it when that happens. They think just because they pay you, your supposed to work for them!!!! I just don't understand the logic.

Are you the fly I saw on the wall the other day or what?

BTW, are you going to fix the SKILLER anytime soon?

It's even worse when you ARE the boss! Heck, I don't even have time to get the guys to work on MY cars. Of course his boss is an absolute jerk!

HAHA! Don't tell Stan!!!!!! :044:

NAH, I don't really mean that!!

Car's looking nice John, I may stop by and check it out some time.

Hey Dale, stop by anytime......if the crew can let you go long enough that is  :icon_rolleyes:

Stan will spend some B.S. time with Ya too, you know of course he has a BS in B.S.  :045:

That would also give me a chance to meet you officialy for the first time...

BTW, drive your MINI when you do come.....

I haven't made up my mind yet about fixing the dent yet. I know, I know I just need to get off my ass and do it but it's a round to it thing. I rubbed out most of the scuffs so it doesn't look as bad. It's in the dealership for service right now so when I get it back I need to make a command decision.

If you want an extra hand sanding your Mini let me know. I'm nowhere close to a professional like you but I have inhaled my share of dust.

Inhaling a fair share of dust could explain where your sense of humor comes from....  :017:

Does that make any sense?

I didn't think I had any sense, people always tell me I don't make any.

 :026:  :026:  :026: Theres white on the roof, and as of Thursday the 19th, the boot and bonnet have white as well for some serious stripes. Talked with John Wooten the "Airbrush" guy, and soon as I get the first application of color and clear on, he'll be around to spray my Mayfair emblems back on. I'm getting more pumped up each day to ge this completed.  :118:

Can't wait to see another Classic Mini on the road. :023:

Plan to stop by when I get back to work. :039:

DUH, I forgot to include a snap...

(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/MD-IN-UK/Bertieinprimer026.jpg)

and another, this is the base white for the stripes, the pearl coat is next..

(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/MD-IN-UK/Bertieinprimer037.jpg)

this is inside the boot lid. I did a little customizing with aerosol bedliner here, should reduce some noise, I hope!

(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/MD-IN-UK/Bertieinprimer031.jpg)

Looking good John. 

 I can tell you from experience that aerosol undercoating inside the doors and other body panels drops the road noise significantly!  I did to a car of mine years ago to help sharpen up the bass and it made a world of difference!  Just be sure to tape off the workings for the windows before spraying!

I can tell you from experience that aerosol undercoating inside the doors and other body panels drops the road noise significantly!  I did to a car of mine years ago to help sharpen up the bass and it made a world of difference!  Just be sure to tape off the workings for the windows before spraying!

Good advice. I almost forgot about the rest of the panels mentioned. It's not as if I'm looking to create a system on wheels, I'm a bit too old for that, and todays music just dosen't justify the expense of all that equipment. That's my opinion, let's not get too involved with that. I do still like to hear loud, clean, crisp music from time to time ( could be why my hearing isn't so good lol).

Having reduced the noise by any means will make longer rides a bit more enjoyable I think.

John,

My car is not very loud at all when cruising along...it's easy to have a conversation on the highway, but when I push the gas pedal it is loud.  I don't have a radio and don't plan on ever putting one in, but I like the induction sound and what I can hear of the exhaust sound.

Are you going to put dynamat in Bertie?  There has been some threads on it on the Mini Mania board - people are happy with the quieting. Not sure how much that stuff costs though.

I do have a complete carpet kit with all new padding as well. Since Bertie isn't hopped up with extra bits to make him any louder then original noise levels, I would hope that will do....for now anyway.

I on the other hand will be upgrading the stereo a bit. None of that bassy crazy stuff by any means, Just thought a CD player was due to take over where the old Rover cassette player is now.