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1981 Mini City 1000

This section is for Mini projects and restorations and also the place to show off your pride and joy.

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ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

Tacked in the floor patch panel against the tunnel.

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I have also tacked the side that will be butt welded

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M-machine panel didn't fit against the inner sill so I have made a relief cut and will put an additional patch in later.

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The flute in the M-machine panel is narrower than the original one so I have put in cuts that allows the flute to widen and reshape to the original floor.

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Plug welds have gone really well using a 6.5mm hole and a 3mm hole in the back of the other panel

It's a day's work to get it this far, but if you rush it, it will not come out well.

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colinf1
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Whats your location?: Dundalk
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: 1983 Mini City 1000
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by colinf1 »

What's the thinking behind the 3mm hole on the lower panel? Seems like it would blow through fairly quickly, quicker than if it was just the 6.8mm hole on one side?

I was less technical with matching the flutes on the repair panels lol, bashed them into shape with hammer and dolly...
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ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

Hi Colin,

The 3mm hole was used with the Cleco clips that I used to align the panel. It helped to always put the panel back into the same spot when doing all the measuring and cutting. I just drilled out one side to 6.5mm for the plug weld. If you use your normal thin sheet welding settings then you won't blow through the hole.
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colinf1
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Posts: 466
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2020 10:27 am
Whats your location?: Dundalk
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: 1983 Mini City 1000
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by colinf1 »

Ah I see now, I thought it was to ensure full penetration!
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woody
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by woody »

I was wondering the same thing about the holes. Personally I'm a hammer and dolly man myself, you'd be amazed what you can achieve with a bit of practice
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ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

Started welding up the tacked floor panel this evening

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Always easy to blend a butt weld when it's on an outside curve

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Finished up just after the first inside flute this evening

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A splash of etch primer to keep it clean until I get to body prep

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I think I am going to run out of gas soon so will need to order another bottle of MIG gas
ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

Latest updates on the mini

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Finishing off the floor of the passenger side.

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I might weld up the drainage holes like I have done else where.

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I have a good bit of spare time between now and the end of the year so I am going to see what I can get done. Next up is the driver's side.

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woody
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Posts: 2831
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2005 11:55 pm
Whats your location?: Drogheda
Region: Eastern
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Hornet
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by woody »

LOOKING GOOD
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colinf1
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Posts: 466
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2020 10:27 am
Whats your location?: Dundalk
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: 1983 Mini City 1000
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by colinf1 »

Great welding as usual, barely visible even in primer!

Should be ready for Sunday's show in Portlaoise?
Image
ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

colinf1 wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2024 3:51 pm Should be ready for Sunday's show in Portlaoise?
Haha I wish.

I started the cleanup on the driver's side today.

I have discovered that HG rust remover is brilliant at cleaning up rusty panels. It contains Phosphoric Acid and when applied from a spray bottle 1:3 mix and agitated with a brush it removes the rust in minutes. Obviously, PPE required. I might use it on all the existing spot weld joints to kill off any hidden rust.

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ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

Slowly working the drivers side floor panel into place.

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ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

The garage has been a bit chilly the last few days. With a couple of hours here and there you can make progress. I do have a propane heater for it when it gets really cold. Anyway on with the work.

Final cut out of the floor

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Strengthening the corners of the M-machine panels before fitting

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Final weld thru primer before bracket welded on

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Starting to tack the repair floor panel into the floor. I work one side at a time to allow for expansion in as many directions as possible

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Working my way across the floor

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The inner wing will be repaired afterwards. The blocks of wood are used to screw the self-taper screws which squeezes the panels together.

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