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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
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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 »

Nice penetration from the backside of the doorstep

Image

The finish came out well

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Two more to do to finish the step then onto the quarter panel

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colinf1
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by colinf1 »

Impressed with how neat you managed to get the old bits cut out!

Door step looks great!
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 »

Thanks Colin.

A high-speed air grinder with a tungsten carbide head plus a sharp 1/2-inch wood chisel goes a long way to clean up the initial cuts into the old body panel.
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 »

Last two holes tacked in place. Can never have enough vice grips

Image

Welds blended up nicely. Spot welds in place too

Image
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colinf1
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Whats your location?: Dundalk
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by colinf1 »

Motoring along now Conor!
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 »

Repairing a crack in the existing spot weld. I ground back to the metal underneath and then pluged it.

Image

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Also repaired a rusted spot weld on the A post

Image

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 »

Here is the workshop in all its glory. It's a bit cold today but I have a propane heater on.

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Including the mandatory safety gear

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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 »

Repaired the passenger flitch panel

Image

Image

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colinf1
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by colinf1 »

Looking good Conor, nearly ready to get that sill on!

Sheds looking tidy, plenty of space for another mini....
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woody
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by woody »

Theres always room for another mini, and even if there isn't it never stopped us from buying another
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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 »

Yes, plenty of room for more minis. I think I could fit 4 of them in the space. However, I want to get this one finished first and start enjoying it.

Colin, I want to repair the driver and passenger floor areas first before I attach the outer sills. They should be easy enough to install. I also bought some epoxy primer too that I can use to spray in the sill cavity before it is closed up. I have the passenger quarter panel to replace next.
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woody
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by woody »

my painter told me to not just prime the cavity's as primer absorbs moisture, put some sort of top coat on it.
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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 »

Yes, normal primer is very porous, especially 2K primers. Fortunately, epoxy primer is a sealer and isn't porous. It completely seals the surface. I might cover it with an aerosol of colour-matched top coat to finish it off.
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 »

Finally got around to working on the mini over the holidays.

The first job was to weld in the jacking point bracket. A little challenging when the upper sill is in place. I could only get three plug welds on the upper plate but there will be eleven in total when completed so should be solid.

ImageIMG_1697

I removed the passenger side quarter panel as I have a heritage replacement. The old panel was badly corroded around the usual quarter panel window opening.

ImageIMG_1714

I exposed the rear wheel arch closing panel which will require a patch repair before I replace the quarter panel.

ImageIMG_1709

The slowest part is always cleaning up the old spot welds as I am trying to not remove any of the arch lip material.

ImageIMG_1717
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colinf1
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Whats your location?: Dundalk
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What Minis have you?: 1983 Mini City 1000
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by colinf1 »

Your quarter waist rail panel looks pretty good! As does that section of the wheel tub!

Yes, very slow and messy to as I remember, then trying not to put too much heat into it either! But your getting there
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 »

Cut and trial-fitted the quarter panel

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2o9m8JC]Image

Happy with the cut on the B-pillar. Always a worry that you will cut too much

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2o9kHH8]Image

C-pillar requires a bit more fettling to get the window's inner curve correct

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2o9g165]Image

I will put the quarter panel aside while fixing the arch closing panel.
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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 »

Bit of dolly work and it will be spot on.

Are you planning on keeping the fixed windows or upgrading to opening ones?
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 »

Hi Colin,

I am going to keep the original fixed windows. A couple of good days in the garage so far. I am off the remainder of the week so hopefully, keep the momentum going.
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colinf1
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Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2020 10:27 am
Whats your location?: Dundalk
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by colinf1 »

😡 I'm back to work tomorrow, only good thing is I've a few parts that I can get in the sandblaster at lunchtime!
Image
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colinf1
NON Member
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 »

Posted on wrong thread :P :P
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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 »

Time to repair the arch closing panel on the passenger side

Image

Hopefully, the subframe won't rub on the inside. I still have a bead of weld to put between the closing panel and the heel board

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 »

I think I am going to weld up all the holes in the floor like the one below

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The initial round of welds

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Ground back so I can get access to the pinholes

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Finished off

Image

Touch of etch primer for now. Looks the same on the backside too.

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 »

A couple more holes welded up

Image

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 »

Finally ready to weld in the quarter panel

Image
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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
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by colinf1 »

Very tidy prep, looking forward to seeing the panel on, should have it done today?
Image
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