Bigfun Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Hi everyone.. long time lurker here. Bought a 76 mini couple months back. Wanting to start getting it rust free. Only problem I think is that it is my commuter as well. Is it realistic for me to start grinding away finding rust while still needing it every day to get to work? Also, I have never done anything like this before... but I just love my mini and want to get it looking nice. THought I would start grinding underneath, then work my way along the fenders and such. After grinding paint away where I think the rust is, hit it with some primer and carry on.... This sound about right? Any help suggestions etc would be appreciated for this first time noob.. thanks heaps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My name is Russell Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Depends on the extent of the rust and your ability / confidence to replace what ever you chop out in once night is really. Last time mk1mad worked on his mini at mine he ended up removing the entire sills and replacing. which you probably couldn't do in one night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Alot of things under floor however you could still drive tho. I.e holes in the floors. Gaz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemi Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 having tried doing this with my 910 i would say dont bother mang .. its alwasy a rush to get it ready for the next day and you end up doing the job shit . just drive it till you can get a daily and then park up and take the time to do things properly . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steelies Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 yeah i can remember doing the same, cut , fix (bog), prime, sleep, drive to work, car gets rained on, mint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 i did pretty much what you are wanting to do with my minor hit it with some zinc primer as standard primer is shit at protecting anything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigfun Posted September 17, 2009 Author Share Posted September 17, 2009 Well after some thought about the responses here.. thought I would be better off maybe getting a pushbike for the summer and putting it up in my garage. Thing is I have never done this before. You guys have such great info.. thanks for the tips thus far. Question: Is it worth stripping down and getting it bead blasted? Then getting in there where it needs bog, rust repair etc? My main goal would be to get the car rust free (best I can .. not looking for showroom quality really) and sealed so I can drive it over winter and finish it off then. I do have 3 kids so time isn't necessarily on my side.. I do enjoy seeing them grow up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyteler Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Mate, if it's legal now. Drive it around. Summer is the best time to be cruising in your best. Save some pennies over the summer and throw it in to be sorted over the winter months when you don't really want to be out driving it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My name is Russell Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 IMO it sounds to me for your situation a complete stripdown wouldn't be ideal, you will find allot of hidden rust and it could become a massive job very quickly. Getting all the panels straight again also. I would just repair areas that are obvious have rust and give her a light strip down and fresh spray. that way you can control how far you take it were as if you completely bare metal the car you may be dealing with swiss cheese and suddenly be in the deep end and facing a two year + project Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My name is Russell Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 What Mr Ky says is also a valid point of a true story Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NaN Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 It my experience, (which is big), it's always best to start with something that someone else has worked on. That said, project cars are best accompanied with a nice, modern, cheap, small, run around car (or ute). Mini's are cool, being small cars, the project is a bit smaller too. Zinc primer is the way to go, but you want the one that kills rust too, because steel starts rusting again about 30 seconds after you clean the paint off it. Welding, is an art. It's best practiced cant recommend enough taking classes. TIP: gladwrap is your friend. remove a part, gladwrap it, and then mark it. TIP: buy 200 zip lock plastic bags, take a bolt off, write on the bag with a vivid and never mis-place nut again ! TIP: buy cutting wheels in lots of 25 and always get the 1mm ones, it's cheaper. TIP: the $10 flap sanding wheels are the shit. TIP: always buy cheap grinders, the cheaper the better, metal work (dust) wreaks them faster than anything else. TIP: Safety first, injuries slow progress, and de-motivate you (cant work on car from hospital or a grave) That said, I recommend stripping the car, taking photos as you go, bagging and tagging the bolts as you go, wrapping everything in gladwrap (get the 600 meter rolls). then, once it's down to a bare shell, weld up a rolling frame for it. Then have it acid dipped, and coated in epoxy resin. From there you can really do a good job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowlancer Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 I would think summer is the ideal time to take it off the road, plus it's likely you won't have it on the road till next summer anyway Weather is better, so you can ride your bike in relative comfort. More hours of light to work on the car Climate better suited to the likes of painting It's a mini and your daily, not some cruiser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mk1Mad Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Good work on the mini purchase, nice and easy to work on and real real easy to get parts for for cheap. Where are you based? Check out my thread and ask as many questions on here as you need. There are quite a few people on here that have built up minis. viewtopic.php?f=17&t=6320&start=0 I bought parts and panels from Minibitz - www.minibitz.co.nz and Swift Automotive, Chch. Anyway, start a project thread with lots of photos so we can see what you have to start with. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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