1983 Austin Minivan Resto begins.

1983 Austin Minivan Resto begins.

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Pixel-Snapper

Original Poster:

5,321 posts

191 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2011
quotequote all
uksurvivor said:
I got saved by a very friendly AA bike patrol man about 3 weeks ago who let slip that he forms part of the AA team who maintain one of each of the old patrol vehicles for the company. I've pinged him a text to see if he can help.... will keep you posted.
Great stuff Andy, looking forward to any info you can.

Ferg

15,242 posts

256 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2011
quotequote all


Pic of my younger brother's Van, my older brother's Clubman, his Van and one of my pick-ups outside my parent's house!

Pixel-Snapper

Original Poster:

5,321 posts

191 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2011
quotequote all
Cracking photo ferg.

I would like to one day have one of each roundnose saloon, roundnose van, roundnose pick-up and a clubby saloon.

That would be a garage there.

Better try and get one done first before looking at other though smile

Pixel-Snapper

Original Poster:

5,321 posts

191 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
Update

The vans booked into the shop on the 16th for the welding on the main body to be done.....YIPPEEE....just dropped 120 sheets on new panels...FARK...should mean less fabrication to be done by the garage so hopefully cost abit less in labour.

Excitied is an understatement at the moment. biggrin (might not be quite so when the bill comes through though)

Miniholic

123 posts

237 months

Thursday 3rd March 2011
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Excellent.

I've had mine out of the garage, but then put it back in again. When the weather improves were going give it a good going over and see what needs doing to get it MOT'd. Treated myself to a bargain set of Minilite's at Stanford for some inspiration but it hasn't exactly had the desired effect.

Pixel-Snapper

Original Poster:

5,321 posts

191 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all

So this is what £70 worth of panels looks like.




guru_1071

2,768 posts

233 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
christ!

who did you buy them off?

dick turpin?

Pixel-Snapper

Original Poster:

5,321 posts

191 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
guru_1071 said:
christ!

who did you buy them off?

dick turpin?
Eh.....?

Got them from ebay.. the inner hinge panels where £45 and the Corner repair was a tenner.

So ok not quite 70 more like 65 but postage ontop of that.

Couldnt find them anywhere else.

So i've been robbed then?

hairycarbear

19 posts

156 months

Friday 4th March 2011
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ok so im new to the mini enviroment but not the motor trade, do you not have a local motor factor? They should be able to order panels for you (most likely from Hadrian) at a cheaper cost (if buying multiple items) maybe something to look into in the future, if you've not already of course!

guru_1071

2,768 posts

233 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
pix

ive bought a stack of specalised panels from doreen at mini machine

cannot fault either the service or the quality of the panels

Pixel-Snapper

Original Poster:

5,321 posts

191 months

Friday 4th March 2011
quotequote all
New I should have asked here first about buying the panels....

Lets just hope the ones I have got fit ok or I can see the bill being quite large.

oldboyracer64

209 posts

237 months

Friday 4th March 2011
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i`ve had panels from here http://www.minipreservation.co.uk/ before took a bit of working to get them to fit well but they were cheep and cheerful patten parts

minipete

152 posts

202 months

Saturday 5th March 2011
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Can`t fault M Machine at Darlington,they`re really helpful,and the stuff they make fits quite well.

Pixel-Snapper

Original Poster:

5,321 posts

191 months

Sunday 6th March 2011
quotequote all
Would it be too soon to start thinking about colors for the Van.

I've always had this color scheme of AA yellow with black roof/arches and black cooper wheels.

Found an example here.



My mate doing the bodywork for me thinks something more like the new BMW M3 black.

Thoughts?

Pixel-Snapper

Original Poster:

5,321 posts

191 months

Wednesday 16th March 2011
quotequote all
Small update, SAL went off to be welded yesterday..... biggrin





Should get her back in a few weeks time, then its onto the prep and paint.

Pixel-Snapper

Original Poster:

5,321 posts

191 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
quotequote all
Popped down to see how the garage are getting on with SAL and she has less holes in her now biggrin

Drivers side rear arch.



Made a start on the driver side inner and outer A-panel.



New lower passenger side from arch to door shut.



I had to order some new external door hinges as I lost the others, so not much has happened so far this week, plus they are fitting it in around other jobs.

Monster26

284 posts

224 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
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Looking good. keep up the good work. Here is my Van project...

http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&...

Pixel-Snapper

Original Poster:

5,321 posts

191 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
quotequote all
Monster26 said:
Looking good. keep up the good work. Here is my Van project...

http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&...
Thanks mark.

WOWZERs......! I thought mine needed some welding, scanning that threads just made me feel alot better... tongue out

I'm thinking of having a black roof, does it really show the imperfections up alot as you say?

Although I want it to look like new I also think the odd dink gives it some character.

Monster26

284 posts

224 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
quotequote all
The roofs Jet black and yes it shows every imperfection. I thought it was the straightest panel on the car, hence why I choose a light car for the body. On the painting front, my advice is to get your wallet out and spend the most you can then alittle more at a decent bodyshop, don't try and save money. (one of the lessons I've learnt).
If you have any questions on van panels pm me.
ttfn Mark

Pixel-Snapper

Original Poster:

5,321 posts

191 months

Thursday 7th April 2011
quotequote all
Just popped into the garage to see the Van and the guys are going great guns.

They've done most of the work on the drivers side:
Repaired the rear arch inside and out.
Rebuilt and strengthened the rear subframe mounting point.
New outer sill.

Round the front:
New plate for the suspension top mount bracket.
plated and tidied up the scuttle area.
Patched and strengthened the bulkhead subframe mount as it was abit rusty.
Tidied up the floor pans underneath from a bad repair before I had it.

Left to do mostly the passenger side:
Small patch on the rear arch.
Fabricate and weld up the front arch.
Drivers inner and outer A panels.
Fabricate a small part of the drivers doorstep and weld in.

Will try getting some pictures next week.