Bodywork question - to re-shell or not?
Discussion
Morning all
I've finally taken the plunge and decided to restore my 1974 (Mk3?) Mini 1000.
Whilst I can comfortably tackle the "bolting-in" of everything, I'll need someone to do the bodywork, which led me to the question of a) whether I re-shell it or not, and b) if not, where can I find a reputable restorer should I keep the original shell. I'd love to keep the original shell if possible, having looked over it yesterday I can see it needs the following:
Rear valance
Rear panel needs patching under lights
Hole in drivers' B pillar
Battery box - needs patching
Sills - remove oversills and replace originals
Patch roof gutter (about one-inch)
Heelboard, including captive nuts for subframe
Replace doors
Floor - 2x holes
New hinge-mounting panel, drivers side
Plus the bits I can't see (I'm sure there'll be a few)
Can anybody recommend a few people I should talk to? I rang Somerford - 2 year waiting list! I'm in South Yorkshire, so anybody Midlands upwards would be useful.
For the engine, I'm going to keep the original 998 and rebuild that as a learning exercise. I would like to put a BMW "K" 16v head onto a 1293 block. What power / performance could I expect from that, and how do I go about finding someone to build it for me?
Appreciate there's a load of questions there but thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for your help.
I've finally taken the plunge and decided to restore my 1974 (Mk3?) Mini 1000.
Whilst I can comfortably tackle the "bolting-in" of everything, I'll need someone to do the bodywork, which led me to the question of a) whether I re-shell it or not, and b) if not, where can I find a reputable restorer should I keep the original shell. I'd love to keep the original shell if possible, having looked over it yesterday I can see it needs the following:
Rear valance
Rear panel needs patching under lights
Hole in drivers' B pillar
Battery box - needs patching
Sills - remove oversills and replace originals
Patch roof gutter (about one-inch)
Heelboard, including captive nuts for subframe
Replace doors
Floor - 2x holes
New hinge-mounting panel, drivers side
Plus the bits I can't see (I'm sure there'll be a few)
Can anybody recommend a few people I should talk to? I rang Somerford - 2 year waiting list! I'm in South Yorkshire, so anybody Midlands upwards would be useful.
For the engine, I'm going to keep the original 998 and rebuild that as a learning exercise. I would like to put a BMW "K" 16v head onto a 1293 block. What power / performance could I expect from that, and how do I go about finding someone to build it for me?
Appreciate there's a load of questions there but thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for your help.
For the K conversion have a look at www.morspeed.co.uk.
Your shell sounds OK to be honest - Later shells seem to suffer with shocking tinworm.
Your shell sounds OK to be honest - Later shells seem to suffer with shocking tinworm.
Bob Fossil said:
Appreciate there's a load of questions there but thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for your help.
Give me a shout if you need a hand with anything. Shell doesn't sound too bad, and now the prices of new shells has gone up again you'd probably be better off keeping the one you have. It'll probably be thick steel to being a '74. Neil8p said:
I'm in South Yorkshire too, and am having some mini bodywork done at the moment.
Email me if you want to chat
Cheers
Neil
How's it coming along Neil? Any paint yet? Email me if you want to chat
Cheers
Neil
Had a look on Autotrader, two tone hell, think I'll stick with the MG.
I'm good thanks Chris, you? You'll have to drop in, be god to catch up. I heard a rumour you'd got one of those new fangled MINI's, always thought it would be your brother who defected first. 
As for bodyshops, the guy building Neil's sounds really promising, and specialises in Minis so knows what he's talking about. Can't really think of anyone local to recommend though, there's a guy inKirk Sandall who does good paint, but I think a resto might be a big job for him to take on and the bodyshop I used for mine went under earlier this year. Minimod at Rotherham now have there own bodyshop, but I don't know anyone who has used them. All depends on the type of job really, do you want concours or just a solid shell?
I assume your not in too much of a hurry, what's the target? Next summer?
As for bodyshops, the guy building Neil's sounds really promising, and specialises in Minis so knows what he's talking about. Can't really think of anyone local to recommend though, there's a guy inKirk Sandall who does good paint, but I think a resto might be a big job for him to take on and the bodyshop I used for mine went under earlier this year. Minimod at Rotherham now have there own bodyshop, but I don't know anyone who has used them. All depends on the type of job really, do you want concours or just a solid shell?
I assume your not in too much of a hurry, what's the target? Next summer?
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