I'm Fixin' a Hole

Back before we left North Carolina I started working on Percy's body work. I cut out the driver's side outer sill, door step, inner sill, and a large chunk of floor. In the process I was able to weld in a new doorstep piece. I had to stop there because I ran out of time, we had to get on the road to Colorado.

Now the surgery continues:

I took off the driver's side door to make getting to the floor easier.



These are the enemies of rusty Minis everywhere; a reciprocating saw with a metal cutting blade and an angle grinder with a cutting wheel.



Here is the section of floor I cut out previously. I cleaned up the edges.



Here is a piece of the old floor. You can see the different layers of old patches. There are FOUR layers of metal!!



Here is the floor patch panel. Thanks to my in laws!



I had to cut it to fit the area I cut out of the floor.



Here it is all trimmed up.



It was time for a beer break. Negra Modelo, good stuff. The wife and I found this boss sign at the Good Will store for a couple of bucks. Score!



Here's the floor patch panel all welded in.



I think it turned out well. Soon I'll paint over it with some Rust Bullet and put some seam sealer around the edges. Next I have to go to a sheet metal shop and buy a piece of metal so I can patch the rest of the floor.

I need to score some knee pads. By the end of the weekend I could hardly walk after kneeling on the cement for so long.

Rust Proofing the Gutters

This past weekend I decided to rust proof Percy's roof gutters with some Rust Bullet.

First I had to clean them with a wire brush wheel attached to my drill.



I also cleaned up some surface rust that was on the roof.



I also decided to grind away the "Mini Cooper" sticker. Percy is just a Mini. Mini "Coopers" were Minis that were hopped up by John Cooper. They came with engine mods for more performance. The original "Coopers" go for big bucks nowadays.



Going...going...



Gone!



I then removed the left rear quarter window.



Then the left rear body seam cover. The body seam is in good shape with just some surface rust.



The seam cover is in good shape too.



I'll have to get new clips. These hold the seam cover on the seam. These are pretty nasty.



I found a hole at the bottom of the left rear quarter window. I'll have to weld in some new metal sometime soon.



Here's the first coat of Rust Bullet on the roof gutter.



Rust Bullet requires two coats with about two hours of drying time inbetween. So we decided to play darts.



Nikki and I played cricket. We are training Eugie to be the score keeper.



I scored a bullseye!



Nikki scored one too. She won the game!



Of course darts make us thirsty.



Here is Percy with the second coat of Rust Bullet. All done for now.

Bondo on the Butt!

Here's some work I did this past Sunday. I scored some Bondo and filled in some small holes left in the bootlid after welding and grinding.




Then I sanded it all down after the bondo dried. I think I should pick up a random orbit sander, my arm was KILLING me afterwards!



While I was waiting for the bondo to dry on the bootlid I decided to start sanding the rear. I have to do this before I can put some primer on.



Then I got bored and started to pick at the right rear wheel well with a screw driver to see what was still solid and what was not. I found some more areas I'll have to patch.

You can see the holes in this picture.



Look at all this rusty goodness.

Mini Club

Now that I live in Denver I am actually near other people that dig Minis just like me. So much so that there is even a local Mini club. Minis of the Rockies is the name. Here is their website: Minis of the Rockies Check it out.



Every 1st Tuesday of the month they meet up at a pub in downtown Denver. The place is called Pint's Pub.



I was able to attend their last meeting. They are a very nice group of people. We were able to talk Minis for a couple of hours. At the end of the meeting they had a raffle and I won a really cool set of Mini pens!



I'm sure I'll be back.