Project Lexi

[LIX_818]

Hello All,
My name is Darragh. I'm a new member to the forum. Some of you may remember my Dad Peter McKenzie. He got out of the mini scene a few years ago but I've been wanting to buy and restore one for some time now. After a year of Dad telling me to bide my time and the right one will come up. Last Monday we went to look at this mini and on Thursday we picked it up. It is a black 1981 round nose mini. On First inspections it seems to be pretty solid. Floors need repairs and bits of bubbling around the scuttle and under the headlights. Usual spots where they go. I hope the picture loads below , you should be able to see we put it up on a flat bed lorry . It didn't start but Dad didn't seem too phased by this. The minute we got it off the trailer Dad was troubleshooting the problem. It wasn't getting spark. He led it back to the coil and we had an old coil lying about. After cleaning the spark plugs, adjusting the fuel at the carb, setting the timing right and bleeding the clutch the little 998cc engine was running smooth. we left it there for the night then. I'm in college at the moment and I'm off for the summer so I'm hoping to get the bulk of the work done before going back. Hoping to keep ye as up to date on the project as possible. Pardon my long speech I'll try leave them shorter next time

[LIX_818]

Lexi is under a tarp for the night until tomorrow, I'm going clearing the shed tomorrow. Let the fun begin. Hopefully we won't uncover to much rust

[LIX_818]

Well today unearthed a bit of rust. Ah I suppose it was to be expected out of a mini. I grinded back most of the scuttle due to the bubbling and found that it was pretty solid. I stripped out the rest of the interior and that is when the fun began. I took off the black and red part of the part and found a pretty big hole on the passengers side heater vent. The drivers side heater vent isn't too bad but surface rust from what I can see. So I decided to dig further, I took out the front windscreen and the passenger side corner scuttle isn't in great condition. The top rail for holding the dash is rotten as well. At least I have her in dry storage now. Here are a few photos of todays work and the rust I found today.

[LIX_818]

Some of the rust I found

[dayoungfella]

Congrats on the purchase! Looks like you'll be kept busy!

What are your plans for it?

[LIX_818]

Congrats on the purchase! Looks like you'll be kept busy!

What are your plans for it?

Hello,

Thanks. It seems pretty straight and it runs well so I'm happy out.

Well I want to get it as rust free as possible. I will be dropping the subframes and rebuilting them putting in new pads, stone-chipping them etc. also gonna seal the hole bottom of the car, front and rear valance, bulk-head and arches. while the subframes is out I'm going to refresh the engine, clean it, paint and add a few shiny bits you know the usual carry on . With all the surface rust it's gonna need a full respray. Going to change the suspension also. Going to keep the wheels and arches I think. Going adding angel eye headlights and 4 angel eye spots. and a nice wee RC40 or twin pipe exhaust. I have a HIF44 carb in the shed so I may put that on. I have parts of 2 donor minis all labelled and put in boxes ready for this project so there is no shortage of parts.

The only thing I wouldn't have much of an idea of is the wiring. Which seems to be an absolute mess in this mini. The headlights don't work and it isn't the switch because I found there was no power coming to the switch. It isn't the bulbs cause I can flash the headlights from the lever. Lots of tracing back wires I'm afraid.

Thanks for your reply. Hoping to get to know a few more. I'll be at IMM so I'm sure I'll see your mini about. Might need to some help or tips in the future when I really get dug in.

Darragh,

[dayoungfella]

Good stuff, at least you've got your priorities right with getting the bodywork sorted first!

Yes, come say hi at IMM. Just look out for a red van with Granby Motor Sport written across it!

[LIX_818]

Good stuff, at least you've got your priorities right with getting the bodywork sorted first!

Yes, come say hi at IMM. Just look out for a red van with Granby Motor Sport written across it!

Will do man, see ya then

[LIX_818]

I decided to start some welding on the mini as it had to begin at some stage so why not start now. I started with what i'd call an inner cill some may say it the rear floor pan I'm not going to get political about it. Anywhom I cut out the patch and the outer cill had surface rust was solid so I put on rust preventative and a zinc prime before welding on my patch. Considering it's my first time I think it went ok? I'll let you guys judge and if you have any tips feel free to share them . anyway enough talking i'll let the pictures do the talking.

[woody]

Rather than welding spots, you should try and weld along the joint, seam weld.
It looks like the car had oversills fitted before , the question is did they remove the old rusted sill or just put the the new sill over the old one?

[LIX_818]

Rather than welding spots, you should try and weld along the joint, seam weld.
It looks like the car had oversills fitted before , the question is did they remove the old rusted sill or just put the the new sill over the old one?

Hi Woody,
Thanks for your reply and tips. In relation to the seam welds I haven't quite mastered that. Due to the simple fact that it burns through everytime. It is probably just my settings on the welder I need to change #newbie

About the sill. I'm unsure to be honest. Further inspection will be required. When you say "over sill" do you mean they put a sill over the outer sill or inner ?

Darragh,

[woody]

You should practice some welding off the car first.
Over sills are wider than the standard sill and some people do a quick fix by welding over a rusty holed sill rather than remove the original one.
http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... o%20search

[LIX_818]

You should practice some welding off the car first.
Over sills are wider than the standard sill and some people do a quick fix by welding over a rusty holed sill rather than remove the original one.
http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... o%20search

Ya I will definitely have to practice my seam welds off the car.

I have more to be doing along the sills. Think il replace the outer sills for piece of mind and see what lurks underneath

[LIX_818]

Well so far today I've been digging out rust and undoing mistakes from a previous owner/ whoever patched it last. I've made a small list of panels I need.

-scuttle
-inner scuttle passengers side
-upper dash rail
-front floor pan on drivers side
- 2 outer sills
- possibly 2 wings if I'm replacing the whole scuttle

Anyone got any tips on matching panels when welding so they match well?

Thanks Darragh,

[LIX_818]

so that's 2 quarter panel repairs to add to the list of panels

[LIX_818]

Hi Guys,

sorry for a lack of updates the past few days. I've College exams Monday and Tuesday. I'll be cracking on Wednesday with a few bits but not a pile to be at until I get panels and other parts.

Darragh

[LIX_818]

I finished exams today so full steam ahead with the mini. I took off the bootlid today and grinded back the bubbling on the skin. As seen below they're the holes in it. Don't know whether to re-skin it or patch it. It isn't bad like.

Opinions??

[LIX_818]

Anybody know a good guy at refurbising alloys?

Thanks Darragh

[Dan S]

Anybody know a good guy at refurbising alloys?

Thanks Darragh

Radfix in Galway did mine, they'll take your tyres off and refit them too. I think it was €75/wheel. Sandblasted and powder coated.

[LIX_818]

Anybody know a good guy at refurbising alloys?

Thanks Darragh

Radfix in Galway did mine, they'll take your tyres off and refit them too. I think it was €75/wheel. Sandblasted and powder coated.

Thanks man, I might try them

[LIX_818]

Hi guys,

This is my last update til after the IMM. Dad and I dropped the front subframe and engine. We aren't looking forward to putting them back in but that is a long way off yet.

Anyway see ye at the IMM

[LIX_818]

What a day!!

I got off work at 4am last night and headed straight for Westport. Got up the next morning and was really looking forward to getting in and having a look around and buying a few bits. It didn't fail to impress. I bought a good few bits for Lexi and seeing all those minis really gave me motivation to get Lexi on the road looking spick and span. Here is a pic of most of the bits I got:

[LIX_818]

Todays work:

We dropped the back subframe today and repairs began.

I welded in a new battery box and put a new plate on the back of the rear valance. As you can see I need to patch up the arch as well.

Ran out of sheet metal so had to finish up for the evening. I cant wait to get this welding done it's a pure pain in the bottom

[LIX_818]

More welding.....

Patched up the arch and cut out the otherside of the rear valance and welded in a new bit. few pics below...

[LIX_818]

Today's update

I did a couple repairs on the rear subframe but I only took one picture sorry. I'll take other Monday.
I also welded up a couple holes in the engine bay, I welded up a vent I have no use for now as well. Once again I forgot the pictures but I've still a few.