Irish Mini Owners Club

Ok, time has come to get serious about the rust... finger through bodywork tends to concentrate the mind.
Its a UK import '93 cooper in BRG/WHITE



rust areas that i know about:
Under headlights panel joint
A Panel drivers side
scuttle/wing joint drivers side
firewall/wheelwell at air intake
roof gutter rear drivers side
3/4 panel at cill/wheelarch seam (this one is through the metal. )
both cill lips
rear subframe under trumpet.

The plan is i will strip the car of seats, all interior trim except headlining, carpets/underlay, dash and instruments, glass, lights, bumpers grille etc. and deliver to body-shop for cutting, welding, spraying and rust-proofing.

I wasn't planning on removing the engine as it needs no work there apart from perhaps a diff-pin ?? (symptom: play in the drive-take-up and its *not* the drive-shafts)

I'd welcome suggestions about cost, duration and who you would recommend to do this work. Previous work on Mini's very desirable!

Also, what rust prevention coatings do you recommend? Is primer, paint & "waxoil" the way to go or are there other magic sprays you like?

While I'm at it, i will probably re-build it as a "Grand Prix" recreation, (http://home.12move.nl/coopergrandprix/mcgp_13.htm) seeing as its nearly there already with the colour, leather, arches sales documents etc; I've been looking to source the "Grand Prix" decals but haven't seen them anywhere.

Any other suggestions while i have the car stripped out? I may put a sub-woofer under the rear seats....

your suggestions and advice welcome.

Good luck with your body work it sounds like fairly standard tin worm
stuff for minis .Regarding the diff pin , a good test is to jack up one side off the ground
keeping one wheel in contact with terra firma , car in gear, rotate the other wheel
and measure the amount of play . Choose a point on the tyre mark it and measure.
Compare itto another car that has a fairly fresh diff pin . I hope I have not complicated
matters too much .Good luck .

keith wrote:Ok, time has come to get serious about the rust... finger through bodywork tends to concentrate the mind.
Its a UK import '93 cooper in BRG/WHITE



rust areas that i know about:
Under headlights panel joint
A Panel drivers side
scuttle/wing joint drivers side
firewall/wheelwell at air intake
roof gutter rear drivers side
3/4 panel at cill/wheelarch seam (this one is through the metal. )
both cill lips
rear subframe under trumpet.

The plan is i will strip the car of seats, all interior trim except headlining, carpets/underlay, dash and instruments, glass, lights, bumpers grille etc. and deliver to body-shop for cutting, welding, spraying and rust-proofing.

I wasn't planning on removing the engine as it needs no work there apart from perhaps a diff-pin ?? (symptom: play in the drive-take-up and its *not* the drive-shafts)

I'd welcome suggestions about cost, duration and who you would recommend to do this work. Previous work on Mini's very desirable!

Also, what rust prevention coatings do you recommend? Is primer, paint & "waxoil" the way to go or are there other magic sprays you like?

While I'm at it, i will probably re-build it as a "Grand Prix" recreation, (http://home.12move.nl/coopergrandprix/mcgp_13.htm) seeing as its nearly there already with the colour, leather, arches sales documents etc; I've been looking to source the "Grand Prix" decals but haven't seen them anywhere.

Any other suggestions while i have the car stripped out? I may put a sub-woofer under the rear seats....

your suggestions and advice welcome.

If your looking for some hammerite type stuff, I can pick you up a few tins for €1 each as they are being sold off, its not hammerite, but it says its a rust treatment/metal paint. Could be good for putting underneath just to give a few layers.

Im in work on Thursday nits and I'll find out.