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1981 Mini City 1000

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ctwomey
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Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

Bought this burr in Wurth in Portlaoise to tidy between the corner of the rain gutter and the vertical seam on the rear panel.

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It cleaned it up really nicely and it was super sharp.

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Next up is rebuilding the lip on the corner patch from the donor roof. I have finished welding the lip but this week I will need to reshape the edge and tidy up the visible weld on the other side.

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If you are at the Portlaoise Classic Car Show with your Mini and you see someone examining your roof gutters in great detail it's probably me ... so apologies in advance :-)


ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

I attended the Portlaoise Classic Car Show today and managed to pick up this brochure.

It's the BL Cars Mini Brochure for the 1980/81 models

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The last double page has the Mini City I am restoring albeit in a different shade of red (Cinnabar - CMT) compared with my own (Emberglow - CMN).

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ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

Started the blending of the weld through on the other-side of the new lip of the patch panel.

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Job done.

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Final sizing and cutting of the patch panel to fit the roof. I will give it a coat of weld-through primer on the backside before welding to the roof.

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colinf1
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by colinf1 »

You don't see too many of them about with that original style grille.

How close you hoping to get to original spec?

I think you said that you'd be adding a few essentials like temp and oil gauges....
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ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

colinf1 wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2023 4:06 pm You don't see too many of them about with that original style grille.

How close you hoping to get to original spec?

I think you said that you'd be adding a few essentials like temp and oil gauges....
The car didn't come with a grill so might have to go looking for one. Alternatively, there is a black 11-slat one that Mini Spares do.

Other changes will be chrome bumpers, mirrors and wiper blades. The Interior will be the same except I will need to find a way to mount the oil pressure and water temp gauges. The oval centre console might be the easiest solution, but would prefer to retain the round one.

I will have to change the wheels as I have Cooper S discs and wider rear drums, so either Cooper S steel wheels or a suitable alloy that doesn't require arch extensions. 4.5 x 10 or 4.75 x 10.
Marktoby
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by Marktoby »

Only new to the group, and to Mini ownership so I'm playing catch up on the work you've done, but its exceptional. Great work.
ctwomey
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Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

Marktoby wrote: Tue Oct 31, 2023 2:22 pm Only new to the group, and to Mini ownership so I'm playing catch up on the work you've done, but its exceptional. Great work.
Thanks a million. There is a wealth of knowledge and support on the board so please don't hesitate to ask questions.
ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

I have been busy studying for exams of late and haven't had time to finish the roof on the mini. Exams are completed now. I spent the last couple of days on the mini and have completed the rear passenger corner of the roof.

The series of photos shows how I approach the weld.

Keeping a ~1mm gap and keeping the panels cool is the secret to preventing warping. But it's impossible to make it perfect when you can't get access to the back of the panel.

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I always start on one side and tack as I go along to the other. This way the panel can expand and contract as it heats up and cools down.

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It's all about keeping it cool once it is completely tacked and locked in place.

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ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

Almost there on the roof. I started with 9 repairs to do and now I have one small one left after today.

This repair took most of the day. However, delighted with the results. The roof is looking good again.

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colinf1
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by colinf1 »

Fantastic repairs as usual Conor, if the exams for welding bodywork you'd ace them!
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ctwomey
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Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

colinf1 wrote: Sat Dec 23, 2023 10:02 am Fantastic repairs as usual Conor, if the exams for welding bodywork you'd ace them!
Thanks Colin!
ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

I haven't been posting much on the progress lately but I have been working away on the bodywork over the last few weeks.

Finally finished the roof and here is the last section welded in place. I have joined up the two panels as I am hoping to not have any plastic trim on the gutters.

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I trial-fitted the petrol tank and have located the position for the petrol tank bracket.

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Welded the closing panel in place and plug-welded the petrol tank bracket in place.

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While it is not spot welded in place it looks stock and original.

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ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

What's everyone using in terms of paint for the inside of cavities?

i.e. Inside of sill cavities, rear valence and front gusset closing panel cavities before welding them up?

Everywhere else is accessible except for these three areas.

Any help would be appreciated?

I was thinking of just using 2K epoxy as that would seal the metal and then I could apply seam sealer in the necessary areas.
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colinf1
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by colinf1 »

I used rattle cans of zinc rich primer, followed by gloss black top coat. The 2K epoxy would give off nastier fumes if welded nearby, both probably have the same chance of catching fire.

For cavity wax, you can get to the majority of the sill through each flute and the heelboard captive nuts, scuttle closer can be got to from down the A-pillar and I think you can get to the drivers side of the rear valance through the fog light wiring hole, can't remember if there is a similiar hole on passenger side.
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ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

Thank Colin, I think the rear valence can be got from underneath too. I don't plan on putting the original fog light back on the car. I bought an earlier valence without the holes and nut for the external fog light.
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colinf1
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by colinf1 »

ctwomey wrote: Thu Apr 18, 2024 9:03 am Thank Colin, I think the rear valence can be got from underneath too. I don't plan on putting the original fog light back on the car. I bought an earlier valence without the holes and nut for the external fog light.
Mine has a hole each side of the boot floor, but I've figured out its because its a full new boot floor that was based on the later MPi mini.
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woody
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Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by woody »

There is a hole each side because LHD cars have the fog light on the left.
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ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

Time to replace the front quarter floor panels. I am starting with the passenger side first. I am replacing them with M-Machine panels

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I have cleaned up the inside sill and you can see the weld through for the repair patches I did on the bottom of the inner wing panel

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Quite a lot of dirty rust on the lip of the inner wing panel where water ran down under the floor.

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ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

Drilling out the spot welds

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Loving the rust but there is clean metal there

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The bottom of the inner wing will need replacing

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I will take a decent chunk off it

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The bottom of the toe board is bad as well

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Cut out the toe board rot

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Some cardboard by design is required here, such and odd shape

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Here is the resulting patch I have made up

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ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

Back on the mini for a full day today

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I have started trimming the quarter floor panel on the passenger side.

The underside looks good, I haven't done the final cut yet. I want to get it as close as possible to the existing floor before I do that.

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Tacked in repair section on the firewall.

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I have removed the rusty section of the inner wing.

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ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

Another decent day on the mini today. Passenger patch panel for inside wing in place

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Fits nicely on the inside and against the bulkhead/toeboard panel

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Tacked in place

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The visible part came out well and the weld is hardly noticeable

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The weld is visible on the inside but it will be covered up by the sound-proofing/carpet

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ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

Welding up the 'V's in the m-machine panels. I saw Paul Wiginton do it in one of his videos.

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The only one I didn't do is the one against the toeboard as there is a lot of steel behind it.

Damn that m-machine metal is lovely to weld compared with the older British Leyland steel.
ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

Actually, here is what it looks like in the mini - before welding.

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ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

Final fitting of the floor panel before butt welding. Took a bit to get it aligned on the tunnel but happy with it now.

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Just checking the position of the slinger front brackets

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ctwomey
NON Member
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 am
Whats your location?: Ballybrittas, Co. Laois
Region: Eastern
What Minis have you?: I owned a 1978 Mini 850 when I was in my late teens. I owned a 1986 Mini Chelsea that I imported from the UK. Also owned a 1982 MG Metro that was bored out to 1293. Restoring a 1981 Dublin Mini City.
Contact:

Re: 1981 Mini City 1000

Post by ctwomey »

Plug welding the back of the front slinger bracket to the new floor patch panel before it goes into the car

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Looks nice and neat on the outside

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Welding up the cuts I made so I could get the correct shape on the inner wing to floor lip

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That job is done now and ready to weld in the floor patch panel

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