Stripping it Down...

For a bit of fun I started stripping down the boot using some very caustic paint striper, an orbital sander and a
lot of elbow grease. It came out quite good when I finished cutting out all the rust and most of the existing bog.
I have to do it all again as I need to panel beat it and rebog it but it was a good learning experience.

Stripping down the inside of the boot lid was "fun" due to the million little curves on it, but it cleaned up very nicely.

After using a combinations of paint stripper, wire brushes, flap wheels and sanding disks, the entire back end
was stripped down to bare metal (after removing the fuel tank) and then etched primed ready
for the rear bumper body work.

Using a cheap $20 sandblaster (and a LOT of white sand) the side channels were cleaned up very nicely. First time I've done sandblasting before but it works very well for hard to get bits though it is messy.

Pulled out the windscreen and the other windows (the back was already out). This allowed me to carefully remove the roof liner and the side moldings. Still got to remove the drivers seat but the interior is now almost stripped.

Taking off the doors was fun due to the hinges being rusted out. Many thanks to my dad for giving me a hand.

The door skins are quiet rusty (knacked) where the hinges where. Will have to look at getting either 2 replacement doors or 2 new outer skins.

Stripped down the passenger side (took a GOOD few hours)

Both A Pillars are totally shot (well the drivers is ok) Will most likely get a drivers guard aswell. I didn't bother cutting out the bog on this panel as we will be cutting out the entire panel at some point.

Stripping down the drivers side. No BOG in this panel unlike the passenger side (though there wasn't too much)

You Can see the Sand Blaster (Green Bucket) which is very good and removing all rust from the metal

The biggest job so far was stripping down the roof.. such a big area and with the inside lip around the edges
it was a lot or work. Looking back I should of done it first but then again i've learnt a lot since stripping the boot.

Cleaned up the Front Window stuff. Not too hard but removing the wiper motors was a lot of fun due
to the octagonal nuts holding in the motor mechanism which had locked..

Starting on the Front..

Well I found all the bog on the car. After removing the front grill and lights I started stripping down the front. It wasn't long until I found some very deep bog behind the bumper. Obviously somebody dented her at some point.

 

Ripping out the Engine...

Before I can strip down much more of the body, I have to start removing the Engine/Gearbox

Removed the carburetor (as I have my twin su's to go on), and the extractors. Thankfully the extractors don't go any where (ie no exhaust) so it was reasonably easy Temporarily sealed up the exhaust ports to stop dirt getting in. Once the engine was out I made a proper mask for it.

After Jacking her up and putting up some stands, it was time to drain the oil. Actually came out quiet clean. We then split the CV joints to remove the wheel linkages from the gearbox.

Borrowed my brothers engine crane and the engine came out quiet easy.

Took longer to remove the master/slave cylinder, heater, pedals, steering wheel and anything else we could unbolt.
Still got a few more things to remove but its almost a rolling chassis at the moment.

Finished removing the rest of the interior. Took a few mins to work out how to remove the padding from the dash board but everything else basically unbolted. I just got a LOT of clean up to do now.

 

Cleaning up the Engine bay...

Started stripping down the engine bay which was reasonably easy.
Of course getting at all the hard bits too time but it cleaned well.

Dropping out the sub-frame...

Allowed easy access to the lower bodywork which I then started to strip back.

I need to get some proper masking tape so I can finish off spaying the bottom with body deadener

Started stripping down the sub-frame so I could give her a coat of etch primer.

I then took it out back and spayed it all with more body deadener.

And the Sub-Frame Back into the Car

Stripped down the Bonnet which had a bit of battle damage on the front right side. Will need to be sorted out.

Once the top was done, time to start stripping the bottom and then coat it with more body deadener.

 

The Front Guards...

Time to strip down the front guards (which have some serious damage). A lot "work" obviously has been done in the past but gathering by the amount of bog and the burnt metal not by somebody who knew what there were doing (or it was a cheap job)

Funny how some etch primer makes it look a lot better. Still at least I know what's under there now.

 

The Inside...

Time to start cleaning out the inside of the car. Started on the front ledge, the top part
of the fire wall and the bottom support rail. Cleaning up the firewall is only just smoothing off
the dags and making sure it is clean as it will be coated in more body deadener very shortly.

It cleaned up quiet well I think. The next job will be masking it off and painting the firewall and parcel shelf with some black gooey stuff

Started cleaning up the roof and the side edges. Hard work as holding everything
upside down sure puts a lot of strain on your arms certainly when you are not used to it.

Time to clean out the inside (pictures are before I vacuumed it out) and start prepping the rest of the shell.

After a LOT of work due to all the glues and resins on the back quarter panels which was hard to get off even
with all the right solvents, I managed to clean them up. Also put in the order this week for all the new panels.

Started work on stripping down the read floor pan and the rest of the back seat.

I only wanted to strip down all the rough blue and make sure it was all flat and smooth.

Next job is much the same but for the front floor and the bottom half of the firewall.

I can't believe it.. The end (well of the stripping) is 'almost' in sight.

 

New Panels...

Thanks to Tony at Mini Sport (http://www.minisport.com.au/) all the replacement panels came in (very quickly and for a very good price).
I wouldn't hesitate at all to recommend Tony to anyone. I've bought a lot of stuff off him and he is totally reliable.
Even living at the opposite side of the country hasn't been a problem.

All Panels are brand new Heritage (made in the UK)

 

The downhill slide (for stripping anyway) ...

My Dad helped with cutting off the jagged edges on the rear parcel shelf as the last owner
had performed a abortion on her trying to get his speakers in. It was jagged hell.

Spent a good few hours cleaning it all down, including the inside of the boot
(with the exception of the boot floor as I have a new panel for that sucker)

Bought a new RH door skin this week (new old stock). Was a bit pimply so gave it the usual sand and respray.

Also bought a LH door which although needs a bit of work, is a lot better than the current rust bucket.

	Stripping down the door was probably the hardest thing I've had to do so far (and I have the RH side to look forward to). There was a bit of rust at the bottom of the tray and it is quiet peppered between the door hinge holes, but hopefully a bit of led wiping will sort that out. At least it's all been cut back and treated. Unfortunately getting doors is the hardest part in restoring a mini.

Cleaned up the front firewall and floor.

I bought another door skin (for the other door :) but still had to strip down the existing doors and I will need
to use most of the mechanisms. Getting off the chrome edges was probably the hardest bit until we worked out what to do.

The 2 Doors stripped of everything. The existing drivers door I am keeping (but have a new skin for it)
so started cleaning it down.

Finished off cleaning up the drivers door. Getting into the tray (much like the other door) was fun, but with a bit of hard work, a lot of wire brushing and a sand blaster ;) it came up quiet good

Getting very close to everything being finished. Got the bonnet t-bar and the number plate flap out of the way.

Also (as a have new ones) remove the front side trim and made sure everything was good underneath..

 

Mission Complete ... (well round 1 anyway)

I can hardly believe it. After 6 months of hard work, countless dags in my hands,
sore backs, stress etc.. The body has finally been stripped down to pure etch primer.

She looks beautiful..

Time to get her new panels put on and while that is happening..

It's Engine Time ;)