R1067 Winter workshop

[millermilla]

I couldn't resist the temptation to get stuck into the other side so after clearing the garage out after the flood I got started. I was going to hold back as my MIG welder got water damaged so if any welding needed doing I would be screwed but I was very surprised to see it was almost perfect behind the kit. It was in better condition than the offside but someone has been here before as a couple of small patches were welded on the inner step. All it needed was a good clean up and a good coat of waxoil. On both sides while the wheels were off all the suspension was greased and brakes checked.

The bodykit however was very bad on this side. It doesn't look much in the picture but the fibreglass was badly cracked all the way through making it very weak and on top of that it looks like it's been patched up several times over the years so some quite extensive strengthening was required with fibreglass and metal bars!

You can see what I was up against looking at the rubbing down pic.....How many layers of paint and filler?

[paul]

Nearside front corner is the one that will get clipped on the kerbs and such all the time, might be good to read up on fibreglass repairs if you do not drill the end of the cracks and grind the crack down to matting and then re glass it then the cracks will re appear fairly quickly.

On the rear of the arch behind this damage might be worth grinding down to clean glass and then laying on some resin and matting to reinforce it.

Paul

[kayball]

Hi all, Long time since I posted.
Removed offside body kit last summer due to usual cracking. Bought non-complient base coat and final gloss before it became unavailable, but told it was better than new, water based 'conforming' version.
Cut out all visible cracks down to matting with dremel and then filled with flexible bumber repair paste. (Just been out to garage to try and find old tube, but no joy. I know it was purchased at 'Halfrauds' and think it was Plastic Padding but especialy for repairing plastic bumpers.) Had it resparayed by my normaly reliable contact but he has made a real 'balls' of it. No cracks have appeared, despite trip to IMM, but new paint has not adeared to original. All around edges it has bubbled so it will all have to come off again, but not this weather. It seems that this plastic bumper repair paste is good for repair and is obviously very flexible so will use it again on nearside when weather gets warmer. Will probably try spraying myself before paint becomes time-ex.

As a general note. I have copies of most ERA drawings, including cutting diagram for wheel arch and front panel. I will send copies of any of these drawings direct if you ask. Don't want to publish on site as commercial concerns may make use of them. We changed lowest portion of our front panel due to rusting between body kit and front apron and then, when we tried to refit body kit, found scoops for air inlet and heater fouled lower part of front panel. Hadn't realised that this had also been chopped until then! Chris and I are planning to go to Knebworth Park May 31. Mini and Volkswagon show. (See Greenwood) Anyone else intersted?
Pete K pkay@ntlworld.com.

[Jezza]

Yes we will be at Knebworth in the ERA all being well as we have already booked a local hotel to make a weekend of it.

Just back from Bingley Hall Show - I am always amazed how popular it is given the weather and the fact that it is a tenner each to get in.

Next weekend the ERA is off to Col's Mini's in Feckenham (near Redditch) to have the front bodykit refurbed as it sounds like a pig of a job reading through Keith's Winter work and Paul's comments on the problems of working with fibreglass. Hopefully I should have the car back before the end of Feb - must avoid all kerbs from then on..........

[millermilla]

Thanks for the advice all. I did grind the larger cracks back to the fibre matting and reinforced it from behind but didn't think about drilling the ends of the cracks to stop them spreading, doh. I also looked at the flexible bumper filler in Halfrauds but wan't too sure about it so went with standard P38 but now I know it works I will give it a go next time.

Jeremy I saw your ERA at Bingley today, got a pic of it on my camera. I also saw Daz and another ERA I didn't recognise.

[G96LUE]

Hi Keith,

If the other era you saw was parked next to mine (B16ERA) it was Ian's.
He was on the stand at the international at longbridge with us.

If you saw another i don't know who's that was.

I will have a look at the shows we will be going too this year (over the next week or two) and post a listing on here.
Not sure about Knebworth as we will be in isle of man the week before so i dont know how funds will be doing.

Anyone got any preferences for a display stand show?

Anyway, good to see you all today.
See you again soon,
Darren.

[millermilla]

Just had a look at my camera it was G988XHP, also spotted was yours G96 LUE, B16 ERA and G543 TFK Jeremys

[millermilla]

Woohoo, finally finished all of the bodywork. Managed to get the left hand side of the bodykit painted and refitted. Again very pleased with the finish but learned a lesson with spraying and that is to clean the gun until you think it's completely spotless then do it again just to be sure. I started spraying the clear coat only to have loads of bits of dried clearcoat that must have been in the gun come out all over the kit. Luckily as it was only in the clear coat I flatted it out afterwards.





I really want to get the car back on the road now especially when I see the sun out but there's still a few things left to be done including a service, drive shaft and gear shift oil seals then it's just lots of polishing and cleaning to do. I've also got a nice 12" JL sub on the way so I've got to give it some thought on where that's going to go and what amp to use with it. Lots of time off work over the next couple of weeks so it should all be done very soon

[arrian]

That looks great, well done. I'll have to do this to mine at some stage as it has started to crack in the same place as yours.

[G96LUE]

Nice and shiny.
Well done Keith.
I'll drop mine off with you next week .
With Regard to the sub, I made an MDF right hand tank for mine.
I will pop a photo on here in a couple of days as i'm inbetween internet providers at the mo. should be back on tomorrow.
It might give you an idea / inspiration.
As regard to the amp location, i have a fairly large Kenwood amp fixed to the floor under my drivers seat for the sub.
I also have a 4 channel Pioneer amp fixed to the back of the rear seat.
If you fix to the rear seat fire wall, remove your seat first and cut off any excess screw length that protrudes and if possible put a rubber cap over them.
I hope this helps.
See you soon
Darren