LocostUSA.com

I'll keep posting regular updates on the fb page as well as here.

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Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

Bob, there are no reasonable carriers and there's customs as well.

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this story shall the good man teach his son,
and chrispin chrispian shall ne'er go by,
from this day to the end of the world.
but we in it shall be remembered.

Have you guys over there tried a joggle /punch tool and plug welding on your tin worm projects? Its much easier, neater, more than strong enough, causes no distortion and looks like the factory spot welds.

Bob

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Build Log viewtopic.php?f=35&t=16640&p=187700#p187700

Mancave http://s1116.photobucket.com/user/mypic ... ow/mancave

Bob
Some areas will get plug welds. The top run of the inner sills in particular. Any work I do on the outer body and seam panels, and replacing the companion box in the rear.

I seriously thought about just plug welding the floor patches, but the more rot I cut out of the floors from prior patch work, the more I wanted fully welded seams.
My normal plan would be fully welded butt joints. The panels on the Mini seem to be several different gauges. The floors look and feel like 18 ga. The toe board reinforcements are thicker, about 16 ga, and the inner fenders are thinner, feels about 20 ga. I struggled with getting a setting that didn't blow through the old steel, so I went to overlap. I know I can keep most of the heat on the new steel, then flow the puddle toward the old stuff.

Lots and lots of small tacks help keep if from flaring apart as I work.

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

Bob, correct me if i wrong but any repairs in a floor or a structural member if not at the original weld seam must be fully welded and no braize used if you want it to pass an MOT test in the U.K.?

its been a long time since i did MOT work.

_________________
this story shall the good man teach his son,
and chrispin chrispian shall ne'er go by,
from this day to the end of the world.
but we in it shall be remembered.

Ugly day in SC. Lots of rain in the forecast, but it doesn't rain in the garage.
Finishing my coffee and headed out there in a few minutes... stay tuned for updates later today.

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

Long day in the garage today. I took a reasonable number of pics, so this will probably be two posts.
Started with the left front pan. I had cut a hole in it last weekend. I got out there this morning with a pick hammer and a punch to see of there were more thin spots, or if I could just put in a patch.


Turns out it's solid, so I can just put in a patch.
Held the floor pan up to the hole to mark.


A little trimming.


A little shaping. Had to bend the shape of the inner sill, then had to reshape the beaded area to turn it into a well instead of a bead.
Last order of business was a little hammering to get it to fit tight to the transition to the toe board.


Tacked in and started stitch welding.


A little more stich welding...


and finally welded in. Waaaaay easier than the other side.


Time to start a new post to show the left rear work as it progressed.

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

Now for the left rear. This is where the cancer was serious and I was scared. I can't take out all the rusty parts at once or I'll have to weld in a bunch of braces to keep the shell from moving about.

Time to cut out a floor. A narrow cutting blade on the angle grinder went through the rough cutting really quick.


The end of the heel board is rotten. This is what the rear subframe bolts to, the inner and outer sills weld to, and the shut panel and rear seat bottom rest on.
It needs to have the right dimensions or I'll suffer down the road when stuff starts going back together.
Lets get some working dimensions.




OK, lets cut out the rotten part. Man that's ugly


Now time to make a replacement. Transfer some dimensions, mark it out, look at it, mark some more, look at it some more.


start cutting and forming



Then weld it in. I used a straightedge to be sure I had it running in line with the rest of the heel board.


I won't bore you guys with the pics, but the outer rocker on that side looked like swiss cheese when I ground off the paint. I cut away part of it, then vacuumed out about 10 lbs of dirt, I think about an acre of NZ was in there.

time for another post, tired of scrolling to put pics in line.

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

Where was I? Oh yeah, rear floor pan.
With the heel board repaired I could get to work on the floor pan.

Test fit and put on some reference marks so I can line it up the same without using clecos.



I marked a line to bend t he pan, so it would have the same upward flare as stock, then did a little cutting and bending to make a doubler for the inner sill. Sorry, those pics were completely fuzzy, so I deleted them.

A couple more test fits, then tack it in place.


Fully tacked, stitching started.


Realized I was hungry, looked at the time and it was 6:15... time to call it a day and watch some Tiger football.

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

Heckuva game, too... Some "homefield advantage" calls for FSU... Tough one for Clemson.

My alma mater, NC State, played some private girl's school and won... Yawn... I didn't watch it.

Now would ya get back in the garage!!!

JDK

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JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom

Just for you JD, back in the garage today. Wasn't much in the mood for fully welding the LR pan, so started work on RR. O was hoping it was better than the LR... it wasn't

Whole pan cut out, left the companion box this time. Don't know if it saved time, but it sure made working on the inner sill a pain in the azz


Heel board looks pretty good, bottom of the inner sill is punky. Time to cut some more


Did I mention someone had welded on an oversill on the Right side? It was covering up a world of rust on the outer sill and jacking point. Cut off the oversill, outer sill, jacking point, and a small piece of the inner sill


Patched inner sill at the heel board and that section in the previous pic.


Then it was time to start fitting the floor pan... finally. Decided that clecos were much easier for getting it back in the same place multiple times. This went pretty much like the other side; bend it same shape as the original, trim to fit.


Then once it fits like it should, tack and stitch.


I accidentally touched the torch to my forearm rolling out from under the car.



Oh, and wile I was working on the car I was working on dinner. Spare ribs on the smoker


fast forward 2 hours... wrap them up in foil at this point and give them 2 more hours at 250 degrees.


Dinner. Spare ribs, fried okra, broccoli and cheese, kimchee

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

Well you had me till the Kimchee.

I'm not one for sour foods.

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mobilito ergo sum
I drive therefore I am

I can explain it to you,
but I can't understand it for you.

I usually do slaw, was lazy after being in the heat today.

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

Thanks for the update... Bet that arm hurts like a bitc.... Well, you know...

Ribs look good. Just smoke flavored, or did you baste 'em with something or marinate or whatever?

For the record, I LOVE kimchee!!!

Looks like a very good day, Bro!

JDK

_________________
JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom

Just smoke on the ribs, apple and oak. Turkey or chicken I brine overnight. A whole shoulder gets dry rub.

Beer thirty now

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216