LocostUSA.com

Learning how to build Lotus Seven replicas...together!
It is currently March 28, 2024, 4:19 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 304 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1 ... 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: Re: Too Busy's Mk I Mini
PostPosted: July 21, 2015, 9:31 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 19, 2012, 9:25 pm
Posts: 3365
Location: Summerville, SC
Mini update, sorry no pics

Saturday was another Solo event, this one close to my house at the North Charleston Convention Center. I was 17th in raw time in a field of 115 drivers.
I'm slowly learning to drive the little F500 and MORE SLOWLY overcoming my fear to hit the gas going INTO a turn. This car really only turns under power...

Oh, back to the Mini.
I talked with the body guy and agreed on a price. It's not cheap, but he's going to sand to bare metal, hammer, dolly, and smooth. He'll shoot it with a couple of coats of 2k primer and have it baby butt smooth and ready for paint. We'll decide during the process if he's going to shoot it in his garage or if I want to take it somewhere else.

With that in mind, Sunday was reassembly day.
Install the bonnet and spend an hour getting gaps right

Install driver's (right side) door and spend what felt like forever getting the gaps pretty darn close.
Move to left side and repeat...

Moved to the back of the car and drilled holes in my pretty new panel to mount the boot hinges. Got the boot lid on and fiddled for quite a while getting it centered in the opening.

Right about then I thought. Hmmm why haven't I put the roll bar back in? Tightening it down "could" change panel gaps.
So I bolted in the roll bar.

Then I went to check the gaps... Boot lid, all good. Bonnet, all good.
Driver's door.... WTH, I can't close the door! Passenger's door same thing
On closer inspection, I didn't account for the freakin door pockets when I built the roll bar.

Now I have a choice. I can make a cut through the black lines and weld in a dished patch panel to clear the bar or I can remove the door pockets completely
Attachment:
door 2.jpg


I'm leaning toward remove the door pockets.
I can cut them off with the zip wheel and smooth the edges in about 1/2 and hour. If I want to pretty it up I can install a carpeted flat panel about the same height and have a shallow door pocket.

Regardless, one more week of occasional small stuff and I hand it off to Justin for body prep.


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
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


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Too Busy's Mk I Mini
PostPosted: July 21, 2015, 9:49 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: June 12, 2012, 8:40 pm
Posts: 472
Location: Mount Airy, NC
The late model Minis had a flat door panel with a plastic door pocket.
Attachment:
IMG_0643.JPG

What I can't show you is the steel structure behind the panel. Instead of being open like the early model doors, the inside is fully covered. They did that to give the window crank, window tracks and door handle some place to hold on to. If you cut the companion box off, I mean door pocket, you'd have to add some structure back. I don't know why I said companion box. I don't know anybody that cut up his Mini's companion box. :wink:


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
My car viewtopic.php?f=37&t=16434
1930s Style Sports Car viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16888


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Too Busy's Mk I Mini
PostPosted: July 21, 2015, 1:18 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 19, 2012, 9:25 pm
Posts: 3365
Location: Summerville, SC
Yeah, the Mini doors are a bit flimsy in their current state and it will only get worse without the pocket.
I can always put in a reinforcing rib and weld on a skin.

Maybe something like this
(I don't photochop, so bear with me)

I flat panel, or maybe some rolled beads for more stiffness


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
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


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Too Busy's Mk I Mini
PostPosted: July 21, 2015, 2:08 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: August 10, 2007, 4:38 pm
Posts: 217
Location: Houston, TX
Nice build! I love Minis (so does the wife... would not take too much convincing to get one in the garage -- but it would be hers :)), so I can't wait to wade through all of these pages.

Regarding the door skins, I like the idea of a reinforcing rib (square tube split into a "v" would work) with a steel sheet over it. Rolled beads would help with oil canning if you can do that.

_________________
My Mazda BP-powered Triumph Spitfire project: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/1976-triumph-spitfire-50-v8-miata-18/54640/page1/


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Too Busy's Mk I Mini
PostPosted: July 21, 2015, 8:40 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 19, 2012, 9:25 pm
Posts: 3365
Location: Summerville, SC
A little surgery after work today
Busted out the zip wheel and went to work for about 20 minutes

Attachment:
door 4.jpg


Attachment:
door 5.jpg


The bottom of the frame on the right door is punky so I ordered a patch panel. I would have built it myself except for the intricate little step in the back in the middle of the curve.

The time required is a lot more than the $44 for the patch panel.

Tomorrow night after work I'll play with paper dolls to make the reinforcements and cover panels.


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
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


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Too Busy's Mk I Mini
PostPosted: July 24, 2015, 12:28 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 19, 2012, 9:25 pm
Posts: 3365
Location: Summerville, SC
Package arrived yesterday with the repair panel for the bottom of the right door... It didn't look quite right, so I headed to the garage.

Turns out they sent me a repair panel for roll up window door by mistake. :(

One quick email and the right part is on the way, but it won't be here to get the door done this weekend.

_________________
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


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Too Busy's Mk I Mini
PostPosted: July 25, 2015, 6:07 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 19, 2012, 9:25 pm
Posts: 3365
Location: Summerville, SC
A little work on the Mini today.
Stiffened the doors with a little bracing then made door panels. These will get carpeted or covered in vinyl then riveted to the door frame for extra stiffness of the doors.

The panels got some love from the English wheel in both directions so they concave match the shape of the door.

Attachment:
door 6.jpg

Attachment:
door 7.jpg


The little Horrible Fright bender wouldn't handle forming the 90 degree bend, so I clamped it to the trailer rail and hammered it over.

Last item was picking it up, setting it on the trailer and heading to the body guy's shop.
A 50% progress payment to get things going and I should pick it up right before we leave for Spain.


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
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


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Too Busy's Mk I Mini
PostPosted: July 25, 2015, 10:16 pm 
Offline

Joined: June 9, 2013, 9:15 pm
Posts: 37
Looks great. One thought, can you reach something in the bottom of the pocket?


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Too Busy's Mk I Mini
PostPosted: July 26, 2015, 5:25 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 19, 2012, 9:25 pm
Posts: 3365
Location: Summerville, SC
JohnHancock wrote:
Looks great. One thought, can you reach something in the bottom of the pocket?


Nope. It's going to get a little weather strip so (hopefully) nothing winds up down in there.

_________________
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


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Too Busy's Mk I Mini
PostPosted: August 17, 2015, 8:41 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 19, 2012, 9:25 pm
Posts: 3365
Location: Summerville, SC
Checked in with the body guy over the weekend. Work is progressing (a little more slowly than I hoped.. more on that at the end) and looking great. The bonnet and boot lids went down to bare metal and got a good bit of time with a hammer and dolly and a thin coat of bondo for fairing. After a couple of coats of primer / sealer they are smooth and straight.

The roof is done and the area around the rear lights was in process.

He thinks he'll be done in 2 more weekends. Bad news is 2 more weekends and I'll be getting stuff ready for our long walk in Spain for 2 weeks. I told him to take his time, I wouldn't get to touch it until September 19th.

Now about being behind schedule. His turbo'd Honda B20 went BOOOOOM. It was his primary transportation so he spent last weekend building a new motor. I looked at the busted bits and was impressed. bent rods, bent valves, and a hole in a piston almost big enough for a quarter to fit thru.

_________________
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


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Too Busy's Mk I Mini
PostPosted: September 23, 2015, 9:46 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 19, 2012, 9:25 pm
Posts: 3365
Location: Summerville, SC
LACK OF PROGRESS UPDATE

Got back from Spain and checked in on the Mini. I really don't see any solid progress in the past month. Starting to wonder if I made a mistake giving a friends son this job. Someone I didn't know, I'd be kicking his ass pretty hard right now. The bodywork not being done means I won't be taking it to Clemson for fottball tailgating.

Headed back over there later this week for a come to Jesus meeting.

_________________
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


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Too Busy's Mk I Mini
PostPosted: September 23, 2015, 10:54 am 
Offline
Mid-Engined Maniac

Joined: April 23, 2006, 8:26 pm
Posts: 6410
Location: SoCal
TooBusy wrote:
...
Driver's door.... WTH, I can't close the door! Passenger's door same thing...

Ahahaha. When I built my mid-engine Mini (Kimini) I used Mk1 steel doors. One fun thing I discovered is that they vary in size! One was about 1/4" taller than the other and had to be cut down. Fun times.

_________________
Midlana book: Build this mid-engine Locost!, http://midlana.com/stuff/book/
Kimini book: Designing mid-engine cars using FWD drivetrains
Both available from https://www.lulu.com/


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Too Busy's Mk I Mini
PostPosted: September 23, 2015, 12:12 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 10, 2010, 10:26 am
Posts: 2032
Location: Guadalupe, CA
TooBusy wrote:
LACK OF PROGRESS UPDATE

Got back from Spain and checked in on the Mini. I really don't see any solid progress in the past month. Starting to wonder if I made a mistake giving a friends son this job. Someone I didn't know, I'd be kicking his ass pretty hard right now. The bodywork not being done means I won't be taking it to Clemson for fottball tailgating.

Headed back over there later this week for a come to Jesus meeting.



Surely frustrating.. I made a huge mistake having a friend's son dog sit/ house sit for us years ago- obviously a different scenario, but the result was the same; Do I ream this kid for his absolute lack of work ethic?!? (house was FULL of doggy poop/pee upon our return, and we had two very stressed doggies) :x . Even having said that, I must say that despite the delay, I still think you've taken the right path on having someone else do your body and paint... I just 'lost' an entire summer to the work, and in the big picture it would have been nice to have been doing some other aspect of the project that I find more interesting/rewarding..

Hopefully your guy gets a fire lit under him and wraps this up for you soon..


--ccrunner

_________________
Dean

1972 Honda N600 Restomod "ccrunner's N600 VFR800 repower"

1963 Volvo P1800 Restomod
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

1959 Berkeley SE492 Restomod...
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19397

"ccrunner's 1960 MGA coupe Restomod" found on MGExp.com


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Too Busy's Mk I Mini
PostPosted: September 27, 2015, 9:06 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 19, 2012, 9:25 pm
Posts: 3365
Location: Summerville, SC
Talked with Justin yesterday about the Mini. He said he's started a new job and is working 6 days a week and not getting hardly any time to work on the Mini. The car is a little less than 1/2 done, but what is done is slick as a baby's butt.

He offered to bring it back and return my deposit. Or have it done and ready for paint in 6 weeks. 6 weeks from now, if it isn't finished, no final payment due.

I decided to give him a chance to finish. That means I won't be taking it tailgating this fall. :cry:

Spending the new few weekends busting ass on the 7

_________________
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


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Too Busy's Mk I Mini
PostPosted: February 1, 2016, 3:21 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 19, 2012, 9:25 pm
Posts: 3365
Location: Summerville, SC
Mini update

Car is back from Justin

_________________
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


Last edited by TooBusy on June 30, 2016, 1:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 304 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1 ... 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21  Next

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 19 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
cron
POWERED_BY