Traveller Restoration

[Neil MG]

I really appreciate all the comments:

TvdWerf » Mon Mar 11, 2013 9:12 pm
this is not a restauration, but building a new car, using some old parts

Thanks, but that’s what I call a restoration making the car like new again. The amount of new parts depends on the state of the old ones…

jagnut66 » Mon Mar 11, 2013 9:16 pm
He's doing a very good job though, just shows what can be done, if you put your mind to it.

Cheers!

Wyliecoyote » Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:03 pm
Top work and great photos, I think we have equally rusty Minors!

Yes I saw your restoration thread and videos and we seem to be doing exactly the same things!

Sparticus » Thu Mar 14, 2013 9:49 am
This is mental..i'm so envious of your welding..and speed! It's the only thing holding me back from carrying on with mine

The secret is in the welding equipment. I have a Portamig see http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/ I also learned (still learning) how to weld from that site.

rogerowen » Thu Mar 14, 2013 10:41 am
I like the holding pegs - are they Frost ones?

Yes:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Intergrips-We ... 589af72d30

brucek » Thu Mar 14, 2013 10:43 am
Seriously neat welding - the car will be a stunner when completed. Enjoying the updates too. Thanks

I am not a welder although I am getting lots of practice. The secret is to have a small gap between panels, clean steel, a good welder with the right setting and a good helmet so you can see what you are doing. If only I always followed those simple rules...

[Morris Mike]

Just out of interest...what did you pay the seller of this car for all this work.?


Morris Mike

[Neil MG]

Just out of interest...what did you pay the seller of this car for all this work.? Morris Mike

Haha! Can you believe it drove into the shed and although it hadn't been on the road for 33 years it still ran pretty well and the brakes worked! I took a few of our club members down the (private) lane and back. A few patches and a bit of paint and it would have looked ok, passed an MOT and been back on the road like so many others on eBay! So at £450 I could have returned a tidy profit...

[Neil MG]

I welded on the chassis leg and put the crossmember in place to see how it fitted...[frame][/frame]

[Neil MG]

I prepared the area for the patch under the rear seat, I needed to make a small repair patch for the inner front corner area and that is already welded in...[frame][/frame]

[Neil MG]

I formed the depressions in the panel with a plate in the vice and a hammer and blunt chisel. The corners were done by hammering over an edge with a large socket. Not perfect, but should be invisible with a coat of stone chip...[frame][/frame]

[Neil MG]

Welded in...[frame][/frame]

[Neil MG]

and dressed...[frame][/frame]

[Neil MG]

The rear floor outer repair was then fitted...[frame][/frame]

[Daddybear1984]

This is great stuff, well done and keep it coming

[Sparticus]

ooo quick question if you please!!! Have you done th boxing plate bit that was behind the front lower aluminum panels? Just past the cab pillars? IF SO How?!

Thanks

[rogerowen]

This is great stuff, well done and keep it coming

Seconded! I'm about to start similar work and you photos are going to be a great help. One question - does it make practical sense to start repairing with the car in normal postion - doing the side work first and then rolling over to work on the underside?

[Neil MG]

ooo quick question if you please!!! Have you done th boxing plate bit that was behind the front lower aluminum panels? Just past the cab pillars? IF SO How?! Thanks

I have done the right hand side, there is a picture on page 4. I will take more pictures when I do the left side so you can see exactly.

This is great stuff, well done and keep it coming

Seconded! I'm about to start similar work and you photos are going to be a great help. One question - does it make practical sense to start repairing with the car in normal postion - doing the side work first and then rolling over to work on the underside?

Thanks and yes, that makes good sense. In my case that would have entailed doing the front inner wing a rear boxing plate extension/front spring hanger area first and then the sill sections. Otherwise there would have been nothing to weld the sill sections to. Better access to any repairs necessary inside the inner wing and to the spring hanger might be from underneath, but so long as you have some room to get under the car these can be finished when it's on its side.

[Neil MG]

Now for the rear inner wing. First the old inner wing was cut, drilled and ground out...[frame][/frame]

[Neil MG]

The bump stop support bracket was replaced...[frame][/frame]

[Neil MG]

The area prepared...[frame][/frame]

[Neil MG]

And the new panel welded on...[frame][/frame]

[rogerowen]

ooo quick question if you please!!! Have you done th boxing plate bit that was behind the front lower aluminum panels? Just past the cab pillars? IF SO How?! Thanks

I have done the right hand side, there is a picture on page 4. I will take more pictures when I do the left side so you can see exactly.

This is great stuff, well done and keep it coming

Seconded! I'm about to start similar work and you photos are going to be a great help. One question - does it make practical sense to start repairing with the car in normal postion - doing the side work first and then rolling over to work on the underside?

Thanks and yes, that makes good sense. In my case that would have entailed doing the front inner wing a rear boxing plate extension/front spring hanger area first and then the sill sections. Otherwise there would have been nothing to weld the sill sections to. Better access to any repairs necessary inside the inner wing and to the spring hanger might be from underneath, but so long as you have some room to get under the car these can be finished when it's on its side.

Thanks for that - nearly rolled the car first! So now I'll start with it upright on stands. I'm rolling with a Mr Grumpys rig so I've only got 90 degrees of roll each side, and an 8' wide garage (should be interesting rolling and sliding). Thanks for posting all your pictures - these will be invaluable to lots of us I'm sure!

[stag36587]

Impressive stuff but can I just point out one major flaw?

You are working on your own car , not mine

PS : what etch primer will you be using and is it compatible with filler and whatever topcoat you will choose?

[Neil MG]

I will use an epoxy etch primer directly onto the blasted and degreased metal immediately after blasting. That is compatible with all paints and fillers. Something like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pro-Spray-2K- ... 3a6762c745
Or this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Two-Pack-2K-E ... 4ab4b517fd

When I buy the (top coat) paint from the local supplier I will see if they have a good product that is competitively priced and if so will buy it there together with the other primer, etc.

Good paint is expensive, but compared to the cost of having a car sprayed...