How Do You Solve A Problem??

[charlie_mini]

How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria??
This is what i've decided to name my next project! seen i'm only a day away from an MOT i'm aiming to have the car back to mine at some point in the next week or so (as soon as i'm allowed!)
basically this car has been a bit of a problem since we first found out about it, originally it was bought by goz not listening to me tell him not to get a mini without an mot, then when he realised how much it takes to get an mot (beleive me i do after the last 7 weeks now!) he decided it was too much work for him and offered it to me.
now her story is changing and i'm going to basically re-build her and change her from a bit of a mess to a shiny new mini! the idea at the mo is that jen can drive her to save the problems she has car sharing with her dad, but once this one is finished i may have to take charlie off the road again (to avoid more MOT trauma) and drive maria while i restore charlie ready for the italian job (we're goin on this when the car is up to it! - watch this space tho)
this is how she is at the moment; you'll all have to wait and see how she turns out but i've got a definate idea of how it will end up looking (helped along by jen saying - it has to look like this....!)
http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/IMG116.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/IMG117.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/IMG118.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/IMG119.JPG

[Siano :)]

marvelous stuff!! hehe once maria's gone, and sians sold dads stuff outa tha garage on ebay, means sian can create sum space for MISTY wahoooo!! almost progress lol!!! Hope she turn into a lil beauty for ya eric (and 4 u too jen :) )!!!!

[Gr4H4m]

did Charlie pass???? Looks like you are going to have a lot on your plate mate.... can't wait to see the pics during the resto

[charlie_mini]

charlie's got a provisional pass, she's been in the garage, they've checked everything over but one of the bits along the sill were i've welded they had marked sayin it needed more, but by the time it got home the rain had washed that mark off so missed it, they are doing it first thing tomorrow then signing the form as far as i know..... :D about time :)

[Gr4H4m]

I hope all goes well...

[moddinmad]

dont wel all. haha:p

[TONYELF]

Sounds as if its a very "picky" garage. When you get the CERT let everyone know which garage so we can boycot it:D

[moddinmad]

i wudnt boycot it tony there very reasonable on engine rebuilds and dont cost a bomb either, they know wot they talkin bout...

[TONYELF]

Gerroff! onest? Seems to me they wanted to do the work and then charge the bloody earth.Moral, never send your Mum to have a car MOT'd aga:D in !!!!!!!!!!!

[@lex]

[QUOTE=charlie_mini;7866]
restore charlie ready for the italian job (we're goin on this when the car is up to it! - watch this space tho)

the i job looks like a fantastic event. probably the ultimate, in my opinion and it raises money for a really good cause. do you recon on attending this years event or next ?

cheers

[charlie_mini]

the only thing holding us back is
1. charlie's condition, hopefully i'll be able to sort this once maria is on the road.
2. jen needs to get 2 weeks off uni to come with me, all depends on her teaching placements.
but i'm aiming for 'as soon as possible' flying the miniaddicts banner across europe!

[@lex]

yeh, charlie would have to be tip top for the journey.... but what an adventure it would be.
have you got any sponsors lined up.
i have been hinting to my boss for a while now, but have'nt had a bite yet...... and hey if jen can't get the time off (her study's should come first), i think i could find someone to balance the car up for you. :D

cheers

[moddinmad]

yeah me ha ha. altho id be going anyway in my car:p he he

[charlie_mini]

got a nice long shopping list planned! got quite a few bits that i'm not going to need that are on the car now, need to make some space for what i've got in mind! sticking to a nice classic cooper stylee look; adn hoping to have it finished before the end of the summer so i can have a choice what car we go to shows in. hopefully by the time she is finished she could be well on the way to concours.
Never won anything ever so would be nice to win at least 1 prize! :D

[moddinmad]

but 1st u need some pennies haha

[charlie_mini]

very true! not getting any parts till at least the end of february! gonna spend plenty of time stripping the car down, grind the front off, strip the insides down, take the sub frames off, tidy them up and replace them if they're gone, clean the engine up....
then think about buying parts! :D

[TONYELF]

very true! not getting any parts till at least the end of february! gonna spend plenty of time stripping the car down, grind the front off, strip the insides down, take the sub frames off, tidy them up and replace them if they're gone, clean the engine up....
then think about buying parts! :D

Someone I know isn't going to be Mummys favourite boy soon LOL!:D

[moddinmad]

and its not me for a change hahahahahahahaha :D

[charlie_mini]

Well thanks very much to Siano, Dean and Merv51, Maria made her journey from northop to my house today, having not really seen much of her for the last few months! To try and get her onto the driveway (after taking pics and a few other bits and peices) i tried to start her, and.... shocking! she didn't start! we put petrol in, cleaned the carb and charged a battery, (even tried jump starting her!) but after standing for a while she decided not to turn over properly! think this is a fueling issue tho as with my head under the little bonnet, couldnt smell any fuel getting through and spraying WD into the carb she caught ran for 3secs and stopped again. thats something i'll address a little later on though!
http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/maria27-1-07.jpg
I've started cleaning and de-gunking the engine (no before pics but the after ones coming soon!) thought if i was going to be spending time on it i didn't want to have my hand on the sludge that coated the engine! I've also started lining panels up to re-build the front! as you can see from the pics she needs plenty of work on the front end, the shopping list so far is:
2xfront wings, front panel, scuttle, repair the hole in the upper windscreen frame, new grille and bonnet, new sills (inner and outer) all round, fully renovated brake lines (with some pretty sxy steel overbraid pipes too! ) full new bushes, mounts, probably rear subframe, new interior - dash, seats, carpets, mats, seatbelts, new rear lights (back to standard so if anyone fancies swapping their standard lenses for some clear lenses - nothing wrong with them, just not what i want for the project!) just let me know! going to keep everyone up to date but for now here's some pics!
cheers!
http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/maria27-1-07front.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/maria27-1-07front2.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/ome-coming.png

[TONYELF]

VEG ? Looks like a cabbage in the gutter ! Good luck with Maria.... Eric:)

[charlie_mini]

Well, got the last few days off and spent them starting project maria.....
what you cant see from these pictures is the car has been well and truly bodged! i took the whole front end (front panel, both front wings, both A panels) off with my bare hands! at some point in its history its had a whole new front end thats been stuck on with a combination of epoxy resin, fibre glass and filler! no weld! little bit dodgy! also taken off the drivers side door and hanging panel - the door handing panel was ok but everything around it has been bodged at some point! found plenty of real metal stuck on with filler and wax-oiled over!!
i just hope the guy who had the car before didn't pay real money to a garage for this 'work' he was very badly ripped off!
jacked up the car to un-bolt the front subframe and the jacking points bent the floors! decided i wasn't going back under the car after that and angle ground the bolts off from within the footwells.

on the + side. the bulkhead that looked rusted has cleaned up ok and the rusty looking front subframe as completely solid and was only road muck making it look worse than it is! some pictures to come but as it is tonight the car is up on tyres and blocks of wood (but very secure!) it has no windscreen or interior in it, everything from the A-panel forwards has been removed, only the brake/clutch master cylinders are still in place, all wires and everything else has been removed. start of a major project!

next step is to clean and tidy up the shell and clear away the rust! and to tidy up the engine and subframe so they look good as new!

:D:D

[charlie_mini]

by the way, i found out why the alarm made the car 'talk to its self!' were the main battery cable was threaded thru the front subframe, the battery cable had burned away and would have been shorting majorly! :D time for a new battery cable (and probly going to be sent thru the cabin rather than under the car!)

[TONYELF]

Very daunting stripping a mini down is'nt it? Your wondering at each stage "what on earth am I going to weld the new bits to?" Good luck with that M8 wheres the foto of your nude mini?:D

[charlie_mini]

will be coming soon, i've taken them, just a case of getting them off the camera and on to here! :D

[charlie_mini]

every peice i've taken off i've wondered why on earth anyone thought filler and superglue was a good idea to stick the panel on with!!
if it was a good idea i'm sure rover would have done it rather than having expensive skilled workers to weld etc, they could have had a couple of school kids to stick the panels on with pritstick! :D

[Deano]

expensive skilled workers and rover in one sentence :rolleyes: not heard that before lol

[charlie_mini]

the workers were fine weren't they?? it was just rovers cost cutting excersises like making panels out of metal reclaimed from sunken ships and leaving the unpainted cars out in the rain before going to paintshop!

[TONYELF]

Sunken ships? That's a new one to me! I've always said that toyota's and others were made of recycled Coke cans! Thats why the metal is so soft and rusts fast?:D

[charlie_mini]

this is project maria on friday morning after taking the front end off, as of tonight the front subframe is removed, the front subframe mounts in the footwells were corroded but apart from that not looking too bad.
Also wire brushed the bulkhead and to my surprise it wasn't half as bad as it looked! :D:D
http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/Maria_stripdown.jpg

[Siano :)]

keep up the good work eki!! :D looks like ya winning so far!! u need to remove or clean thoses seats tho that nasty mould on them can make u ill :mad:

[charlie_mini]

keep up the good work eki!! :D looks like ya winning so far!! u need to remove or clean thoses seats tho that nasty mould on them can make u ill :mad:

1 is already out, just not got to the other one just yet! been having a bit of a problem getting the driveshafts off the front subframe! the hub nuts and ball joints just dont wanna come off! getting rid of those seats anyways! they're minging! just going to use them to support the car when i tip it up on its side to sort the underneath out! :D

[charlie_mini]

look on the bright side siano, you've got all this to come with misty! :D it'll be great fun! i've learned loads just by getting maria to this stage! all you need is an angle grinder and sadistic nature, the hard part is knowing were to stop! before the car bends in half coz you've cut all its strength out of it!;)

[moddinmad]

all you need is an angle grinder and sadistic nature, the hard part is knowing were to stop!

shes half way there ;)

[charlie_mini]

just needs an angle grinder now :D:D:D

[Siano :)]

i'll show u sadistic lol!!! charming the pair of ya!!! i really want to start playin but still no space in my garage :mad: and sids just cost me a fair few pennys to get it thru its MOT!! :rolleyes:

[charlie_mini]

that £££ could have been much better spent on misty! :D bloody paxos! bodge it and flog it! :D

[Gr4H4m]

looks like good progress.....

[Siano :)]

that £££ could have been much better spent on misty! :D bloody paxos! bodge it and flog it! :D

as much as i need the excercise i h8 public transoort even if i do get freebies off daddy hehe and dispise wlkin home from work at nite at midnite so need a brum brum, its scary sids (paxo) is growing on me!! n misty aint gna be done that quick :rolleyes:

[charlie_mini]

if you get sid 12months MOT, bit of tax and get that door sorted, you could sell the paxo for £800-£1000 and joe is selling a mk1 ready to go for £1000 even if its just till misty rolls again!??
:D
http://www.miniaddicts.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=10109#post10109

[Siano :)]

will never get a grand for the paxo, doors getting sorted soon, hehe looking at metros, gta be an a series tho (as deano tells me) good practice for me engine hehe!! :D

[charlie_mini]

yeah and try for a 1275 so you can just swop the engines out (if misty is only a 998?)

[Siano :)]

misty is a 998, but not running an deans already robbed stuff from her but hopefully have an engine lined up for her but thats secret hehe :D

[charlie_mini]

at last i feel that after the last few days of very slow progress (and very very stiff castle hub nuts) the engine is finally off the front subframe and ready for them both to be sorted out a little! also pay day is just around the corner so that means i am perfectly entitled to buy some new panels from m&m's at the weekend - mainly 2 front floors, 2 fitch's and 1/2 other small bits for the time being (if anyone needs anything this weekend let me know!) Decided its better to put some metal back into the shell before i cut any more off!
I'm so pleased the engine is finally off the subframe, like i've already said the subframe has up to 18 years worth of road gunk and nastyness! (if its never been changed as front subframes dont tend to rust anywere near as much as the rear ones!) on the whole it looks good and were i gave a quick wire brush to (on the back edge so you cant see it here!) i gave a quick spray with fresh black hammerite and it looks the dogs danglies and good as new!

the way its looking at the moment is that the engine is staying on the workbench for now while it is cleaned, painted and detailed. it runs well from what i've seen but i've been looking towards the minifilms dvd of a 1380 builder and might (depending on time and £££) get the dvd and use it as a guide to re-condition the engine before final re-fitting! (always an option! )
for now tho till next weekend when anything else interesting happens, here's maria at 9pm tonight!
cheers
http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/998-justout.jpg
the 998 lump finally removed (without the aid of an engine crane - to our cost! it was heavier than it looked!)
http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/bulkhead1.jpg
marias bulkhead, stripped down and given a quick coat of zinc primer to stop more rust attacking while she's in this state!
http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/fitch1.jpg
the fitch panel after i cut away all the bodged work and filler - not much left!!!!
http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/frontsub.jpg
the front subframe- ready for a tidy up and refresh! new brake lines are waiting to go on and i got almost a complete set of poly bushes of a guy i work with who had them left over after his last mini 2 years ago!

[Siano :)]

:cool: looking great keep up the good work :)

[Deano]

:eek: Cricky you have been busy nice to see you getting stuck in mate

[Gr4H4m]

well done mate nice work

[charlie_mini]

not posted any pics of maria for a while so here's how i'm getting on,
so far she's had:

new drivers door step
drivers door hanging post
drivers side fitch
drivers floorpan
quite a bit of patching up and filling little holes
front subframe tidied up
new brake pipes fitted on the front subframehttp://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/bulkhead-090407.jpg
Maria's bulkhead with all the bumps/ rust flattened down and filled.

http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/driversfloorthenandnow.jpg
The Floorpan before and now.

http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/fitch090407.jpg
drivers side door hanging post and fitch panel then and now

http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/subframe-090407.jpg
Front subframe cleaned up with new brake lines fitted. Also the cleaned up / painted hubs on the suspension turrets with new ball joints

Looking much better than it was tho!!

[Gr4H4m]

nice job eric...

[charlie_mini]

Been out doing the mini again the last few days.... here's some more pics;
drivers footwell is now smoothed in (as much as it needs to be, will be mainly hidden by the sound deadening once thats in...) passenger footwell is in.. and so is the passenger fitch panel. and the drivers side rear part of the inner sill is in too... everything has been red-oxided untill i ran out of paint! (will get some more tomorrow!)
I've also finished tidying the bulkhead up ready for its (hopefully!) final coat of paint so i can put the scuttle panel on!
She still needs a passenger side inner sill on the back edge putting on and the passenger door step needs some attention - these are on my shopping list for himley!
http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/passengerfitch-090407.jpg
Passenger fitch panel before....
http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/Maria-21-04-07006.jpg
The Fitch Now

http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/passengerfitch090407.jpg
The passenger floor and expanding foam filled inner sill...
http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/Maria-21-04-07009.jpg

[charlie_mini]

both new floor pans given a coat of red oxide and smoothed in....

http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/Maria-21-04-07001.jpg

The Bulkhead now smooth and ready for paint....
http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/Maria-21-04-07005.jpg

Cheers
:D

[@lex]

making great progress there eric. very well done ! cheers

[charlie_mini]

Not been doing too much with project maria for the last few weeks, got some top arm pins and some other bits and bobs from the last few shows but since my last pics all i've done is fit the scuttle panel.

I've also more or less finished putting the front subframe back together complete with new bearings, ball joints mounts and poly bushes. so i decided to trial fit everything so far to make sure the car hadn't distorted too much, this is what it looks like at the moment!

http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/Maria-21-05-07022.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/Maria-21-05-0703.jpg


What's the biggest size wheel you can practically fit to a mini?? these are the 17s i used to have on my corsa! they stand up but there's no hub behind this and i dont' think id have a very good turning circle!

http://www.geocities.com/e_lonsdale/maria/Maria_on_17s.jpg

cheers

[TONYELF]

Looks good M8 Keep up the good work!

[Gr4H4m]

loads of work there very nice.

[charlie_mini]

after a good year or so off this thread i thought i'd resurect it as the project is still ongoing and i seem to have come on leaps and bounds this year!
take a look back to the beginning of the thread to see how the project started off all that time ago....

now time for the updates-.....
2008 was quite a slow year in terms of progress with maria, did a bit at the start of the year but most of the time was taken up with charlie's 1330, the fiesta being generally pants and working further away - coupled with the poor weather i didnt get too much sorted!
on the plus side 2009 seems to be much better.
the progess so far is:
(panels)
2x front inner wings replaced
2xfront wings replaced
2xfitch panels
2x A panels
2x floorpans
2x inner sills
2x Outer Sills (1xinner & outer yet to fit!)
1x Scuttle Panel
1x Front Panel
Bonnet Repaired
Roof Repaired
2x Rear quarters repaired
2x rear subframe mounts replaced
New rear subframe (1/2 built!)
1/2 new boot floor
bootlid repaired

other
front subframe and all mechanics cleaned and painted (however some need touching up after being sat in wet boxes for a year - oh the joys of a leaky roof!)
i've abandoned the 998 as the pistons had rusted after again bein put in a box that flooded! now a nicely rebuilt 1330 - hopefully with the dizzy working this time!

the floors are almost sorted and the car is up on its side at the moment, been seam sealing the underside and just finished stone guarding it (pics by the end of the week!)
for now here's some updated pics of how she's gettin on - mainly the horrors i've found! :)

[charlie_mini]

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/IMAGE_106.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/IMAGE_143.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/IMAGE_145.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/IMAGE_154.jpg

[charlie_mini]

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/IMAGE_066.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/IMAGE_272.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/DSCF1670.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/DSCF1676.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/DSCF1716.jpg


http://s463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/


cheers
eric

[charlie_mini]

Still plodding along with maria! :)
had another night out with maria last night seen charlie is going again now (clutch and battery probs!)
the engine bay is sortof sorted, front sub is built and installed and she's got one hub fitted now, (need to get rid of the rubbish on the other side before i can do that one! fitted the engine in too, not fitted to work as will have to come out for painting the engine bay but for now its out of my way and in place...., she's starting to resemble a real car again now!
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/IMG_0347.jpg
with some of the front fixings in place too....
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/IMG_0348.jpg

:)

[charlie_mini]

oh yea i forgot to post these too, have been busy with her over the last few months....

passenger side new floorpan & outersill - all stonechipped and undersealed....

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/Picture055-1.jpg

new subframe mounting panel...

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/Picture053.jpg

new rear subframe..

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/Picture063.jpg

passenger floorpan and repair section under crossmember- can also see new drivers side floorpan..

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/Picture047.jpg

drivers side outersill , floor, fitch...
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/Picture044.jpg

[Deano]

Nice one mate looking good:)

[charlie_mini]

still plodding along with this project! :) but with renewed enthusiasm since the IMM (like i need a reason!)
seen we had a bit of a sunny day on saturday when 1/2 of the club were sunning themselves at Tatton Park, i was out taking the chance while jen was watching 6hrs of trash tv (so glad i'm not a girl! - ;))
yanked the engine out of maria (it was only resting in place to get it off the floor! and finally i've given maria the 1st taste of her future colour! no more nasty 'jet black' black now!

Now the engine bay is my favourite bit if any car - especially tidy minis done to show off! and the paintwork is ok here! not perfect, as there are still the odd imperfection or 10, but most of these will be covered when the bulkhead furniture (master cyls, wires etc) are put back in...
but im happy with it,
-and its got 3 coats of laquer on it - after charlie not getting enough! :)

heres the couple of pics!

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/IMG_0401.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/IMG_0402.jpg
above are after the first colour coat....
below are after 3 colour and 3 laquer
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/IMG_0403.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/IMG_0404.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/IMG_0405.jpg

the engine is also now bolted firmly in place, sorting the CV boots on the driveshafts this week - once i find the box they're in! then she'll be good to roll!

more next week.....
cheers

[TONYELF]

looking nice there Ecky!

[Deano]

Nice one mate :)

[charlie_mini]

on a roll with maria now... had too much workin on me computer today and my eyes needed a rest... so about 7.30 i went out to maria to just potter round and see what i got done... must of hit a completely different time zone, didn't realise but didnt come in till 11.45!
but for my wares i have carried on plodding along... tonight i've....
-bolted in the seat mounts...
-fitted the dash lower rail & heater
-dug out the carrier bag of wiring loom, cleaned most of it, rebound it in black tape and threadded it to the right places...
-fitted the tierods
- fitted the master cylinders for the clutch & brakes, and had great fun with the pipes! :)
- and cleaned & painted the blanking plate for the bulkhead & wires

more pics....

dynamat on the inside of the bulkhead
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/IMG_0417.jpg

seat brackets - (dead excitin!)
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/IMG_0418.jpg

master cylinders;
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/IMG_0421.jpg

the wiring coming thru the bulkhead;
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/IMG_0423.jpg

all bound up and neat!
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/IMG_0428.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/IMG_0430.jpg

cheers

[sammyb]

ive got a right charlie at home too !!!! with a reg like yours turnip might be a good name" just joking" Have recently finished welding up floor pans sills wings door pillars boot floor and sub mounting points... 3 years in the making .er in doors says i never seem to finish anything.. any ideas on an engine cheap cheap options ,,,

[KAYE (Mrs Jones)]

Lookin good ek :)

[Gr4H4m]

nice one.

[charlie_mini]

another timely update, i've spent the last couple of evenings out with maria and some time online ordering her parts too! :) doesnt' seem like ive made much progress but its always the details that take the time. so far since the last proper update i've:
- cleaned, painted, regreased and fitted new CV boots (inner and outer) to the drive shafts,
-fitted the driveshafts
-bolted the engine in with nice new engine mounts
-fitted the top engine steady with nice new bushes
-rear subframe mounts are now fitted after re-drilling the bolt holes through the new floor
-front wiring loom seems complete and both headlights and indicators are fitted and wired up (tho will be removed for painting)
- the wings have been sanded again to get rid of the thin layer of rust on them (the joys of not having a garage!)
- heater and the internal hoses are fitted - engine side still need to be completed
- rod change selector box is fitted and attached to the diff ready to go
- new rod change rubbers fitted
- 'New' wheels and tyres sourced ready to go on once i've got some brakes on her!

in the next couple of weeks i should have a couple of nice boxes turning up at my house and work and $$ permitting she should be looking quite a bit different by my next update and pics;
coming in the next couple of weeks will be: (parts either ordered or getting @ bingley hall -jan31st)

- front to back brakelines fitted (front and rear subframes already complete, just needs linking
- fuel lines front to rear ( copper pipe ordered)
- new brakes front and rear
- new slave cylinders attached to backing plates on rear brakes
- new suspension dampers to be fitted
- wheels to be fitted
- exhaust to be fitted
- rear wiring loom sections to be connected to main loom
- ** PAINT!!! :):) ***
- windows :)
i cant wait now! :)
cheers

[RSP]

Excellent work, do not loose heart:), you have been busy:D.

[charlie_mini]

just thought i'd update a couple of pics on here seen its been a good few months since i have... since last update i've not made loads of progress with her.. but i have almost finished painting her! doors/boot/bonnet still need to be sorted but ill do them on the next hot sunny weekend we get! All in all she's not come out too bad considering she's bin painted in the carport by an amature with a £30 spray gun... since painting i've started putting bits back on... ££ is now the major hurdle to get the bits she needs to get her on the road!

Painting the Black Roof

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/bb5d963d.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/Maria-2010019.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/Maria-2010030.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/Maria-2010017.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/Maria-2010014.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/Maria-2010013.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/Maria-2010009.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/Maria-2010012.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/Maria-2010011.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/e_lonsdale/Maria%20Project/Maria-2010004.jpg

[Mrs RSP]

After three years of waiting....... :eek:;)
when are we going to meet her?? :D
looking good.

[charlie_mini]

be a while yet.. the bits i'm puttin back on now i've bought over the last few years, but still needs loads of new bits :(

[Deano]

nice one mate keep us posted:)

[RSP]

Spot on there mate.