Well, as you can see, work has started on the left side.
The one thing that is easy about working on a Mini, if you want to work on the rocker panels, you just lift up the car with one hand, and stick a 2x4 in with the other hand to hold it up higher!
Here is a picture of the car up on the 2x4's and the rocker panel and left "A" panel removed. you can also see where I had to hammer & dolly some previous damage out of the area below the left headlight. This car, being a Canadian model, did not have signals like most mini's. They were originall mounted to the big ugly bumpers with a round panel welded over the original signal holes. I have returned this car back to European standards.
Here are some closer pictures.
Wow, those tin-worms are thorough!
"Rockers? We don't need no stinkin' rockers!!"
The car only has a few rusty areas, but the areas that are rusty are REALLY rusty!
Here's with most of the rust cut out. A rust-converter has been sprayed into the tight areas that chemically turns rust into a black resin finish.
The original owner tried to fix the rockers (in and out) with about 4 tubes of caulking. Rubbery...YES, effective...NO!!!
Here's the new rocker test fit. It fits pretty good for aftermarket. Now I just have to put some new metal on the inside to make it purdy!!
The door hinge needed a little attention. It looks like the old one had beed torn out but after about 90 minuted of banging, grinding and welding, she's good as new.
Here I am checking the gaps around the door. It's good but not great. Some work will have to be done to make it perfect. This is the first time the driver's door has been on in years.
