Austin Mini 1963

miniman77 wrote:

Split-Lee wrote:

WE NEED UPDATES!!!!!

I dont think there will be anymore from Tom!!! I reckon he has a surprise up his sleeve!!!!

I haven't seen any pictures for ages or has he sold it and bought something ridiculously large like you??

~Lee

Split-Lee wrote:

miniman77 wrote:

Split-Lee wrote:

WE NEED UPDATES!!!!!

I dont think there will be anymore from Tom!!! I reckon he has a surprise up his sleeve!!!!

I haven't seen any pictures for ages or has he sold it and bought something ridiculously large like you??

~Lee

Naaaa!! He ain't that silly!!! I just think there may be reason to why he hasn't posted any updates lately!!!

well there is that hideous ambulance I bought . . . . funnily enough I have done a little bit of work on her recently, just been distracted with the clubman, I re built the speedo friday afternoon as sand had crept in there when the car was shot blasted. I will put some pictures up later which I took yesterday. Not sure weather or not I should underseal her or not??? any suggestions?? I have bought some waxoyl underseal so far but not applied it.

Tom

My P4 is not undersealed (I suspect that it was and that the underseal was removed shortly before I bought it). I sprayed the underside with waxoyl, and pressure wash and reapply every two years. Ive had the car for around ten years and until last March it lived outside and was used regularly summer and winter. So far there is no sign of corrosion.

The P6 still has the factory underseal. I removed some damaged patches last summer and applied the more solid waxoyl to make good. Obviously too soon to say whether it's effective, but if I were starting from scratch with a newly restored car (particularly a small one, as it cannot be sprayed on) that is probably what I would use as it does not set hard and so would seem to be unlikely to crack or flake off.

No underseal, don't do it, Tom you have been warned!!!!

Here are a few pics of the underneath as it is at the moment.








I just dont want it returning to this really!





I have bought the black underseal but it has added waxoyl so it doesn't set hard, am tempted to apply this. but am not 100% certain yet . . .

WOW leave it as it is. Its cleaner than my van! :O
Really impressed Tom, I have emailed somebody about this

Are you not having it standard with steels and that?

~Lee

Steel wheels? Yes I was going to, I need to have my set of 5 powder coated and then have the tyres fitted. But I will do all this later on after the car has been on the road for a while. I may go on the mini forum and see what they suggest.

Anyone else got any ideas?

Have you got a garage to keep it in Tom?
It also depends on how your gonna use it? Daily, show car? Etc?

~Lee

I have her garaged at the mo, but I know dad is itching to put his car in there so it is uncertain. It wont be a daily drive but you never know, I would rather be prepared for all eventuallitys thou.

DON'T UNDERSEAL IT!!!!

Assuming you've painted it straight onto the metal, rather than stonechip or something, unless it is going to be garaged and only ever driven in dry weather it has to have some protection underneath. The first chip in that paint and it will begin to rust. I certainly would not use a traditional underseal, or anything that sets hard, but in my opinion some form of non-setting protection is essential if you want to avoid another restoration a few years on.

Having said that, I realise that personal prejudices die hard (though I would argue that this one is well-founded) and it would be interesting to hear from anyone who has experience of long term use with only paint for underbody protection.

Loads of people on the Splitscreen van club run painted chassis with mixed resonses.

My inner arches are stonechip then painted and I think have held up well, will check this week though and report back. The rest of the chassis is black hammerite though.

~Lee

Its different for VWs. They don't go fast enough to throw up any stones so the underside will not get chipped.

Andy wrote:

Its different for VWs. They don't go fast enough to throw up any stones so the underside will not get chipped.

Your mad! Lol

The underside is red oxided then hammerited and then a coat or two of surf blue, I will underseal it once I have seen some reviews on the waxoyl underseal I have got, I will be taking out the rear subframe again to give that another coat of hammerite and to do the brakes anyway so will underseal it while its out in all the little nooks.

I have found some good feedback on the underseal I have on this mercedes forum

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=49946

Right, well, I have put a thin layer of the new waxoyl underseal which is a mix of the thick underseal and waxoyl so it doesnt set. I know it looked good but I couldnt bare to leave it. Anyway with one thing and another and a volvo I havent done too much to the car, I put the front Indicators in and the rear lights, re furbished the wiper motor and the rest of the wiper mechanism and started soundproofing the car, I still havent got round to taking out the rear subframe though! but I thought i would show you this sneaky peek of the car



Tom

looking realy good tom, impresive realy worth all that hard work

Hammerite I hate it covers the rust up but does not stop it corroding more and waxoil you need to use it anually unlike dinitrol only every 5 years
just my pennies worth
the grumpy one

So have you scrapped this yet Tom?

~Lee

Split-Lee wrote:

Andy wrote:

Its different for VWs. They don't go fast enough to throw up any stones so the underside will not get chipped.

Your mad! Lol

HAHAHAHA!

another, long overdue update, I took the rear subframe out, had it shotblasted and powdercoated!!!







And I went underneath the boot floor with the grinder then with the anti rust gooo and then after 2 primer coats, 2 stone chip paint and 2 or 3 coats of blue:



more to come . . . . .

Tom

First time I have really had the chance to read what you have done. Looks amazing. You've got to keep the momentum going to get this one on the road. I have been giving some thought top how I would want to finish the underside of the Austin and have sort of toyed with the idea of stonechip over rust proofer and primer. Your entry above is pointing me more in that direction. It looks superb. Anyway I've still got a chassis to finish first. Where did you get your subframe blasted? Ive decided to have my chassis blast cleaned and then I'll rustproof it and finish it chassis black rather than powder coating. Yours looks fantastic powdercoated but as mine is nearly 75 years old I want it to look more traditional.

Keep up the good work and get her on the road.
Regards

Steve F.

Thanks Steve! I had the subframe blasted over in deal, but i think there is, or was a place in st peters that does it which may be easier for you. I think for the size of it, your chassis would be better not powder coated, would cost a fortune if you could find some one with a big enough oven to do it.

It has been 8 years now since I bought the car and am not in any rush, I had planned to get her on the road earlier in the year but haven't had the time to work on her recently. Too many other projects!

Many thanks, Tom