Hi everyone, I've posted on here a few times about some project woes I've had, along with some low moments and terrible thoughts.
The short of it is, my first car was a 850 sedan that i got for $500 and then dropped a $3500 ebay second hand 1360 into and drove for a while before being told by my parents to get rid of it, which i did and then about 2 years later tracked it down and purchased it back absolute trashed. I then got it back on the road and fell in love with the little guy again, but circumstances changed and i had to move away and couldn't take my little guy with me, when i finally returned he had been left in the back yard of my parents for 2 years in long grass and the body was so rusted that opening the doors resulted in some serious sag and then near impossibility of closing them.

I decided I would re shell my mini and found a cheapish 'fully restored' body in primer which i purchased for more money than i care to admit now, which then went in the shed for a further 18 month before i got to working on it, which first i rebuilt the subframes and got an 1100 motor going for it that was fully rebuilt (as i wanted to do some further work on my 1360) and then came into some financial issues and had to part out almost everything I had but i kept this shell and my 1360.
fast forward another 12-18months and i get my old subframes and restore them also and start working on this body as time in primer has left it now with surface rust comming though and i start discovering some terrible repairs, huge mounds of body filler, bad welds, panels riveted together then boddy filler covered ect. so i began trying to correct these and have fixed around 3/4 of the bad repairs but am running on empty, no motivation and no love really left anymore then the big one hit. . . the roof had been replaced and the windsheild gap is 20mm too tall and then also the doors has a 15mm gap at the top edge. . im so much at a loss, Its been since 2009 since I have actually had a mini on the road and driving. I even got a tattoo of my original mini, it really means that much too me, yet im struggling.

I managed to get a new rusted out shell and a half another from a really nice and helpful guy local to me, but i dunno where to go from here, do i just body fill whats left on my shell, cut the A pillars and then paint it up and know its a bucket of bolts and then save up to try and get this other shell repaired? or what do I do? I have sunk enough money into minis since 2009 that i could buy a genuine cooper S but all i have to sow for it is rusty bent out of shape minis and old damaged parts now.

I have entered int he rylestone classic for 2018 as my deadline, but i will not be able to afford to buy another mini as a whole car, and there is no budget for another shell, the last of my money will have to go towards buying paint so i can attempt a home paint job.

What do I do guys? I'm no mechanic, just a tinkerer, I am an IT Geek who maintenance systems all day, my mechanical knowledge is enough to do engine swaps and services and general repairs following manuals, but i got a welder, no idea how to use it (i can enlist my uncles help for those tasks though) but i just don't know what to do. . . .

I keep looking for a shell that is already painted in some form that i can just drop all my gear into and go, but minis are getting to expensive for me to afford now, i mean when i first got mine you could get running registered minis for $2G easily. . now i need 6K to buy a shell in primer that still needs lots of repairs?

I need some motivation and help, nothing brings a smile to your face like driving a mini, but right now i just get depressed looking at my pile of parts and cant find any motivation to even attempt work on it now, last thing i did was try and hang the passenger door but the hinges wouldn't even line up

Leroy. . . .

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1967 Mini Deluxe bucket of rust and mismatched parts powered by a 1360cc and a destroyed gearbox missing second gear

I got rolled on a body job with my grandads mazda 808. I tried to recover, but i was out of love. I sold it all and got a little money back but nowhere near what id spent. But my mental health was shot then. Now im past that and all i can say is getting rid of it was the right idea. Bin the shell. Cut what you want and bin it. You could probably get a running clubby for less than 6 then change what you want. You won't ever get money back from cars.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

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http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=93352

If I'm carrying on like a pork-chop, I'm having a great time.

If I go very quiet there's a very good chance I broke something.

Regardless of what you can do to your own car I'd definitely recommend still coming on the Rylstone trip. I'm sure someone could do with a navigator or you can bring your other car. Seeing that many minis at once in the same place, and also cruising along the road is a great experience!

Getting stuck in the project blackhole can be a very hard place to be.

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I think your parents need a stern talking to...

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1972 Mk3 Mini 1000, 1150cc supercharged.
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=95872

Leroy

Cut your losses and sell what you have and start again...including the 1360...don't bin anything...all Mini bits are useful or worth something to someone...

I you are not in a Mini club, join one...then offer your IT services for assistance with finding and doing some mechanical work on a decent project that you can get on the road without too much trouble...use your "paint" budget to get it up to speed mechanically (much more important)

Above all, keep on keeping on...and keep your sense of humour

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"Show me the Mini!"

Leroy,

Keep looking around for another shell, something will come up for sure. Just don't panic & take your time.
I have spent the last 16 years restoring a Cooper, so consider it a long term proposition.
As for the past money, relax and remember that at least you haven't seen it disappear on fast women & slow horses.

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1967 Cooper S - new front bearings to do.
1965 Cooper S shell - Slow progress. No time or money!
1966 Deluxe- next rustoration!
Mk 2 & XJ6 Jags. Less said the better.

Leroy,
Probably a bit late, given your present state. But the problem you had with fitting the doors maybe done to the wrong hinge being fitted in the wrong position. All four hinges are marked and have their own position. Eg. LL, UL, for lower left and upper left etc etc.

save up and buy something in sound, original condition... there are plenty around but you've gotta be smart about what you look for and where you look. Joining the QLD mini club is good advice

I put this one up as an EOI a couple of years ago and didn't get any bites. It's not especially straight, but no rust and very sweet to drive

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Leroy hang in there i have 7 empty log books my 65 mini panel van has been sitting in my garage in pieces for all that time .we came home from a run to Geelong with me pulling back on the steering wheel as the spline had let go ,we did the pinch bolt up as tight as possible.I cracked it with the car promised to sell it ,shut the garage for over a year.

but then i saw reason started to resurrect the car had a bit of really crap years ,but am now back on track.the car has a whole new floor a new steering rack and lot of replacement parts.and hopefully by the end of this year with the help of great friends (mini orientated )will be back.
as others have said save what you can from what you have keep your eyes and ears open there are bodies ,shells and occasionally complete cars out there at affordable prices ,
keep the faith , and as we all know once the mini bug bites you are hooked for life

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65 panel van Sprog
73 panel van Iggy

Nice one

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1965 Morris 850
1966 Morris Mini Minor
1967 Morris Cooper 'S'
1977 Leyland LS

Don't buy a Mini unless you know what you are doing ,dozens have been SCRAPPED because the owners don't have a clue how to fix them, also they don't have the money to do a good job. Save yourself some heartache. Buy A car you can drive ford or Holden they are easy to work on .