Are there specific modern PPG paint codes that map to the original Mini colors? Alternatively are there specific PPG mixing codes for those colors? My body work is done (I need to post pics) and the shell is about to be painted but my paint guy can not find a mapping in the PPG catalog for Crystal White. I see plenty of people posting they can easily get the correct paint from local suppliers in AU but I can't believe there isn't some type of mixing code that could be used for those colors anywhere PPG paints are sold. Thanks!

viperrwk

OK let me know if I've got this right...

If I need a color from this list:

http://www.ausmini.com/forums/download/ ... &mode=view

I go to my local Protec paint distributor - say Eastern Auto Paints in Bayswater - and I tell them I need 4L of Crystal White Acrylic Lacquer - 11527. They will then mix the appropriate tints and give me exactly what I need - no further color work (nowithstanding the thinning/base/clear coats required to go with this as well)?

Any other ways to do this? Thanks again!

viperrwk

Yep...that should work...Paint Codes are fairly well maintained by parts shops and refinishers...

_________________
"Show me the Mini!"

As noted earlier in this thread the steering column in my car is the wrong one. I am now to the point of sourcing a new, correct column and have a couple of questions.

1 - Are the Aus and UK steering columns the same or were there differences between them?
2 - Are the Mk1 and Mk2 steering columns the same or were those different as well?
3 - Anyone have a Mk2 column they are willing to sell and ship to the States?

I do have a line on a Mk1 and a Mk3 column but they are out of UK cars and not from Aus so not sure if even the Mk1 would be appropriate.

I will try and post pics of the bodywork done in the next few days...

Thanks all!

viperrwk

Ok here are some body pics as promised. The body is complete - all rust removed and the body is in final blocking/sanding/filling stage for paint. I'll add comments to the photos where appropriate. Not sure these will help anyone but it's nonetheless fun to see what other people do (at least I like looking at other people's work in progress!)

I have a lot of photos to post and given the limitations of the forum software (10 pics per post) it will probably take me some time to get all the photos I have posted here. Please bear with me.

These first photos are what we started with after blasting the car to prep it for all the metal work.

viperrwk

OK - here's the next 10.

viperrwk

And the last 6. This ends the pre-metal work shots.

viperrwk

I'm highlighting these two shots together because it demonstrates the paint history of the vehicle.

In the first shot you can see three layers of paint - green on top of red on top of white. This is how we found the paint on most of the car.

The second shot shows the paint behind the boot hinge. There you can see the green with the white underneath it and no red.

There was no other color on the roof other than the white.

The documentation I have from when the car was first registered in AU in 1971 says it was red.

The documentation I have when the car was first registered in the UK also says it was red.

The green respray happened in England and was more thorough given the green was found under the hinges and the seam covers where there was no red to be found.

The plan is to return the car to its original all white.

viperrwk

Great pics. It looks like a really solid body.

Good progress there...

Bulkhead "plug" fitted from the back instead of the front?

download/file.php?id=15711&mode=view

_________________
"Show me the Mini!"

Thanks. Generally speaking, yes it is solid. My body guy does mostly Porsche and British marques. He has a custom rig he built for mounting the Mini body on his lift and he told me this is the first one he's had on it that sat on it perfectly. However, as they say "rust never sleeps" and as you'll see in the next photos I post there was a lot more rust hidden than meets the eye!

viperrwk

Yeah - with wood screws no less - that has since been removed. Do you know if that was plugged on the police vehicles?

viperrwk

I've shown a few body repair photos already in this thread but I'll put all the photos I have starting here (might repeat a couple.)

In the first photo, you can see the front bumper bar mounting lip was removed. Notice all the rust behind it Also notice below it the metal is all rusted away. The rust extended the width of the mounting lip. This had to be repaired.

The second photo shows that this area was cut out and new metal was tacked in place.

Third photo shows the completed repair.

More on the rust behind the rest of the mounting lip later.

viperrwk

Pre 1971 police cars had the blanking plate fitted like all the standard cars however they did drill a hole in them for extra wiring to pass through.

You could see in the last photo of the previous post the issues around the headlight. The first photo below shows it in some detail with all the holes in the metal. Also notice in the photo the tape and cling wrap where the rest of the lip was. This is naval jelly. The jelly was applied to the rusted remains of the lip and held in place with the wrap and tape. After a weekend sitting all the rust was able to be wiped off.

Around the headlight, all the rusted metal was cut out and new metal tacked in place.

Finally the whole panel was sealed up and put back together. You can see the rest of the rust behind the lip is gone from the front now.

viperrwk