Tommy's A-series Misery - Mini Action (plus bonus Aggro)

[Tommyboy12]

I managed to remove the front drum yesterday to reveal some very skinny brake shoes (asbestos ones at that!). Thankfully the hardware looks to be in good condition. I can order brake parts now!

I also got my new tyres fitted. Out with the old.

In with the new

One of them required just a bit* of balancing 

Yes they're car tyres. I may have a death wish but I'm not letting the tyres take part in that wish

 

[Tommyboy12]

Parts have started arriving for the Reliant. So I did the right thing and washed my Minis.

In fairness both of them were filthy. I don't wash them very often and both have had a good amount of use this year. Including multiple shows and long road trips. It's probably the most I have used them in years.

Unfortunately both are showing that with various running issues including a nasty oil leak from the white one. I need to sort that over the winter.

[Tommyboy12]

I ignored the Reliant again today and spent the day welding instead.

The culprit

I actually started on the driver's side. I was missing the closing panel for the underside of the scuttle. So I welded that in first. It needed a new lip to on the scuttle panel to be able to weld the closing panel in. I bought a corner repair panel and cut the piece off I needed. I could have probably made it (and from the quality of the panel I might have been better off doing so but at least it was cheap at about a tenner.

Then welded in the closing panel.

I sheared every stud removing the door. Annoying but also expected. The studs have suffered years of road grime and very rarely have I taken a door off for the first time and not snapped the studs. Annoying because the hinges are quite expensive. I'll attempt to weld in new studs instead at a later date.

I then cut off the A-panel. To be able to get at the panels behind it. Crusty as expected unfortunately.

The rusty floor and door step

I also removed the over sill today before doing the floor. These things are hateful. Theyre unvented and trap moisture and rot the car further. Frustratingly whoever fitted these oversills actually cut off the old sill before fitting them so they did a decent job but they then fitted the wrong type of sill.

The oversill definitely made the rear floor worsen more quickly but that's not today's job. I'm intending to get the front end welded together before I take the rear subframe off to do the rear floor

I had to sweep up multiple times today. Rust is lighter than carbon fibre I hear...

I cut out the door step and proceeded to weld in the new one. I'm not welding on a new sill yet, that won't be done till after the rear floor is repaired, but I've punched holes ready for it at a later date

I cut out the rot on the flitch panel. This is a work in progress shot. I removed even more than this.

Bolted the replacement panel in using the door stud holes to ensure alignment. Then ran weld all the way round including the spot welds being replaced with plug welds.

Finally I tackled the floor. The passenger side wasn't as bad as the drivers and I was tempted to only do the corner but the panel I had for replacing it wasn't the same shape so I cut the whole recess out to replace it.

Tacked it in

Unfortunately at this point rain stopped play. So I got the door back on after giving everything a good lick of brown paint

That's it for today. I felt I've made really good progress today. Next time I'll finish the floor pan off then start getting the new front end on.

[Matty]

2 hours ago, Tommyboy12 said:

I ignored the Reliant again today and spent the day welding instead.

The culprit

I actually started on the driver's side. I was missing the closing panel for the underside of the scuttle. So I welded that in first. It needed a new lip to on the scuttle panel to be able to weld the closing panel in. I bought a corner repair panel and cut the piece off I needed. I could have probably made it (and from the quality of the panel I might have been better off doing so but at least it was cheap at about a tenner.

Then welded in the closing panel.

I sheared every stud removing the door. Annoying but also expected. The studs have suffered years of road grime and very rarely have I taken a door off for the first time and not snapped the studs. Annoying because the hinges are quite expensive. I'll attempt to weld in new studs instead at a later date.

I then cut off the A-panel. To be able to get at the panels behind it. Crusty as expected unfortunately.

The rusty floor and door step

I also removed the over sill today before doing the floor. These things are hateful. Theyre unvented and trap moisture and rot the car further. Frustratingly whoever fitted these oversills actually cut off the old sill before fitting them so they did a decent job but they then fitted the wrong type of sill.

The oversill definitely made the rear floor worsen more quickly but that's not today's job. I'm intending to get the front end welded together before I take the rear subframe off to do the rear floor

I had to sweep up multiple times today. Rust is lighter than carbon fibre I hear...

I cut out the door step and proceeded to weld in the new one. I'm not welding on a new sill yet, that won't be done till after the rear floor is repaired, but I've punched holes ready for it at a later date

I cut out the rot on the flitch panel. This is a work in progress shot. I removed even more than this.

Bolted the replacement panel in using the door stud holes to ensure alignment. Then ran weld all the way round including the spot welds being replaced with plug welds.

Finally I tackled the floor. The passenger side wasn't as bad as the drivers and I was tempted to only do the corner but the panel I had for replacing it wasn't the same shape so I cut the whole recess out to replace it.

Tacked it in

Unfortunately at this point rain stopped play. So I got the door back on after giving everything a good lick of brown paint

That's it for today. I felt I've made really good progress today. Next time I'll finish the floor pan off then start getting the new front end on.

I admire the self motivation to keep on with this. Excellent work Tom 👏 

[Tommyboy12]

2 hours ago, Matty said:

I admire the self motivation to keep on with this. Excellent work Tom 👏 

 Tough at times to motivate myself to crawl round on my knees for hours but I do quite enjoy it once I get going. However I am really not looking forward to doing the rear floor. It's a right mess

[Matty]

24 minutes ago, Tommyboy12 said:

 Tough at times to motivate myself to crawl round on my knees for hours but I do quite enjoy it once I get going. However I am really not looking forward to doing the rear floor. It's a right mess

Piss it I'm sure.

[garellikatia]

Wow just discovered this thread. Truly inspiring me to get stuck in to my mini now. The welding especially looks really good mate!  

[comfortablynumb]

@Tommyboy12 you must be a glutton for punishment, crawling around on your knees, on a gravel drive!

Kudos to you, I complain if I kneel on a nut on my painted barn floor 😆

Loving the work on the minis 

[Tommyboy12]

4 hours ago, comfortablynumb said:

@Tommyboy12 you must be a glutton for punishment, crawling around on your knees, on a gravel drive!

Kudos to you, I complain if I kneel on a nut on my painted barn floor 😆

Loving the work on the minis 

Knee pads help! It's only tucked on the gravel as it takes less space on the driveway for all my other tat 😅

[Marshall2810]

This is my new favourite thread. Amazing work and brilliant it's getting the love it needs.

Bravo @Tommyboy12 👏 

[Tommyboy12]

In a change to scheduled programming I did work on the Reliant this afternoon. I saw a gap in the rain and I took it!

I focused on fitted my rear brake shoes. Unfortunately I had to do it twice the after I put the shoes on then found both handbrake levers were bent so the shoes were sitting too far out. I suspect somebody yanked on seized brakes and bent the levers. They required some gentle persuasion* back into the correct shape. I also freed and lubricated the slider so the piston moves correctly. Then it was just a case of the usual shoe assembly process.

I chose not to replace the cylinders as they are actually free and move properly. I also freed off the adjuster so everything works nicely. I will bleed the entire system with fresh fluid once I've done the front brakes.

Once assembled I fitted my shiny new boots

[comfortablynumb]

Where did you get the tyres? We're after some 165/70 10s for a minivan, but all the local places look at me as though my brain has fallen down the back of my neck? Ta

145s would do

[Tommyboy12]

17 minutes ago, comfortablynumb said:

Where did you get the tyres? We're after some 165/70 10s for a minivan, but all the local places look at me as though my brain has fallen down the back of my neck? Ta

145s would do

Minisport or Minispares will help you out and you'll be able to get 165s if you want. I got these particular puppies from Stanford Hall Mini Show for £40 each. Cheapest I could find 😅

[plasticvandan]

Nangkang a new one on the 10" scene,was camac,marshall or falken in the budget end when I was driving pigs,fallen my favourite.always had the worst tyres on the back,you actually want less grip there.gas mini front shocks are a replacement for the rears and make ride and handling much nicer. 

[Matty]

Nankangs though Tom. With all that torque? Wouldn't want to be you when the Crossclimate brigade start on you 🤣 

[Tommyboy12]

Marshall are long gone although you can still buy Camacs new! Falkens are my go to for 10" Mini but their budget offering is a bit underwhelming and not that cheap anymore. I like their 165 width FK07E tyre. Of course you can still splash on Yokohamas too but I find them a bit unnerving in the wet.

Nankang actually do a couple of compounds in 10" now. Im sure this car rated trailer tyre (the rest of the sizes of this model are trailer only) will 100%* contain the mighty power of the Reliant!

[Matty]

I'm very interested to see this in fairness. Reliants both 3 and 4 wheeled are defo on the list of things I'd like a go in. There's a lot of (presumed) stuff about poor handling and so on but I've always seen them as nicely styled little things and of course you drive everything within it's own limits. Be following this with interest 

[stuboy]

lots of good update

[High Jetter]

Nankangs are fine, have them on my van.

[garellikatia]

Aye I  couldn't believe they still did Camacs.  I got some for my mini. Probably  horrendous in the wet but seem well grippy in the dry 

[Tommyboy12]

18 hours ago, Matty said:

I'm very interested to see this in fairness. Reliants both 3 and 4 wheeled are defo on the list of things I'd like a go in. There's a lot of (presumed) stuff about poor handling and so on but I've always seen them as nicely styled little things and of course you drive everything within it's own limits. Be following this with interest 

There is a terrible YT video of me reviewing one of my previous 3 wheelers where I drive and talk about the handling while doing so. They're absolutely fine to drive 'normally' and a peppy little engine means you can have a little bit of fun in them

[Matty]

14 minutes ago, Tommyboy12 said:

There is a terrible YT video of me reviewing one of my previous 3 wheelers where I drive and talk about the handling while doing so. They're absolutely fine to drive 'normally' and a peppy little engine means you can have a little bit of fun in them

What's your youtube name bud?

[UltraWomble]

This is (hopefully) the right place to admit that I quite fancy a tripod in my life.
There is a Silver Jubilee one on C&C at the moment that looks lovely but is too rich for my pocket.

EDIT - This one

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/335558152261

 

[Tommyboy12]

33 minutes ago, Matty said:

What's your youtube name bud?

https://youtube.com/@sharleysgarage

I actually helped out @sharley17194 on his channel and we ended up doing a bit of a series on our last pair of Reliants that we took round the Derby dales on a rude place name trip!

18 minutes ago, UltraWomble said:

This is (hopefully) the right place to admit that I quite fancy a tripod in my life.
There is a Silver Jubilee one on C&C at the moment that looks lovely but is too rich for my pocket.

Dooo eeet!

[Matty]

50 minutes ago, UltraWomble said:

This is (hopefully) the right place to admit that I quite fancy a tripod in my life.
There is a Silver Jubilee one on C&C at the moment that looks lovely but is too rich for my pocket.

End of the day you're a big cowardly custard if you don't. But don't let peer pressure get to you.

 

 

(Do it. Do it. Do it.) 🤣

[Matty]

34 minutes ago, Tommyboy12 said:

https://youtube.com/@sharleysgarage

I actually helped out @sharley17194 on his channel and we ended up doing a bit of a series on our last pair of Reliants that we took round the Derby dales on a rude place name trip!

Dooo eeet!

Something to do now for a bit whilst I wait for her to get home from crime fighting. Nice one Tom 👍 

[Matty]

Watched a few of the Reliant videos. Can't believe you didn't fall over and die. Who knew?!? 🤣

Brilliant stuff though, very in depth.

[wesacosa]

18 hours ago, UltraWomble said:

This is (hopefully) the right place to admit that I quite fancy a tripod in my life.
There is a Silver Jubilee one on C&C at the moment that looks lovely but is too rich for my pocket.

EDIT - This one

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/335558152261

 

I've been looking longingly at that for a while now.  Its shed a grand off it's original price I think but yeah still a fair wedge 

[plasticvandan]

19 hours ago, UltraWomble said:

This is (hopefully) the right place to admit that I quite fancy a tripod in my life.
There is a Silver Jubilee one on C&C at the moment that looks lovely but is too rich for my pocket.

EDIT - This one

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/335558152261

 

I owned that one c. 2008, sold it for £750, had one of the worst engines I've had in a Reliant,no matter what I did it struggled to top 50,

[plasticvandan]

Just to add,if anyone is interested in it,don't. It was crap when I had it,and had a very very cheap and nasty respray afterwards,has lost its jubilee interior trim and seats,and is several grand overpriced. There is a beautiful pale blue Rialto saloon for a grand less on eBay that is a far far nicer car,if that's what your looking for.