Rebuilding my crash damaged Mini: Project Burnout. Can I really do this?

[@Conor.Twomey]

I have been restoring my Mini for 4 years. I fully understand where you are coming from. You get moments of doubt every now and then. I found getting some moment is the secret. So many other distractions, job, family, health etc. that can pull you away from your project

[@RookieRestorations]

Very true Conor. I find sometimes having a day where I get a big visual change helps with the monotony of the more long term jobs. Are you close to finishing?

[@wrathcaster2555]

Hi Bro, a message from your neighbours, 1:58 remember cardboard goes into cardboard skip when your finished with it 😁😁😁😁

[@RookieRestorations]

That wasn't cardboard. It was just disgusted as cardboard 😂

[@DoreenLottering-r2s]

Your work is so perfect and beaut8okay thank you move forward with it thank you

[@Mrtallguy76]

Nice work ! Makes me want to get a welder and have a go at mine.

[@RookieRestorations]

Do it! Thanks Mr Tall guy ✌️

[@samwalters2504]

Really enjoying watching your series on the mini I’ve just bought one myself needing some work keep it up mate be worth it

[@RookieRestorations]

@@samwalters2504 Thanks Sam. They're great cars to learn on. What needs doing on yours?

[@samwalters2504]

No problem mate & Rear valance rotten end of heel board looks thin on drivers side and found under the drivers front arch at the top under the scuttle and end of drivers sill at the front only bought it Thursday it’s a bare shell has come with some repair panels had a lot of under seal put on it so that’s my first job to strip it off see how many more holes there are was fully expecting it having a few rough bits though as I couldn’t see it as was sat on the floor when I bought it , going to invest in a hammer dolly set

[@conkinnear7269]

That's the right attitude, you tare it apart to find out initially what you've got to work with, then one by one knock them off to the best of your ability. When it's finally finished you'll look back, extremely proud but probably never do another unless you get the bug. If the car has over sills fitted I recommend you cut them off and sort the rust underneath, you'll hate it but you'll be happy you did it.

[@RookieRestorations]

Thanks mate. Yeah I'm really enjoying it. It's the highs and lows of restorations I guess! I'm sure there a new suprise waiting for me round the corner 😂

[@SIRROM12]

I'm loving this little series!

[@RookieRestorations]

@@SIRROM12 Thanks mate 🙂

[@Philhuggett]

Started a bare shell restoration of my 72 about 2 years ago, no small task once the shell had been blasted to reveal the extent of what needed doing. Ive had two or three 'burn outs' in that time but every so often you need to put your tools down for a few weeks and reflect on what you are doing and why you are doing it. There is no rush and the process is enjoyable if you break it down into different sections and tasks. Im currently in the process of painting the car and if I look back at my Instagram pics I realise how far ive come. You are in the same boat i was in at the beginning and with the attitude you have and the fact that you are doing a great job for a 'rookie' you will have something to be proud of. Look forward to following the build 👍

[@RookieRestorations]

@@Philhuggett Thank you mate. What's your IG? I'd love to have a look.

[@Philhuggett]

@RookieRestorations @philathehun 👍

[@mcmotors100]

Nice job 👍. The only issue might be that your wing repair might have been better after the heel board repair as you’d have better access to the heel board. Sounds like you’ve got the right attitude, How do you eat an elephant…. One bite at a time. Good luck 👍

[@RookieRestorations]

@@mcmotors100 that's true mate. I just wanted to get some structure back in the back end as it was moving all over the place. Ironically if I had done the boot floor first then I would have struggled with access for the arch! Thanks for the support ✌️

[@Markycarandbikestuff]

Great work, really nice job with that repair, know what you mean about putting jobs off, i'm facing this exact same work with my 1988 Mini City, rear frame needs to come off to deal with rust in the arches etc, i've done a few rebuilds in the past including yank muscle cars but it's still daunting, mincing about just now fitting a stage 1 kit and an alloy radiator lol, but going to get stuck into the rear of the car in the next few weeks. Car will eventually be a black 71 Cooper S clone so i just keep that picture in my head.

[@RookieRestorations]

@@Markycarandbikestuff that's sounds awesome Mark. Yeah that's basically what I'm going through. Didn't realise how good I am at avoiding jobs I don't want to do 😂

[@MrLawrence832]

If you have rot on both heel boards where the frame mounts your better off getting a genuine heel board and replacing it in one piece. I did mine with the ends and wish I did it with one, especially now you have the floor out. Also once you have the boot floor welded in make a jig of the 4 mounts before cutting the heel board off. :) great work!

[@RookieRestorations]

@@MrLawrence832 Thanks Mr Lawrence! I was actually thinking of using the rear subframe as a jig, bolt the back in and that should find the front. I have the full heal board (Heratige) so that will be going in.

[@MrLawrence832]

@ good plan. I wish I did a full boot floor, I repaired sections but then had more time vs money back then. I’ll keep an eye for more videos :)

[@DoreenLottering-r2s]

Iild like it it's beautiful things you doing

[@GarrethEvans]

Love your channel and content, it's really not getting the views it deserves. I reckon you need to make your titles more catchy on your videos. The thumbnails are really good, so it has got to be affected by the titles. Definitely should be mentioning it's a crash damaged rebuild, as the algorithm would catch onto this video. Something like "Rebuilding a Crash-Damaged Classic Mini - Complete Restoration". And the one where you crashed your mini "I Crashed My Classic Mini! What Happened and the Plan to Rebuild It".

[@RookieRestorations]

@@GarrethEvans AHH mate. Thank you. That's definitely something I should have considered with the titles. Amazing how you can be totally blind to the obvious sometimes 🤦‍♂️

[@GarrethEvans]

@ you’re very welcome. Apparently the algorithm changed so videos are recommended based on titles, and words mentioned in the videos, which will help KZbin decide on your videos tags. They used to be purely seo based on title, description, and keywords. I’d like to see your videos get the views they deserve, as you obviously put the effort into making really good content. You’re posting regularly, and content is all linked, thumbnails are good, so I reckon testing titles should help. Need to give it about 2 weeks though.

[@karlgt9989]

You can literally buy all the panels you need (genuine and aftermarket) for all of these repairs, you dont need to spend hours making repair panels. Cut the oversill off so you can get access behind the heel board, if you dont want to buy a full panel you get an m machine or magnum end repair panel that will need a bit of fettling but will save you heaps and heaps of time. Same with that rear arch, just buy a new rear arch and replace the lot all in 1 go, dont make it too difficult for yourself, we are very lucky that panels exist for the mini, still

[@RookieRestorations]

Very true Karl, I've got a number of panels going in but I think having basic fabricating skills can save you a tone of cash and it's useful with these old cars.

[@karlgt9989]

@RookieRestorations on cars where you cant buy repair panels yes, but the time wasted vs buying a genuine panel.....its a no brainer, especially on a mini.

[@RookieRestorations]

I'd rather practice on a car where I know I can get panels if I screw up. ​@@karlgt9989

[@brevobrevo]

One thing at a time mate… you’ll get there

[@RookieRestorations]

@@brevobrevo Thanks bud. Been a challo few days. Feeling a bit better now I've actually fixed something.

[@DoreenLottering-r2s]

It looks so storming and your hand work is forwarded god giving youits come from god youhand work

[@stephendowney4930]

focus on the job at hand and don't think about the whole job

[@RookieRestorations]

@@stephendowney4930 Thanks Stephen. I'm usually pretty good at that but I think sometimes outside stresses can affect how you approach your projects. Back on track and ready to get this back end in one peice 💯