Welding a Wing on my Classic Mini? Here's What I learnt!

[@Gary_R]

You're doing a great job Josh, dont stop. Glad you're saving the Mini. Cant wait to see the new colour.

[@RookieRestorations]

Thanks Gary. Never thought I'd be doing this much. Kinda glad I dint know to be honest 😂

[@elliotrawstrone6137]

Great job on the arch. I replaced a lot of panels on my mini but shied away from cutting in middle of panels. Youve done really well to minimise distortion. Good luck with the rest of the panels. The front floor panels, sills and inner sills are all v typical minis unfortunately.

[@brevobrevo]

You Geoff Cape’d that mini at the end! Great work Josh, nice to see your improvised tools

[@RookieRestorations]

@@brevobrevo I'm just glad it didn't end with a trip to AnE 😂

[@Mon1275]

You’re doing a brilliant job Joshua, your work on that quarter panel is fantastic. You may want to have a rethink about your floor panels, as the rear ones you have purchased are cut out around the rear pockets, rather than covering the full floor and inner sill section. If the rust is localised mainly to the inner and outer sill area, you may be better off with the complete sill and floor to 1st groove panels, which run the full length of the floor . Your butt welding skills are great, so you’d have no problem fitting these. Loving your top quality videos 👍

[@RookieRestorations]

Thanks mate. I've actually rather serendipitously just done those rear corners under the pockets with my fabricated panels (in the last video) I've also left an over hang on the pocket material sooooo I should end up with a very strong floor. The fabricated corners have also been made out of Zintec sheet so should be much more resistant to corrosion 💯 Let me know if you think I've missed anything else....kinda figuring it out as I go along!

[@Conor.Twomey]

That's a tough weld, you did an amazing job. For knocking down welds I use Draper Flat Metal Cutting Discs (75 x 1.6 x 10mm) to get it just almost flush with the panel, you also get lots of control with this. Then I use a fresh 50mm 36 grit roloc sanding disc to get it flush. This minimises heat for me. When I was doing my quarter I replaced the whole quarter with a heritage one. I felt I was never going to get such a large weld right.

[@RookieRestorations]

@@Conor.Twomey Thanks Conor. I'll order some of those cutting disks. I was VERY aware if the heat that would be going through the pannels. I'll be spending more time on it to get it as good as I can before iprep it for paint.

[@Philhuggett]

Yep them 50mm rolocs are the key. I would go 36 grit down close then clean it up with an 80 grit. Don't follow the norm of hitting it with a flappy wheel on a grinder and put loads of heat into the panel. Keep up the good work

[@RookieRestorations]

That's great thanks mate 😊

[@mcmotors100]

You’ve done an amazing job of that with rear wing, but I would’ve definitely gone for a new rear wing. Maybe ever so slightly more money, but I saved you lots of time and heartache. I think I told you at the beginning you’d end up changing every panel 🤣 do well though. (Flap discs that you put on the Grinder are better than those ones you put on the drill) 👍

[@RookieRestorations]

@@mcmotors100 I agree mate. I think part of me gravitates towards the hardest path sometimes just so I can learn more 😂 That or I'm clearly a glutton for punishment! I'm going to order some flap disks for my grinder. Definitely a better way forward.

[@mcmotors100]

@@RookieRestorationsI used to be like that, but got smarter (lazier) as I got older 😂 your work looks great though. Whilst I remember you are bang on with the number of plug welds in the heel boards. - my tips on plug welds is to aim to plug weld downwards (top down - no moulted metal in your face) and/or to have the holes on the side easiest to grind e.g. drill the inner sill not the step; drill the step not the outer sill. I hope that make sense

[@RookieRestorations]

Yeah I think so. Basically work out not in on the car for fabrication.

[@TheLostWrenchGarage]

You did well on that panel!! You need to get your self a mid rise lift! It can be moved around any where you want it and it will lift the car up to 48 inch's off the ground. I may be getting one for my projects!

[@RookieRestorations]

A lift is definitely on the wish list mate. Hopefully this summer 💯

[@UKRussellSmith]

Looked good to me, I'm a novice welder and I'd be well chuffed with that result 👍👍

[@RookieRestorations]

Thanks mate 😁

[@sfraser12]

Great work. Inspiring me to get out to my one. Quick question on the video/camera. How are you doing the moving panning shots. Is that the camera, or are you doing that in software?

[@RookieRestorations]

@@sfraser12 It's a camera Dolly Fraser. Great bit of kit for creating more movement in the shot. Always harder filming yourself!

[@sfraser12]

@RookieRestorations brilliant thanks. Any links to the one you use?

[@cjnevill88]

Great work stumbled across your channel today and extremely impressed, great camera work and editing. One question I have is why opt for a fibre glass front end? I have a full flip fibre glass front end and hate it you say you want strength in the car but this mod to my opinion loses that strength.

[@RookieRestorations]

@@cjnevill88 Great question and I've heard that argument myself. Part of me wants to keep the mini original but I'm also keen to learn as many new skill as I can. With the front end damage and the opportunity to pick up a fg front end cheap I figured it could be a good exercise in fabrication. In terms of strength I'm looking at using @urchfab strengthening kit. You should check his stuff out on his Chanel. The front end won't be flip, rather bolt on bolt off. I figured if it's good enough for race Minis it should be strong enough for road. Thanks for the feed back on the videos I really try to put effort into the story's so feedback like this helps 🙂 What do you hate about the flip out of interest?

[@cjnevill88]

@RookieRestorations honestly I just think like you say it takes away some of the originalatity e.g the welded areas such as front panel meeting wings and the headlight surrounds. Mine is a cheaper option so this could be why I feel that way and wasn't my choice as was on the car when I purchased it . I also find how the wheel arch extension are fitted Is a hassle. After time my paint has also cracked in area on the front end. Just food for thought. I hope that gives you more of an idea towards your project, I'm hoping to start fitting steel panels back after the festive period and watching your videos has given me that push to test the skills I have so a massive thanks to you .

[@RookieRestorations]

@cjnevill88 You're very welcome. Still not sure which way I will go. Let's see what happens!