Restoration-Mini

Technical Forums => Restorations => Topic started by: minifrisco on September 22, 2019, 05:29:22 PM

Title: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: minifrisco on September 22, 2019, 05:29:22 PM
Looking for a shop recommendation in the DFW area capable of doing some welding and body prep on my 60 Mini MKI?.
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: BruceK on September 30, 2019, 05:31:33 PM
Sorry, I don't know of anyone.  Dan is the only guy I'd trust to work on a Mini body.
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: 94touring on September 30, 2019, 05:45:57 PM
Thanks Bruce
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: MiniDave on September 30, 2019, 06:24:28 PM
Same here.....too many folks out there that don't understand the intricacies of the mini body shell and how it rusts....and how to fix it right.
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: gr8kornholio on September 30, 2019, 07:29:36 PM
Agreed.  4.gif
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and body work?
Post by: minifrisco on October 02, 2019, 01:52:35 PM
That is my dilemma, finding someone that understand the Mini body issues around the DFW area.
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: MiniDave on October 02, 2019, 01:57:32 PM
I know he's booked up well into next year, but Dan's your man......just bring him the bare shell and 6 months or a year later he'll send home a new shiny one!   ::) ;D
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: gr8kornholio on October 02, 2019, 05:30:53 PM
Well worth the wait. I'm getting really excited as he has my paint now.

Problem with DFW area is all the money is in insurance repair or full blown over the top custom work. So your choice is 10k for crap work by a clueless person or 20k just for the paint plus $200 an hour for metal work and prep.

I'm having the same issue for my 73 vw.
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: 94touring on October 02, 2019, 08:21:55 PM
Problem is I have this whole other job and limited time. 
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: minifrisco on October 02, 2019, 08:36:06 PM
Question is when can Dan take another mini? I have no problem waiting, it just may be a long drive from North Dallas TX
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: 94touring on October 03, 2019, 06:32:01 AM
Honestly I'm not sure.  I'm trying to get completely out of it since I basically never have a day off.  Years ago I'd work around the clock but now I'm older and married. I do have a shell I pick up tomorrow for a guy with the intent of starting on it around spring.  Its a car I'm familiar with and is an "easy" job that won't take a year or two to finish.  I have to knock out Mark's mini and finish this 66 full build that never ends. 
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: minifrisco on October 03, 2019, 08:16:01 AM
How about having mine as the last one you work on 4.gif. Should be an easy one too.
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: MiniDave on October 03, 2019, 08:17:14 AM
Not to mention you still have three cars of your own to finish! Poor Rusty......and poor pick up! Both neglected for other peoples cars.

Oh, and you still owe me a paint job too........so that's four. Plus the green car you just agreed to do, and Marks car, and the never ending 66......and........sheesh!
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: 94touring on October 03, 2019, 08:25:23 AM
It never ends  9.gif
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: jeff10049 on October 04, 2019, 11:24:19 PM
Quote from: 94touring on October 03, 2019, 08:25:23 AM
It never ends  9.gif

That's the problem when you're good I'm trying to get out of restorations at my business but can't seem to say no now were years out again plus all the normal work. What use to be fun now just adds to my stress level.
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: 94touring on October 05, 2019, 06:46:07 AM
Body prep and paint jobs by themselves aren't so bad.  I enjoy doing metal work.  Sanding is less fun but the end result is always very rewarding. But a full top to bottom build is for the birds, unless it's my own.  I wish every car was like the inno, where I bring it in, spend 2 days cleaning grime and looking for flaws, a day of masking, then light sanding, spray, buff, done.  Took me a week or so minus the doors that had some issues.  I need Dave closer to do the build portion and I'll knock out the paint.  Of course it's only a 4 hours drive with my trailer to drop a car at his doorstep too. 
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: gr8kornholio on October 05, 2019, 06:54:09 AM
Yea I'm starting to see why the classic/British car guy I found out in the sticks here only does full restorations.  No side jobs no tune ups no paint touch ups just a few cars at a time for full restores. He has a big shop area too and a couple helpers.

Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: 94touring on October 05, 2019, 06:56:04 AM
Just reminiscing about when Dean Wilhite brought his mini to town and spent a week with me.  We did a bunch of metal work, whole front end, several repairs and patches, painted, reassembled, and in a 7 day stretch.  We were up early and worked late.  He got home and texted that he weighed himself and lost 16lbs. 

I really need a staff to do full builds and I'd have to charge double at least.  I'm pretty affordable the way I do it now. 
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: jeff10049 on October 05, 2019, 08:05:37 PM
I wish I were closer to ya'll I could get into too doing half or part of it the mechanical or body or even just the electrics.
I'm with you Dan completes suck hind tit it's so much more enjoyable when it's not overwhelming. I actually really like wiring id do the harnesses on every car if I were near you.
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: 94touring on October 28, 2019, 08:48:01 AM
Well...
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: MiniDave on October 28, 2019, 09:02:30 AM
Is it in primer or is that the actual color?

Not so overwhelming when you just have the bare shell, no mechanical stuff to do......

What color will this one be when done?
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: 94touring on October 28, 2019, 10:07:56 AM
He had it media blasted and sealer primed, which is the perfect way to receive a shell.  Color will be original speedwell blue.  It's a very light blue.  White roof.  Needs a new boot floor and boot lid.  Some minor patch work and new door skin.  A fair amount of work but reasonable. 
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: minifrisco on October 28, 2019, 12:40:50 PM
Here it is!....I know that car 4.gif

Here is the original color...


Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: 94touring on October 28, 2019, 08:23:14 PM
Found the early 60s austin code to be 12155 for speedwell in ditzler. 

And an example
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: minifrisco on October 29, 2019, 08:29:05 AM
That is the color! 4.gif
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: jeff10049 on October 30, 2019, 09:07:00 PM
same as mine.
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: minifrisco on October 30, 2019, 09:31:42 PM
That is nice! What year is it?
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: 94touring on October 31, 2019, 09:57:38 AM
Quote from: minifrisco on October 30, 2019, 09:31:42 PM
That is nice! What year is it?

His is also a 60.  Must have been a popular color back then.  Still looks stylish as ever too.
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: jeff10049 on October 31, 2019, 08:23:02 PM
My restoration is here http://www.restorationmini.com/forum/index.php?topic=625.0
Might have some useful pictures when you assemble yours.

When I got the car I didn't like the speedwell blue but it has grown on me and gets a lot of compliments.   

Looking forward to the progress on yours.
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: minifrisco on November 01, 2019, 06:57:37 AM
This is awesome. Thanks for the link. It will definitely help a lot.
Just hope to have it running soon.... 4.gif
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: 94touring on November 12, 2019, 09:02:14 AM
Rear boot floor and some other odds and ends arrived.  Bonnet is for my car.
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: MiniDave on November 12, 2019, 10:40:54 AM
I didn't notice the louvers before, interesting.....
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: 94touring on November 12, 2019, 10:55:15 AM
Underhood pressure reliever!  Maybe at a stop it helps with temps too.
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: 94touring on November 12, 2019, 12:48:01 PM
Unpacked and ready to go.
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: MiniDave on November 12, 2019, 12:57:13 PM
ooohhh, shiny!   ;D          M-Parts?  M-Machine?
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: 94touring on November 12, 2019, 01:18:40 PM
Heritage boot floor and magnum boot lid from spares.  Only took about a week to get here.
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: MiniDave on November 12, 2019, 02:31:22 PM
They look good in the pics, how much was shipping on stuff that big?
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: 94touring on November 12, 2019, 02:50:46 PM
About $250 plus got dinged with a $35 customs fee.  Box was gigantic though.
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: MiniDave on November 12, 2019, 02:55:03 PM
Almost as much as the parts themselves......I'm not surprised. I'm sure that's why you used to buy crate loads of stuff at a time.
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: 94touring on November 12, 2019, 02:59:41 PM
5k at a time, but hard to sell the stuff.  Basically it was the cost of the boot floor to ship it all.  But, half the price buying domestically.  Boot skin for mk1 only comes in alloy and for an extra $100ish you can get a new lid ready to paint and not have to screw around skinning the thing.  Well worth it.  Same goes for his boot floor.  By time I'd do all the patches, you'd break even with a whole new floor and not have the Franken-mini weld marks all over.  Much better end product for the same price.
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: 94touring on November 19, 2019, 04:15:28 PM
Got some paint in to have matched and mixed by my local supplier.
Title: Re: Any recommendation in the DFW area willing to do welding and bod work?
Post by: minifrisco on November 19, 2019, 07:36:31 PM
Color looks nice!...