I brought home this 65 Moke from Florida, where the owner said the body work had all been done and it was in primer, ready to go!.
See picture below, moke on wooden cart I made, soon to have some pretty bad bodywork exposed.
That was two years ago. Since then, I've been slowly getting organized, buying some parts, and looking around to find a good body shop who could help with some details like adding Old English White paint, etc. Well, I finally found the shop and 2 guys who are talented artists in auto sheet metal and paint, and who like interesting projects. Turned out to be close to swiss cheese after sand blasting. I thought it might be worse, but, it was whatever, and I then started to price panels from England, ending up with getting most from Leo Jack, at mokepanels.com. Nice guy, good prices, good pieces.
Now, the shell is still at the shop, maybe another month or so, till some more smaller panels get fabricated and installed. The motor and tranny are being rebuilt by a guy who has been doing that work for about 30 years and who is a real Mini enthusiast, right here on the East Coast USA.
and, I am tired, and it's late, so long story short, for now. Here's a link to about 206 pictures, as of now, in reverse order, the most recent being the first, that ya'll can look through and see what I am up against. More coming. Cheers.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbraun/sets/72157626938170988/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbraun/sets/72157626938170988/)
Thanks for sharing. I like your little cart, looks like you could sit a welder on it while you do repairs.
Yeah, ya could. The Moke has it's own jig now and the cart is full of parts and
Assorted bits.
Hope thread might be of interest.
Boy were those front rubber cones, aluminum trumpets and steel knuckle joints hard to remove.
I have some that I am dreading to deal with too.
Actually, once I found a massive press and good operator,
The separation was easy. Home inside an hour!.
I just picked up a tool on ebay for those...thought it would be easy. So you must have to compress them? Never even looked at how they go together...
Well, the rubber cone and aluminum trumpet just slide together pretty loosely. However, over years of being that way, and add rain and water, and they kind of rust together and do some dissimilar metal action. Usually they don't need to be compressed except to assemble or take apart.
The knuckle joints, on the other hand, get really hard in there and often need special persuasion to separate, as in a press.
I have successfully used a long 3/8" diameter steel rod and a hammer to separate the pieces.
Separating the knuckle joint:
Stand the assembly in the center of a couple of wheels stacked on top of each other (like an ice cream cone in a stand - tip down). Slide the steel rod down the center to rest on top of the knuckle joint post. Whack the steel rod crisply with the hammer (mine was a standard 1-lb. hammer). It usually pops the knuckle out with only two or three whacks.
Separating the cone & trumpet:
After knocking out the knuckle joint, turn the cone/trumpet pair upside down on the ground. Slide the steel rod down through the hole for the knuckle joint - following the side of the trumpet to rest the rod on the rim of the steel cup in the cone. Whack the steel rod crisply a few times. If they don't pop apart, shift the rod to the other side of the cup and repeat. If they are really old and nasty, it may take walking around the rim of the cup to impact loose the rust and corrosion.
The steel rod can by bought at Home Depot for about $5.
I have lots of questions about those rubber cones...sorry, wondering what I'm going to do if I ever get to that point (and my only Mini suspension experience is Hydrolastic).
Are you replacing them, is that why the disassembly? Or just cleaning them up?
They wear out like a shock? Ahh...Google is my friend. Looks like they make competition ones that, 'may last a year'. Wonder if they'll hold up to rallying...or, 'may last a race'. I guess then it would be, 'may be replaced with coils'.
Mudhen, I am replacing them, as they are almost 50 years old now. Will be cleaning up the aluminum trumpets before reassembly, and new knuckle joints also.
Mplayle - yep, I tried all that to no avail. The press was the only answer. Frozen they all were.
The body shell is going back together now, as just about all the panels are assembled and made. It's a long slow process with thousands of rosette welds.
The alignment jig is so precise, one slight change and everything moves, so you really have to get it right and clamped before welding.
Oh, what fun! Hope to see some paint fairly soon, we'll see.
I know there's a Moke in there somewhere:
Why is it every time I see a moke being built they always have the coolest assemblies holding it all together?
Cause otherwise they just fall apart! :D
Getting closer!
maybe seam sealer and some primer next week!
4.gif
Yeah!
Wow is that brand new or did you have it blasted and coated?
Vintage 1965, blasted and powder coated - like new!
Well, I thought I'd have it all clean and seam sealer about a month ago, but odd stuff just seems to happen. Got the wrong sand delivered, then the guy got sick, couldn't pick it up and replace with finer stuff, so yesterday I just went out and got the proper material. Soon maybe. 50.gif
Keep it up Peter- !! No matter these things take time!
Bottom side of shell now blasted. Hope it isn't too humid here, but it is, :-\ and maybe primer very soon.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3801/11894300574_80dd6deee9_c.jpg)
YES ! Primer !
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3816/12002495094_d7ba270d7e_b.jpg)
4.gif
I dream of that day...looks awesome. What kind of primer? High build something or other?
The first coat of primer was etching epoxy primer. Second and subsequent coats are high-fill epoxy primer. Working well.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3731/12074726915_3d3b9dc5c0_b.jpg)
Here you can see some sanding being done to smooth out some minor imperfections, well, some a bit more than just minor....at least so ya can't see where any repairs might have been made.
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5491/12075003653_f36443b3c5_b.jpg)
Seam sealer getting done, then a final coat of epoxy primer and........some color!
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3695/12211223685_96f15af4ec_b.jpg)
Looking really good.
Thank you!
Moving slowly, but moving along - first coat of Old English White - seen inside:
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3817/12837282314_00b1085459_b.jpg)
That's one of the cleanest jobs I've ever seen with seam sealer.
Yeah, me too. Ray did a super neat job with that masking tape and all - it came out outstanding. Nothing glopped on at all.= but nicely dripped into where it needs to be.
Some stuff done! Next, seats and shell. New windshield in.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7371/13149919863_763a56a1e9_b.jpg)
All four seats back home and as good as new!
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3783/13295716883_ab27a644d6_h.jpg)
Body going on rotisserie.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3771/13632413144_29d7253884_c.jpg)
Now some last minute body work, found some areas the blasting missed and the paint is reacting with the epoxy primer, so must remove problem areas, sand, re-primer, sand, repeat......
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7105/13928044245_ce09fb5f05_b.jpg)
How's it reacting? Wrinkling up?
Well, a bit hard to tell if there's a wrinkle in it, mostly it's in areas where 2 body panels join, in a crack, so it's sort of swelling up a bit. Cute. have to scrape it off and sand, prep, again.
Sanded those wheel wells again today, and they got another some coats of OEW Yeah!
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7345/13972549521_d6b49dc67f_z.jpg)
More in a few days
Getting close! Half way through & damn if my fingers don't hurt, and my back too!
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7322/13986484921_d8dfa2cea2_c.jpg)
It's worth it for us! 4.gif
Looking awesome.
Pat
Finally back home!
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2933/13950724418_7af1598249_b.jpg)
Pristine -- I see you chose noot to fill EVERY weld dimple - (like in front of the bonnet ) I think those are the character of the moke - assembled by a bunch of dimples fused together!
Looks great
Thanks! Yep, it needs some character! Will take my time finishing it off! I want to do it right, my way, and not rush and mess stuff up.
Soon, front subframe goes in........wondering if I should use stainless bolts, grade 8 cad plated, or stock, painted.
What kind of a build are you going for? Perfect restoration to original standards or something reliable. If it won't be in the weather cad plating is fine.....and much less expensive.
Good point. It will be a "perfect for me" moke! Not totally as factory, but close. Will be in weather in humid area of NC.
So, I decided to do stainless, cause it pleases me.
Almost finished the brake lines, everything still loose, but fitted. Waiting for another brake proportioning valve. Got to mount the suspension, tires and get this thing rolling!
http://imgur.com/a/y13cA
Lookin good 4.gif
(http://i.imgur.com/h39tCUp.jpg)
Thanks!@ http://www.restorationmini.com/forum/Smileys/smile/grin.gif
Lol you're really bad at this pic and emoticon thing. ;D
Quote from: 94touring on April 18, 2016, 02:38:23 PM
Lol you're really bad at this pic and emoticon thing. ;D
Yeah, I used to be good at it, then I don't know what the hell happened! and now I suck at doing that. crap. I need help.
So, is there any way to make posting images any easier?
What seems to be the problem posting images?
It's exciting to see it come together! 4.gif
A friend is in the home stretch on his too, his is surf blue and he's just starting to recover his seats and make a top for it.
no problem
Maybe a few more weeks and it'll roll on it's own. Could now, but better to button things all up et al.
(http://i.imgur.com/XjHS7li.jpg)
hey pbraun, was your moke at MME?
No, I was, but not my moke. A few things got in the way, such as not having the correct bracket to fit the radiator, and then the windscreen somehow got too wide to fit properly.
Getting to be inconvenient. Soon, maybe, but I am traveling a lot soon.
Now the motor is in I have another road block. (http://i.imgur.com/Nu8w8XD.jpg)
Cooper S harmonic balancer added, so I needed the correct lower radiator bracket, added same, now there is TOO MUCH clearance and the rad is too tight up against the body shroud. PIA . Any easy solutions?
All set now.....just made a prop rod. Yeah, I know it's not an as it came from the factory item, but it seemed like a really handy one to me. I don't like taking off the bonnet and putting in on the grass, or under the car, or on a chair, or some other place it doesn't belong, as a show, or in the garage, so there it is. I like it. Any comments????????
That looks great. I understand why you created it. I was always worried when I took the bonnet off on my Moke - too easy for it to be kicked, stepped on, or otherwise damaged.
It's very tidy and if you're someone like me who doesn't 'know' mokes, it looks like a factory part.
Well done! 4.gif
Very Nice! I want one for mine!
Details on bits and where to get them, how to make one?
Yep, I can do that.....mainly a rod from an Austin Healey 3000 trunk, and upper holder, from Moss Motors and a couple of custom made brackets that hold it, mounted with rivets under the hood braid.... oh, and held by a rubber bit from a moke - the bonnet hinge rubber.
Quote from: pbraun on January 11, 2017, 06:19:04 AM
Yep, I can do that.....mainly a rod from an Austin Healey 3000 trunk, and upper holder, from Moss Motors and a couple of custom made brackets that hold it, mounted with rivets under the hood braid.... oh, and held by a rubber bit from a moke - the bonnet hinge rubber.
Actually, the Moke's bonnet hinge rubber is the same item as the early Mini's bonnet prop rod holder, right? So that item has come full circle? :)
Right! A very useful part! Could even be used as a cigarette holder!
Top on, now registered and on the road! See ya'll around!
(http://i.imgur.com/vp3C8CB.jpg)
Wow! Looks so clean and pristine in white just sitting there, waiting for some fun. And I love the color of the wheels and grille.
I wish the top that came with mine fit that well.
I've been thinking of having a custom one done that will have the rear window roll up.
Thanks, Bruce - notice the top matches the wheel and grill color! Maybe a bit hard to see in garage darkness.
MPlayle - bc in Shelby, nc has a guy near Shelby who makes tops at a very reasonable price. Worth asking
Look up Monte Carlo Minis..... locally made. 106 Ida Cir, Shelby, NC 28152 ยท (704) 487-6406
Nice color! 77.gif
4.gif
Just 65 Old English White with the burgundy highlights ........ 77.gif thanks! It does look different in the bright sunlight than in the shade of a garage.
(http://i.imgur.com/7QJXmJr.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/kbi4QMk.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/vp3C8CB.jpg)