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RustyMiniGuy
Joined: 01 Oct 2018
Posts: 5
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 Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2018 12:03 am Post subject: Dealing With Rust |
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Hi all,
I have a very old Mini. Unfortunately it is badly rusted, so I wondered what would be the best thing to do as it will be many years before I am able to restore it because of the time and cost involved, so for now I just want to do something to stop the rust.
I have considered Waxoyl, covering it in WD40 but then I read about rust convertors, which seem quite good.
Thanks for reading and I appreciate any replies. |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 6310
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2018 12:27 am Post subject: |
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To be brutally honest, if you have a mini that is very rusty it would be better to buy one that isn't so rusty to start with. I grew up with minis - in fact I can just remember when they came out in 1959 because my Godfather bought a new one which the family owns to this day. It is one of the oldest surviving minis in existence. If you saw that mini you would immediately say "wow" because it is in such marvellous condition but I can remember my Dad replacing the rear sub frame on more than one occasion. Eventually, the rust destroyed the mounting points and there wasn't any good metal left to weld to. It took a lot of fabricating to get the car MOT'd and that was over 40 years ago. I hate to think what state your mini could be in after all this time.
Best of luck.
(By the way, phosphoric acid will stabilise the rust and slow it down.) |
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RustyMiniGuy
Joined: 01 Oct 2018
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2018 12:51 am Post subject: |
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The bottom half and front is in a bad state but I think quite a bit of it salvagable.
It was my dad's so it has a lot of sentimental value so I want to save and restore as much of it as possible as he loved it. |
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Rick
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22444
Location: UK
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ukdave2002
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4104
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2018 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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The Mini has one advantage that every panel is available and at reasonable prices...
Dave |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 6310
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2018 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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| ukdave2002 wrote: | The Mini has one advantage that every panel is available and at reasonable prices...
Dave |
This would be my choice...
http://www.bmh-ltd.com/minishell.htm
...but I don't have a sentimental attachment... |
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Rick
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22444
Location: UK
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RustyMiniGuy
Joined: 01 Oct 2018
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2018 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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Hi rick
It's in the garage.
I think it's a mk1 because it has the external door hinges. |
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RustyMiniGuy
Joined: 01 Oct 2018
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2018 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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Hi ray
Thanks for the link.
Just need £12k now to get a new body and Im about 10% there 
I've been watching that Car SOS and so far I haven't seen a car as rusty as mine but I have seen them put some terrible car bodies back other again so i have some hope I can reuse some of the body.
The rood is good. The bonnet is good. The back of the car is good, but the floor is gone and Im not too hopeful about the front of the car.
I did think maybe just buy another Mini and take everything good off of this one and stick on that one.
But when is the car no longer the car?
On that Car SOS they have replaced who car shells, but is it still the same car if it has a new shell? |
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Rick
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22444
Location: UK
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 6310
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 9:53 am Post subject: |
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Interesting you should mention car S.O.S. They sometimes give the distinct impression of performing miracles but I wonder just how straight they are being with us, the audience. We see very little of the actual work that would be needed and although the end result is a nice looking car, I can't help thinking that there are bodges galore hidden under the paint. 
Sentiment can be a tricky thing to incorporate into a car restoration. I take the view that trying to hold onto something that has gone forever is a bit like clutching at straws. The great thing about Minis is that you can do what you like with them and not feel guilty about it. Personally, I would save like hell to get a new body shell and in the meantime restore all the mechanical stuff ready to fit. You would have the original engine etc. and if you also wanted to retain the interior that would be your choice. |
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MikeEdwards
Joined: 25 May 2011
Posts: 2470
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 10:19 am Post subject: |
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| RustyMiniGuy wrote: | | But when is the car no longer the car? |
That's largely down to your personal feelings. I've spent nine years on my last restoration, and during that time I've replaced (or repaired where possible, not least as new panels aren't available for my car) most of the chassis rails, floor, inner and outer front wings, front panel, inner and outer rear panel, inner and outer sills, roof edge, and a lot more I'd have probably forgotten about if it weren't for the photos. To me, that's a "better" solution than finding a decent shell (if such things were available to me) and swapping the rest over.
But mine is a car I first bought in 1985, was my first of that type, and holds some sentimental attachment. It also turned into a challenge (having heard "surely that's a scrap shell" a few times) and a great learning experience. And it was a very rare car from new, so I would have felt a bit guilty at just scrapping it.
Only you can decide whether it's worth the effort of restoring what you have compared to just cutting your losses and replacing - whether that's the whole car or just the shell.
As for stopping it going worse, the main thing you can do is get it somewhere dry and keep it that way. |
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RustyMiniGuy
Joined: 01 Oct 2018
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Mike
Would you recommend covering it in something like Waxoyl until I get round to restoring it, just to protect it from the air moisture? |
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Rick
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22444
Location: UK
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| Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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| RustyMiniGuy wrote: | Hi Mike
Would you recommend covering it in something like Waxoyl until I get round to restoring it, just to protect it from the air moisture? |
Wiping it over with oil won't harm, and will deter new rust from starting, but won't slow existing rust down by much if at all. How you store the car is wayyy more important, ideally in a dry well-ventilated garage or under a car port. Just about the worst place to store it would be on grass, with a cover over it.
If you're able to post up any photos (see the thread about how to do this at the top of the page, below the heading) that'll be helpful.
RJ
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Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
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