Matildas Looming MOT
Had a good bit of news today....
A friend runs a garage, and is just in the process of getting his MOT Station License.
The gear is all there, so he offered to give Matilda a run over, just to see what is needed for her MOT (ok, I grant you it's due in Fe, but never look a gift horse etc...).
What a pleasant surprise!!
Nowhere near the amount of rot that we were expecting!
He picked up the following:
Steering Rack Gaiters (we knew already)
N/S Track rod end (knew about, replacement in shed).
N/S Outer CV Gaiter.
Tear Drop Mounts (didnt know about those!)
Both Front Floorpans where they meet the bulkhead (knew about)
N/S outer Sill (Knew about - Have replacement in shed already!)
O/S Outer Sill, small hole size of 20p (knew about, and will plate it for time being).
So, for under 20 quids worth of parts, a new, Genuine Rover Sill that we got given for the NS, and 2 6"x2" plates (which will be MKII Astra roof!), and a bit of TLC, then she will be running for another year!
I cant justify chopping the floorpans out and putting whole new ones in for such a small area of rot, so we'll plate them. Besides, the rot has crept up onto the bulkhead, so even if we did weld in new floorpans, then the bulkhead would have to be plated still, so that the floorpan could be welded in properly.
Boot floor, Shock Turrets & Battery Box are in A1 condition (save for a large helping of cat litter left over from the sender unit change!)
I caught a look at the rear subframe, and it's in extremely good nick.... that was my biggest worry if I'm totally honest.... but my worries were unfounded! When the welding is done, I'm gonna invest in a gallon can of Waxoyl (unless you know something better), and liberally coat the underside & subframe (although from the gear lever forwards, is covered in oil still, from the old, sick 998!).
I've welded much more metal into 10 year old Opel Mantas before now... so to get away with such a small amount of welding on an 18 year old Mini, is, I think, damned lucky :-)
Oh, and the scuttle panel needs to be done... but not for MOT... and one of the lads at the garage has devised a way of doing it, without removing the front wings... I dont really want to have to chop them off, as there is absolutely nothing wrong with them.... and I dont want to risk trashing them!
So, in all, we're in Mini Heaven! :-)
James
Posted: Nov 09, 2006 07:37 PM