Roof chopped BMW mini cooper S

[rkde]

Can you see the light at the end of the tunnel yet

Yeah finally I can, the inisde was shot with the first high build primer so I hope that within a month it can start to go back together. I have piles of new parts and boxes all over the place, only need to buy the brake lines and I have a whole car ready for assembly

 

[Al2K]

Sweet just read all of this... loving it.. you've got some excellent skills mate..

 

[rkde]

Just had this update from my painter, lots of over spray but the cage will be masked when the car gets painted so no worries there.

So here is my chilly red roll cage.

So all that is left now is to paint the car white, fit the grp and carbon roof skin. The book a week off work and assemble it

 

[Tupers]

That does looks very cool. Nice work on the roof chop, I can't wait to see it all back together.

 

[barny]

Getting there now. Ford frozen white would look great.
Keep the pics coming.

 

[Coo]

Brilliant - you'll be on track by summer !

 

[whahoo69er]

Just read that from start to finish! looks top banana! When the wife falls asleep on the sofa later, ill check out the blog.

 

[rkde]

Cheers for the comments, it all helps to keep me going

For today;

Been getting on with some of the jobs that have been outstanding for while. Really need to get the engine finished will all the ancillaries fitted perfectly then I am going to have to re-paint some of the items again as I have knocked the paint while making all the changes.

Front supercharger mount I printed off a few weeks ago, I have this being made in steel at the moment but the plastic part will do for the mock up.

Then as one of the 4 brackets for the blower I added a lug from the inlet manifold of the supercharger to the inlet manifold of the cylinder head. will drill a hole between the 2 lugs and run a bolt and nut between them

Using bits of castings laying around the shed I started to mock out the alternator low bracket, based on an old a/c pulley bracket but cut and welded to other parts

 

[rkde]

During the weekend I also had time for some painting of parts and also managed to make a start on sorting some of the carbon parts. Started with the mirror, they went together very nicely and plan to put the clear on over the next few days.

After trying the carbon joey I decided I was not 100% happy with it so stripped the carbon off and high build primed the whole thing again, I think the trick with the headlights is till wait till the resin is setting before its applied then it self levels and does not require much sanding which is the hard part on something that shaped.

 

[rkde]

So this car... Well here is the official update.

Back in October 2011 my car was collected from my house and taken 30 miles south to a body shop. This made me really happy in the thought that the car would soon be done. However every week I went to the shop very little had been done. Eventually the roof was sanded smooth and primer had been shot. I then arranged to get a mould made, sadly the gel coat was not mixed correctly and the mould was removed too soon causing the mould to sag which meant the roof we made from it needed work and still does...

There has been some body work done while the car was there, but not huge amounts. The cage was painted but I am going to have to strip it clean it up and paint it again. The interior panels I had left on the car are now covered in red over spray so I now need to go and get a new boot inner trim and pull handle

The under side of the car was shutz and that looks fine so at least that is done

All the welding that was carried out at the shop has had to be re-done and ground out by me. The guy kept welding without any gas and it was not gas less MIG so porous welds, thank god the welds was on non structural areas and I have removed them all. He believed that if you got it hot enough and cooled it fast enough with air from the compressor it would be fine All I can say is I am glad I did the roof chop as I at least know the standard of my welds.

Long story short I have the car back but it has put me back so many months and there is still so much work to do and lets not beat around this ordeal has cost me a lot of money as all the deposit up front has gone and I can't see there any way to get it back.

All a bit sad but I am hoping with friends I am going to be able to sort this project out and get it back on track.

I have been threatened to have the car thrown out side several times and felt like I have been held to ransom and have been asked for money along the way and even asked for more. I have been lead which is not like me! I have been on the verge of scrapping the car and even selling it as a project. The whole deal of the car being at that company has left my other half in tears, me stressed to hell, its effected my company as I have been depressed by the whole thing.

I should have took the car many months ago but kept hoping that the work would just get done.

the main thing is I have it back, my inspiration is back and in my spare time I am going to get this car built as quickly as I can, business is already growing and once I get the money flowing again I am going to get back to myself.

October 2011

March 2012 and down £xxxx.xx

 

[Coo]

Gutted to hear about your problems...

As you say though, fantastic that you've got it back and are raring to go.

Loved all your progress on this, and still look forward to more..

Don't lose heart, keep going

 

[lcdtech]

+1 to Coo's comments - Mate don't give up, we are all just busting to see more.....

 

[troppo]

+1 to Coo's comments - Mate don't give up, we are all just busting to see more.....

Ditto mate, we`re all dying to see this thing through

 

[Robotstar5]

Sorry to hear about your problems, it's annoying when you entrust work to some one else and they hold you to ransom

At least you haven't given up so we can watch the project move forward

 

[rkde]

Cheers guys, I am already once again looking forward to the weekend where I can just get on with it. Going to work really hard on it all and try and finish it in a couple of months or at least have the body rolling round on its chassis / sub frame

 

[fluxcored]

Gee whizz, what a setback!

All I can say buddy is that it's really going to look cool when you're done!

 

[Shox Dr]

Feel for you. I hate been taken for a ride. If you're like me you find someone you believe is capable of the job, and it's at the right price. As time goes by it becomes obvious that is not the cast, yet you still believe it's all going to be right.

I think it's because you don't want to admit to yourself you made a bad character judgement.


Best thing is you still have the car, and you are more than up to the job of finishing it yourself.

Chin up fella, it all makes good stories to tell later

 

[rkde]

Yep I am the same as that, I kept thinking he would do it and kept buying the promises even though I knew they where hollow

I chose a bad body shop but one thing I have learnt is I will only go to people who have a land line for a start and with at least 2 customer reviews also I want to see the work.

This guy gave the talk and just didn't live up to his word

 

[Epicyclic]

Well done on getting going again after such a let down.
Been there and it's the only way, now youv'e got your head around it you'll soon get going again. Having watched the build develop you clearly have the skills and patience to complete the job.
As others have said I'm looking forward to seeing the finished article and pictures ofyou putting the completed Project Blue through its paces.
Cheers, H.

 

[rkde]

Back with me now, you better believe I have been getting on with my car.

Roof is trimmed and bonded on, bonnet fitted and I have spent a lot of time going over the car sorting lots of little bits