1981 Austin Maxi 2 HL 'the sh1tbox'

I've been looking into how to lower the hydra gas suspension and it all seems a bit of a faf. it is lower than it should be already because the suspension needs pumping up after all these years sat in the barn but when these sink they get squishier and worse handling (also might well rub the arches) so I might have to get it pumped up a little at least.
Due to this I think I may have a new look beginning to come together for it. The curse word box rally team. But first I really must get onto the rear arch, I have a day off work tomorrow so as long as the weather is good I will get cracking.

Spent my day off seeing what rust issues this was hiding today.

The drivers rear arch, its on both edges, next to the door and rear edge but the top of the arch is really sound. Annoyingly the pattern arches that were on ebay for months have just disappeared and the only site I can find that is selling them has a broken payment page so I can't buy them

The drivers rear door doesn't look quite so bad here, after I took the tape from the bottom of the doors.

But up close you can see that the skin and the frame is going and partially gone.

It's the same story with the passenger rear door.

And the passenger front door, it may not look so bad but thats because its full of filler.

Now to decide whether to bodge or try and weld some new metal in these doors, and get hold of a new arch!

But now on a lighter note, I'll just leave this here:

It's a bed!
Welcome to my beige velour dogging mobile.

Don't forget, the Mk 1 Maxi's did take part in real rallies ;D

Pic links to more info:



Also, once you get out and about in it, can you take a pic of it next to a BMW mini and post it please? ;D (or any other Maxi owners please?)

www.flickr.com/photos/ed-wells/4032317277/in/faves-21031300@N02/ Reminds of this poor bloke and his maxi :-)

Things have been a little slow on the Maxi front recently, mostly due to a relentless work schedule, but I found myself with some time off and set to work. I now have a deadline. The Fiesta is coming off the road on the 10th October, so the Maxi needs to be completely done or passing its MOT on that day. Maybe a tall order
I have changed the solid brake lines as they were looking a little tired and attacked some small areas of rust, along with cleaning up the brakes. Unfortunately the driver’s side calliper has its bleed nipple snapped off, so I have had to buy a new one, along with a wheel arch repair section, but they haven't arrived yet, so it is currently without 1 front brake, but it should hopefully soon be rectified, at least if I can find the time.
It didn't help that the water pump on the Fiesta failed on Monday so it took a day to change and trace the leaks and eradicate them.
Also I have begun executing my plan for its new 'rally' look. Hence the quite incongruous wheel trim colour, but the pure brilliance of my plan will be revealed in due time.

The front looks lower in this picture then it actually is compared to the bacl, the suspension hasn’t actually died.
I spent some time finishing cleaning the interior so it is now inhabitable by humans, and also has one very important addition.

Real nuisance that he weather has taken a turn for the worse and I have been taken ill as there is still a fair amount that I want to get done before I go to work tomorrow, I was planning on having a go at sorting out the passenger front door today, but with it tipping down with rain and me felling like the colour of this car, I can’t see that happening for a while, so maybe some duct tape will have to do for the minute.

love Them Nice sh1tbox

Just what everyone has been waiting for...
Another Maxi Update!
Cast your minds back to about a month ago and recall the drivers rear arch. It was rusted to hell and a couple of poor quality patches hadn't helped matters.
Well a couple of days ago I attacked it with a grinder and took all the rust out of the inner and outer arch. I had quite a gap when I was finished.

Well, I whipped out the welder and some filler and I have spent the best part of the day on it, and I now have this:

I am most pleased.
Whilst waiting for paint and filler to dry I also fitted a mk1 golf front splitter and made the rear mud flaps a little more 'jazzy'. Pictures will be in evidence when it is back on all 4 wheels, you would be suprised at how much difference these subtle changes have made.
I am quite enjoying this car, when I was working on the Fiesta I was too emotionally invested in it and felt like it had to be perfect, where as with this I can just try stuff, practice and muck about with it.

Up close it really isn't perfect. The top of the arch is just right, and the bit next to the door isn't far off at all, but next to the bumper there is still a few little lumps and undulations, but I ran out of filler :S
Only 10 days until this has to have an MOT on it.
Also my mudflap alterations were inspired by your work painting the badges on your car Volksangel. I didn't put nearly as much time or effort into mine though, just a pot of silver airfix paint I used on model airoplanes when I was a kid to paint in the Maxi logos.

and I only have 2 of those days off. I have to be at work the rest of them...