Thought I would bore the pants off everyone and post an update on the Mini.
After I got the engine sorted I thought well a bit of painting, put the lights back in and job done - how wrong. Splashed the zinc primer around under the front wings, and admired my handywork with the mig while I was under there, then started under the rear arches and sub frame - oh dear - a dirty big hole appeared near the rubber spring mount at the slightest touch of a wire brush. So off to the local Mini Aladdin's cave to purchase a 'good' second hand one that I was assured had been passed fit for use by their mechanic. Sub frame was pretty good and after a couple of coats of aforementioned primer, and satin finish Hammerite, really looked he part. Trouble was the radius arm bearings where pretty worn so I ended up swapping the arms for my old ones. I managed to shear off one of the mounting bolts but luckily for me the old tin worm had done its job and the whole mounting needed replacing anyway (how much more luck can I stand). Out with the mig again to do some simple local repairs around the mounting and wheel arch - I even remembered to remove the rear seat base so the heat from the welding didn't scorch it - oh well nice thought. All was going swimmingly, new subframe mount was stuck on with (for me) reasonable welding and I concentrated on a small repair a bit further along....oops. I must have hit a crappy bit of metal (that's my excuse anyway) and blew a small hole through the metal. 'That flame on the other side of the hole looks a bit big' I thought so I decided to check inside the car - S..T - flames where licking up the rear seat back and black 'orrible smoke was pouring out of the open window. So what did I do, why stick my head in the car and try and bat the flames out with my hand of course (panic [:0]) luckily only the glove got burned but the seat was still on fire. As even more luck would have it the garden hose had been left out and was just outside the garage door so a quick few blasts on 'sprinkle' doused the flames.
After ten minutes of coughing my guts up from inhaling the noxious fumes I ventured back to see what damage had been done, I was again lucky. What had happened was that a piece of paper (a bill I was keeping) had fallen across the the area I was repairing and had ignited, this spread to the seat belt and travelled up the back of the seat but fortunately hasn't done to much harm to the roof lining.
When I think of what could have happened, compared to the mini disaster I had, I count myself very lucky indeed so please let this be a warning to every one (including me) take extra care when welding, have a fire extinguisher or hose nearby and if at all possible have some one watch your back - be careful out there.
'Harvey the RV'
