Hi all,

As most here would be aware my brown beast was stolen and violated in more ways than one. One of the worst things they did from a repair point of view was damaging the vin on the radiator cowel (see pics below).




I'm not sure exactly how to go about getting this fixed. My initial thought is to have a panel beater remove the top section and replace with one straight off another mini ... if this can be done is it then possible to have the vin from the replacement panel ground off and re-stamped with my original vin?? Of course I'd want it to look as original as possible.

What other options do I have?? Thanks in advance.

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any good panel beater should be able to cut out the damage, and reweld in a new restamped peice of flat. My thought would be to get a cutting wheel and cut out only the damaged peice, which is only the flat part. If you have them cut that whole top section off it is going to make a mess and they will never get it to match. To do it right i would thik you will need to take the rad out so as to get some room in there and not fill the rad full of swaf. It should come up a treat if the beater knows his stuff and is enthusiastic about it. Shop around and fine some one that cares. Hard to find of course.

Cheers

Aaron

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Finding some stamps that resemble the originals could be the hardest part. It will need support under the panel to re stamp it.

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Chris

Everything I like is either
illegal, immoral or fattening.

the original stamps will be hard to find. i know there are a few places in sydney that have them. Not sure about melbourne, but i would think if you call them and tell them what happened they may be able to help you out.

Cheers
Aaron

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hmmmm - thanks guys - who in Sydney would I ring??

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I would take pics before and after, to prove to VicRoads that it was damaged by the villains.
Is the VIN plate still on the car or did they pinch it..

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

SOB destroyed it...

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As someone who as been down a similar road, take some advice from Vicroads or the police in writing. The re stamping could bite you later on. The car has been reported stolen so that is part of vehicle records so dot your I's and cross your T's so to speak. If the compliance plate is missing you need to address that first and as you cannot prove the chassis number this will present the first problem.

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Chris

Everything I like is either
illegal, immoral or fattening.

don't do a thing till you have something in writing!!!!

The police will give it a new police issued identification number, then it will be legal again, or go & get another body number & compliance plate & rebirth it, sorry but i could'nt find a better word for it.

Doogie

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I won Hay once, here's the pic to prove it..


Hay, it's not about the car, it's not about the venue, it's about the people that come here. Peter Dwyer, Mayor of Hay NSW.

with this:

http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12524

That is not a compliance plate. No S would have had one.

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Chris

Everything I like is either
illegal, immoral or fattening.

What model is your Clubman again?

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Opinions expressed by me are of my opinion only and are copyrighted to Kinkabell Corporation? 2006.

DJ - It's a 77.

I'm aware of the legal process I have to go through .... actually trying to avoid that at the moment. I have to have a "VP" number issued and get it re-registered. Not really a process I'm that keen on. I've already spoken with Vicroads and they weren't really interested (are they ever!?!). They couldn't be bothered with me.

So I figure - get the existing vin stamped into the cowel then if questions arise about the comp plate - it fell off?? Cars registered in my name and the cop who "cracked the case" said if I ever get any grief to just give them his name and number and he'll sort it.

Vicroads actually told me (over the phone - was prolly someone at a call center in India) that all I need do is get the car "safe" for the road again good luck!! Then I actually went in to the office which was when the pimple faced kid blew me off - basically didn't give a rats as I was probably going to take up some of his morning smoko!

I'm more concerned with getting it lookikng like it's self again under the hood....without some big ugly VP number screwed on!!

All advise and thoughts appreciated.

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geez... you can tell this guy felt really bad about stealing your car...

looks like he had every intention of hiding it as long as he could

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