After many experiments with Airplane Grade strippers and other mild grinding procedures, I went for the "all or nothing" solution: recycled fine sand in a moderate pressure sandblasting cabinet from a local outdoor iron forniture powder coating.

The Mite is now in primer awaiting for the first coat of USMC Green.

Mechanically I already went for the fuel pump (the one on the block was not even resembling the one needed), Brakes received a NOS master cyl since the old was corroded to a crisp and no line was present for the front end and only the driver side rear wheel was working... (one out of four: NOT BAD!!) I dropped an M151 solid state ignition kit in the original distributor and after a little tweaking and adjusting everything came to life. Carburator has been rebuilt and all the oils changed.

Bodywork started with a sledgehammer to cure the front bumper, the front section has been taken off and blasted separately (you don't want to play too much with the harness....) Now it's time to shoot some USMC green around and reassemble the major parts to see if everything works. Next step will be a second coat of paint, then all the bolt on will find their place (I hope I remember where goes what....) A new glass will be ready by then and if all is up and running a third coat of paint will eliminate my improper use of screw-driver, ratchets and other scratchy tools I already stabbed my fingers with!!!

Expected drive out by April in full finished paint and numbers.

TO BE CONTINUED....... HERE