10 replies to this topic

[beentheunseen]

Hey everyone,

Just got my insurance write-off payout for my rear end collision (£1200 including the buy-back, woohoo!) and am starting to think about how to make the repairs. I have decided to buy a MIG welder, and attempt the repairs myself, as it will be well in excess of £2000 to get it done professionally.

I need to replace the rear valance, and bottom part of the rear panel with this repair panel http://www.minispare...ty=pb&pid=35858. I understand the principle of spot-welding the panel along the seams, but how do I go about joining the repair panel to the upper part of the existing rear panel? Is it a butt weld? Or is there some overlap which is smoothed over with filler? Does anyoune have ay pictures of this kind of repair? Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks, Ben

Edited by beentheunseen, 22 May 2010 - 02:59 PM.

[sonikk4]

Hey everyone,

Just got my insurance write-off payout for my rear end collision (£1200 including the buy-back, woohoo!) and am starting to think about how to make the repairs. I have decided to buy a MIG welder, and attempt the repairs myself, as it will be well in excess of £2000 to get it done professionally.

I need to replace the rear valance, and bottom part of the rear panel with this repair panel http://www.minispare...ty=pb&pid=35858. I understand the principle of spot-welding the panel along the seams, but how do I go about joining the repair panel to the upper part of the existing rear panel? Is it a butt weld? Or is there some overlap which is smoothed over with filler? Does anyoune have ay pictures of this kind of repair? Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks, Ben

Hi butt welding is the way to go here, you could joggle the edge but with it being curved you may distort the panel (be careful but a good finish is still achievable.) At least with the butt weld you can grind flush and then skim with filler, the joggle method is pretty much the same but when you look inside the boot area you will see the lip.

Its all down to what overall finish you want to achieve. For me the butt weld method is the way i would go and then inside the boot area you can clean up the welded area and then skim with filler as well to get a nice smooth finish.

If you do butt weld tack the panel in place first with a few spot welds then seam weld about an inch at a time to minimize distortion through heat build up. Do one inch then leave an inch and so on.

Edited by sonikk4, 22 May 2010 - 03:33 PM.

[beentheunseen]

That's exactly what i needed to know, thanks a lot!

[Sammy D]

www.mig-welding.co.uk

[Rich.]

Have a look at my build thread, i have just done the same thing, just for rust reasons rather than a shunt.

Rich

[998dave]

Look Here

I done exactly the same repair on the ex's Mini 30.



Note my welding has got a little better since!

[Shifty]

What you're looking for is;

Ropey boot floor after cutting out

Bootl floor cut out for new edge

New floor in and welded


Butt welded in and ready to be ground flat

[998dave]

Okay, shifty done more of a job then I had too... Seems we've all had to repair this bit though!

[beentheunseen]

Oh great, thanks a lot - Although it's only the hinge panel that was damaged in the accident, I'll probably replace it across the full width of the car as a lot of rust has been revealed down there. Going to need to do a lot of welding practice lol. Where can i get a rear boot floor edge repair panel like that from? I was hoing to beat mine back into shape, but theres a chance it might be too distorted or corroded i guess...

Edited by beentheunseen, 23 May 2010 - 01:30 PM.

[beentheunseen]

Oh great, thanks a lot - Although it's only the hinge panel that was damaged in the accident, I'll probably replace it across the full width of the car as a lot of rust has been revealed down there. Going to need to do a lot of welding practice lol. Where can i get a rear boot floor edge repair panel like that from? I was hoing to beat mine back into shape, but theres a chance it might be too distorted or corroded i guess...

Edited by beentheunseen, 23 May 2010 - 01:30 PM.

[Shifty]

Thats a full width boot floor repair panel, any mini parts place will sell you one.

The full width hinge panel is a heritage part and costs about £110, the floor @ £25ish.

You'll also need a valance and closing panels.£50(ish)

Depending on the state of the corners of the boot you may need some corner repairs (£30) the pair.

Give M-machine a ring, they're very helpful.