28 replies to this topic

[mk=john]

Hi
i am currently restoring my 1960 mini minor. The new floor panels and outer sills on these are one part, and i am currently just doing the Right hand side.

Anyway, on the original car, it looks like the sill and door step were roller welded together, the spotwelds being 5 or 6 mm aprt from eachother.

I have plug welded the new panels together (with my MIG welder) at approximately 20mm apart between the welds. However, my plug welds are bigger in diameter then the original spotwelds.

Is this OK for an MOT, or do i need to carry out more welding?

Thanks

John

[spikyrob]

when i replaced my sills and spot welded them the MOT man insisted they had to be seem welded, as at the factory they were roller welded but in a continuous spot weld (2 copper wheels rotating permanently charged) same as the fuel tanks.

Rob

[Ethel]

I don't think I've seen any production cars, including Minis, spot welded that closely together other than where it's to create a waterproof joint. If the panels bow between the welds you might consider adding more, otherwise I wouldn't bother.

On sills Rob, are you sure?

It's a misconception that continuous welds are stronger. The heat and surface tension of a weld thins and weakens the metal next to it and a continuous weld creates a stress riser like creasing a bit of card. Correctly spaced spots will load in tension like a nut 'n bolt.

Circumference is pi x diameter, so a row of spots with gaps that are twice as wide as the welds have just as much metal joined as a continuous weld.

[dlm]

when i replaced my sills and spot welded them the MOT man insisted they had to be seem welded, as at the factory they were roller welded but in a continuous spot weld (2 copper wheels rotating permanently charged) same as the fuel tanks.

Rob

He is wrong. The sills were spot welded at the factory and not roller welded. The only roller welding done on the body I believe was the roof.

[In-a-mini]

I can not say for the early minis but all i have worked on have has spaced spot welds. And as previously stated the continuous spot welds were only to seal IE tanks and roof panel withing gutter.

In my experiences it is only badly educated/taught Mot testers that have said such things and when they have gone back to the testers guide and re read it the problem was resolved.

Edited for spelling as pointed out glad i made you laugh

Edited by In-a-mini, 02 February 2009 - 05:20 PM.

[minidaves]

sounds perfect to me if u dont have a spot welder, and not a mot fail, just make sure its all nice and tidy

dave

[cambiker71]

Hi
i am currently restoring my 1960 mini minor. The new floor panels and outer sills on these are one part, and i am currently just doing the Right hand side.

Anyway, on the original car, it looks like the sill and door step were roller welded together, the spotwelds being 5 or 6 mm aprt from eachother.

I have plug welded the new panels together (with my MIG welder) at approximately 20mm apart between the welds. However, my plug welds are bigger in diameter then the original spotwelds.

Is this OK for an MOT, or do i need to carry out more welding?

Thanks

John

Sounds ok to me, so long as the panels are replaced as they were originally and not repair section panels then plug welding where spot welds were originally is fine. Any other weld repairs need to be seam welded for a MOT pass.

[edi57]

The way you have welded your sills is acceptable for the MOT.

[mk=john]

The way you have welded your sills is acceptable for the MOT.

Hi Guys
Thanks for the help. I am also taking lots of photos of ythe restoration work, to include all welding, just in case the MOT inspector asks to see how I have welded something. So, I will leave the welding for the sills then? I have spotwelded at a distance of 20mm as mentioned.

I guess once it is all sealed and painted, the MOT guy can't see the welding anyway??? I thought I would mention that, and hence why I am taking lots of photos of the whole restoration process.

[rosewhite]

In my experiences it is only badly educated/taught Mot testes that have said such things and when they have gone back to the testers guide and re read it the problem was resolved.

sorry to spam, but that really made me laugh!!

[tomsbluemini]

Mot testes

Sorry to comment on your typo mate, but this made me laugh SO much!!!!!

[mk=john]

Mot testes

Sorry to comment on your typo mate, but this made me laugh SO much!!!!!

What made you laugh?? The fact that I'm not stupid by bodging welding, spending hundreds for paintint etc and then finding out it fails the MOT??

[tomsbluemini]

Mot testes

Sorry to comment on your typo mate, but this made me laugh SO much!!!!!

What made you laugh?? The fact that I'm not stupid by bodging welding, spending hundreds for paintint etc and then finding out it fails the MOT??

no - you wrote TESTES...

***giggles like a girl***

Edited by tomsbluemini, 01 February 2009 - 10:42 PM.

[daemonchild]

Mot testes

Sorry to comment on your typo mate, but this made me laugh SO much!!!!!

What made you laugh?? The fact that I'm not stupid by bodging welding, spending hundreds for paintint etc and then finding out it fails the MOT??

no - you wrote TESTES...

***giggles like a girl***

Like you hear at gigs, as in Testes, testes, 1,2 ... THREE?!

[Ethel]

Mot testes

Sorry to comment on your typo mate, but this made me laugh SO much!!!!!

What made you laugh?? The fact that I'm not stupid by bodging welding, spending hundreds for paintint etc and then finding out it fails the MOT??

It's ok no one's saying you're talking b0ll0x