70 replies to this topic

[MiniJimNI]

Model:mini city 1000e
Year:1989
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible): The guy i have bought my mini from cut out the back seat and frame so i now have this big gaping hole which i have been told may weaken the back of the car. I am thinkin that i could put a strut brace to add support to the back but this would mean changing fuel tank for a flat one which i dont mind if it solves the problem. ALthough do i need to supoport the back of the mini as the back has been cut to the pillars???

cheers!


Any non-standard parts that might be involved with the problem?

[mini_matt_106]

still trying to work out what you mean, so is there no rear seat back? ie firewall? if the boots open can you see all the way through? if the seat back is still there but its jst the bit u sit on and pockets have been removed you could probably weld in a brace bar where the seat should be, rather than brace bar in the boot hence changing the tank? someone else could probably say if this would be good enough

[Dan]

Your car has been weakened and made both unsafe and un-roadworthy. Personally I'd be after the seller, the car is not fit for purpose.

You cannot just put a strut brace in to add some support. Partly because there are no struts. Mainly because the rear bulkhead (seatbase, back and parcel shelf) is one of the key structural parts of the car. Also becuase there is now no firewall between you and the fuel tank. You need to either put a proper original seat, bulkhead and parcel shelf pressing back in place or else fit something along the lines of a 6 or more point welded roll cage (which would also need to be gussetted to the rear pillars and cant rail) and a fire bulkhead of some kind or double walled fuel tank.

Don't drive this car until it's fixed.

[MiniJimNI]

so does this mean that the car would fail an MOT if eventually brought upto standard without the rear seat pannel parcel shelf etc?

[Sam Walters]

Fail an mot.

The shell would twist.

[daemonchild]

Fail an mot.

The shell would twist.

If it hasn't already!

Please take a few photos and post them here, but from your description things are not good... (as the others have said).
You can buy panels (for example below), but it ain't cheap:

Parcel Shelf
Seat Bulkhead.

[MiniJimNI]

how do i know if the shell has twisted?? If i buy a bulk head pannel etc can i add on myself or does it need to be welded on?

[daemonchild]

how do i know if the shell has twisted?? If i buy a bulk head pannel etc can i add on myself or does it need to be welded on?

Welded mate. Proper good and solid too!

[Sam Walters]

how do i know if the shell has twisted?? If i buy a bulk head pannel etc can i add on myself or does it need to be welded on?

To put this simply. Sell your mini to zcars and buy a push bike.

[MiniJimNI]

These are the photos of my mess!!

Attached Files

•  100_6658.JPG   786.07K   124 downloads
•  100_6659.JPG   863.72K   113 downloads

[matt615]

That won't be easy or cheap to put right. You'd be better off scrapping it and buying a Mini that doesn't have huge chunks cut out of it!

[daemonchild]

These are the photos of my mess!!

It's certainly roomy...

Also, the wiring doesn't look so good - so I'd want to change that.
Plus, the boot floor isn't great - look at the join with the boot hinge panel and I see rust.
What's the rest of the car like???

Unless it's perfect, I'd tend to agree: break it and make a few quid back on the alloys etc.

Edited by daemonchild, 16 March 2009 - 06:35 PM.

[MiniJimNI]

i just got it off ebay for £450 plus £300 for transport what a mug eh!

[Guess-Works.com]

Live and learn...

the alternative would possibly to panel the back like a van ???

Out of interest could you link to the ebay listing... you may be able to file a dispute as incorrectly described... How did you pay ?

Edited by GuessWorks.co.uk, 16 March 2009 - 07:07 PM.

[MiniJimNI]

paypal and just opened a dispute after reading folks advice although dont know if i have enough of a case. Thats what i have on the listing. How would you pannel the back?

Attached Files

•  THIS_IS_UNFISHED_PROJECT_CAR.doc   38K   122 downloads

Edited by MiniJimNI, 16 March 2009 - 07:15 PM.