13 replies to this topic

[sixtyeight]

So I have just purchased a mini and it has a rusty roof (amongst other parts). As per the pic below, this is the worst patch (about the size of a fist), slap bang in the middle of the roof. This has been wire brushed back, and deoxidized to convert the rust. Would this be ok to skim fill over and paint? Or is the rot too deep and will continue - it is fairly badly pitted? I
d rather not replace the roof, but do happen to have a donor car with a near perfect roof...

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Cheers

Tim.

[waddle]

can it not be patched ?

[alex-95]

can it not be patched ?

You could but you would end up with a big dip in the roof from the heat distortion.

[JonnyBMX]

the best thing when repairing things is to get it back to bare metal, ive never done anything like this on a roof but maybe try sanding it down to bare metal (PLEASE GET SOME BETTER ADVISE before you do this as ive never done it before) then skim the filler over, prime it and paint

[Bungle]

this is now on the road after sitting in that lake for 30 years

[sonikk4]

It does look like the whole roof needs stripping back to bare metal. When you have done that then you can see if there are any other patches / areas that may be an issue.

The odds on cutting that out and not rippling the roof will be high. Do not fill over it as it will return plus if its badly pitted then the roof skin will be that much thinner there as well.

[Vulcan]

Take it back to bare metal and see what state the steel's in. It may not be too bad.

Welding in a new piece, should it be properly holed is possible, just friggin' hard. Not just in terms of welding skill but you'll also need to remove the headliner and most of the interior.

[sixtyeight]

the whole car will be stripped back to bare metal - but what I was curious about are the bad areas like those above. I think that where it is pitted like that is too thin - there are a lot of places on the roof like this, albeit smaller, but I think the whole roof is going to have to be replaced. There is no way I am patching/welding a roof as I know it will warp and never look right!

[MiniLuke]

Ask this guy for the roof.

http://www.theminifo...63#entry2647763

[sixtyeight]

so new roof it is... there is a lot of rot on the roof, just not as large as the spot photographed. it never goes right through the metal, but it will just come back I think.

I was going to replace the roof by cutting the A, B and C pillars, and staggering the A and B pillars inside and outsides, and joining the C pillar with an internal plate plug welded, then seam welding the join.

[sixtyeight]

Ask this guy for the roof.

http://www.theminifo...63#entry2647763

shipping would be a killer - I live in Australia. I have a spare roof/donor car already anyways :)

[MiniLuke]

Ask this guy for the roof.

http://www.theminifo...63#entry2647763

shipping would be a killer - I live in Australia. I have a spare roof/donor car already anyways :)

LOL didn't realise. Thought it didn't rain down there!

[sixtyeight]

LOL didn't realise. Thought it didn't rain down there!

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was meant to be a dry 'country car' but I was wrong!

Edited by sixtyeight, 26 November 2012 - 08:22 PM.

[tiger99]

Why are you even thinking about cutting pillars, which immediately gets you into structural problems and having to seam weld "invisibly"? Why just not drill out the spot welds and swap roof skins? Much less disruptive.