7 replies to this topic

[KLMOC]

Started on more work on a bare shell project i have and it all looked not to bad for a 1993 shell. Some repairs have been done to the bottom flitch to front floor, heel board rear subframe mounts and half of the boot floor. The welding is pretty spot on who ever done it and its had a good coat of stone chip.HOWEVER....

Started cutting the rest of the outer sill off at the rear and part of the inner which was rotten slightly and BOOM! found the original rusty heelboard subframe mount panel behind still from the other side of the heelboard mount.. So the complete Ape that welded the repairs, welded them with rusty metal behind the new repair panels obviously finding good metal to weld to.

WHY just WHY

So now having to cut off the heelboard mount off and wait till I can get hold of a rear subframe to line up the new heelboard repair panel.

Just can't understand people. I am now seriously doubting the rest of the repairs done.. although the only serious rust appears to be inner sill partly and flitch, door hinge end to scuttle corners. Floors are solid and untouched... plus the small amount near the heelboard. Rear arches have had work done but thankfully they are done right as I have checked from inside the boot...

Bet I'm not the only one eh?

[1984mini25]

Why? Simples, why fix something properly when you can cover it over and make it look 'pretty' in half the time.

[Sam]

It's common practice to get a car through an MOT to make it last a couple more years. Obviously this is an issue with Minis, as they aren't the disposable car they once were!

So yeah, dodgy welding repairs on Minis bugs me too, and I always fully cut the rust out.

[mab01uk]

As said to get it through the MOT.............common practice when the owner wants a cheap job and an MOT with no plans for long term restoration. Don't necessarily blame the welder blame the owner who normally specifies what quality of repair they want based on price.

Edited by mab01uk, 16 March 2013 - 07:40 PM.

[KLMOC]

yeh i know why just having a rant.... Just annoying, i was hoping i didn't have to repair those panels as they looked and are solid on the outside but rusted behind. lol not good. ah well keeps me busy just more work

[ToM 2012]

we own another mini and it was on the road last year. but failed mot due to having rear boot floor rusted threw so we had it done and talking to the welder he said we will chop it out and put fresh steel back in for £100 so thought he knows hes job had it done past mot sorted!. thew months later where the subframe bolts to the heel board that had all rusted away and you can pick the shell up of the subframe so put the mini into storage and today i was working underneath it and i looked at where the chap put the new welded plate and he has only welded a plate over the old rust! what a lying bodger! wont be using them again!

[ToM 2012]

plus not even abit of paint over it to stop rust occurring.

[Angusdog]

It's a sad old world when you have to do a job yourself to know it's done right, or find reliable references from people you trust. Over the years I've moved firmly into the first camp (although I trust the mechanic who works on our modern cars implicitly).