6 replies to this topic

[Hen1275]

I'm now at the stage of removing the old scuttle panel to replace with a new one on my 1990 mini, but I'm not 100% sure on how to remove it and so don't want to be cutting things unnecessarily. The bonnet, wings and windscreen are all off. I know there are some spot welds where the dash rail, bulkhead and scuttle all meet but because the scuttle has a lot of rust bubbling along the seam, I'm unable to locate them.

 

So what would be the best way of removing the scuttle?

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

[sonikk4]

Lay the new one over the old one. Mark a line on each A pillar. DO NOT cut there they are a guide only.

Use a grinding disc and start grinding back along the windscreen lip until you start to either uncover the spot welds or get the dash rail lip.

Now use a decent flat scraper and see if you can start to peel the scuttle lip away. Keep working along to each pillar. Where you can see spot welds then drill these out. Once you have the majority of the scuttle off you can then think about cutting the A pillar but only after you have offered up the new scuttle again.

The one thing though before you start doing any of this is to take at least three measurements of the original windscreen aperture vertically. One in the middle and one at each end just before the scuttle ends curve up. These measurements will determine where you do your final cuts on the A pillars.

[Hen1275]

Hi Sonikk, thanks very much for the fast reply and useful information. I'm going to give it a go on Monday and hopefully it'll all go to plan!

One other question, the new panels come with a black finish on them, what's the best way of removing it, just normal paint stripper? Or sanding it down?

I'm sure I'll be asking a few more questions on here as I've got a lot of rust and rot to sort out on the car.

Thanks

[sonikk4]

I take it you are using Heritage?? I use a DA sander and rough back with that. A useful tip with Heritage is always check for spider tracks of rust. Had several panel with this and most recently one of the door skins on Paddy my clubby resto.

I do not totally remove the coating but the majority, that way you can see if there are tracks,

Those measurements I mentioned at the end are critical otherwise you could end up with potential windscreen fitting problems.

[Hen1275]

Well the scuttle is heritage but the wings and A panels are reproduction. With reproduction panels, do you just remove all the black coating?

Thanks

[sonikk4]

The pattern panels yes, remove all of the black or grey primer. It will wipe off with standard thinners.

Like I said with the Heritage panels though do have a really good look at the surface, it's a good coating BUT do not hinge your respray on it being a fit surface for paint.

[Hen1275]

Thanks for the help. I managed to take the scuttle off today and found that there wasn't as much rust underneath as I thought which was a bonus. I just need to do a couple of repairs just below the Bonnet hinges and fit two new front panels to the inner wings before the new scuttle goes on.