9 replies to this topic

[mmaki]

The external hinges, and external seams, are a pain when it comes to the bodywork.

 

I am pretty sure I need to devise a way to hold the doors in place without the hinges so I can block sand it. Perhaps clamps and pieces of wood as shims.

 

What have others done?

[Ben_O]

Why not just block sand the doors off of the car?

[bpirie1000]

I would agree.... prep off the car... saves dust going everywhere aswell..

[mmaki]

Why not just block sand the doors off of the car?

Because I want the A panel and door to be one harmonious surface.

[Ben_O]

So is the plan to use filler on both and sand them together?

I think that the only way you will benefit from doing it this way is to have the door fixed in its final position which I can't see you being able to achieve without the hinges.

 

I've done many and find it's best to block the door off of the car laying on a table or trestle and the once it's perfectly blocked flat, hang the door and check that everything is uniform. If it's not, make your adjustments and try again.

 

Good luck

Ben

[mmaki]

So is the plan to use filler on both and sand them together?

In my experience that is the traditional way to do it on any restoration of a car without hinges in the way.

 

My concern isn't so much the door, but the "a" panel. It is difficult to block sand because it is so small so there is nothing to keep the block at the right angle without the door on.

[sonscar]

I always marvel that the factory clamped them together in a machine and painted them in a shower with no filler or machine polishing and they still looked good.
Maybe make something to clamp the door in the opening from the rear?Steve..

[gaspen]

 

Why not just block sand the doors off of the car?

Because I want the A panel and door to be one harmonious surface.

 

 

If you want a Mini perfect, you'll never be satisfied :)

[Daz1968]

I fitted outer a panel with door bolted to it, easy to get them both level then. I used the m machine full outers with door post. 

[nick@dunsdale]

you could bolt the doors up with hinges on gap them till your happy

 

Take the inner door seal of and tack weld the doors to the apertures from the inside

 

Four tacks should be enough you would need to bridge the gap

 

Then remove the hinges

 

1MM slitting disc to seperate when finished and then dress up the welded areas

 

Bit extreme but dont see any other way of doing it

Edited by nick@dunsdale, 05 July 2021 - 12:58 PM.