5 replies to this topic

[ManningsMini]

Hi guys,

 

Having stripped the rear quarter off my mini it turns out the inner arch has seen better days. Along with several holes and a crusty lip the shock mount has started to disintegrate..

With an eye to keeping the cost down I was considering the pattern inner arches and want to know if there is a hidden price of sanity!

 

Anyone had good experiences with these or am I going to have to bite the bmh bullet?

Thanks all

[GT Jimmy]

I used magnum arches on the GT I picked up from Bingley before I started the resto. Didn't have any problems. I did replace the boot floor at the same time so was able to make it all fit. I think at the time they were half the price of genuine

[Cooperman]

In general it seems to be a case of sometimes a pattern part will fit, but on another car the same make and type of panel needs work.

They are all old cars and tolerances were never very good in the first place, so over the years those tolerances will have got worse as parts were replaced.

 

I had difficulty getting a pair of Heritage wings to fit on one car I did years ago, then last year I bought a pattern front wing and it arrived at 14-30 hours and was all fitted and welded in place by 17-00 hours. It was a very easy job with no 'metal bashing' needed.

 

It seems to be a matter of luck, but when doing bodywork an owner does need some basic sheet-metal working abilities (thank goodness I was an apprentice in the aircraft industry - albeit a long time ago).

[coopertaz]

done this on both my minis and used genuine both times, more expensive but makes job much easier. also tends to be thicker gauge steel.

[hulsmeier]

I have used Magnum on mine both sides no hassle at all. They're now made in zintec so offer further corrosion resistance.
Main thing with anything like this is ensuring things are measured and lined up properly. I made a structure inside the boot so the new panels could be placed back in the right places.

[Cooperman]

We are so lucky to have the range of choices in respect of body panels for our old classic cars.

If you had a different car from the Mini-era, such as a Cortina Mk1, an Escort, a Sunbeam Rapier or a Capri you would be paying many times what an equivalent Mini panel costs and ever then have poor quality.

To do restorations on any old car does require a level of sheet-metal-working ability as well as the ability to MIG weld.