7 replies to this topic

[colinu]

OK, so I'm pretty sure the answer is "replace the whole panel with a Heritage one", but I need you guys to help me bite the bullet and make that decision.

 

Issue is that also the scuttle panel is in solid condition (not a sign of rot anywhere) I'm sure a previous repair was done without due care and attention.  The left hand end of the scuttle seems to be 1/4" proud of where it should be (i.e. that side of the car is 1/4 too wide if you get what I mean).  Not too noticeable until you look at the seam that runs down that corner of the car beside the windshield (i.e. under the seam cover).  Instead of the panels being flush either side of that seam, the one to the front of it it good down to about 4" above the scuttle then kinks out 1/4".  To correct that the scuttle needs either a new end panel fitted (and lots of fettling!), or rip out the whole scuttle and fit a full Heritage one.

On the plus side I'm in the process of stripping the whole car down to bare metal for a respray (i.e. windshield etc is coming out anyway), and it's a steel flip front so no worries about messing with wings etc.

 

In my position what would you do... spend a good few hours curing and swearing while trying to get a Magnum repair panel to look good, or bite the bullet and fit a full Heritage scuttle?

 

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•  Bad_scuttle_2.png   594.16K   0 downloads
•  Bad_scuttle_3.png   522.49K   0 downloads
•  Scuttle-Good_Side.png   673.55K   0 downloads
•  Mini - flipped open.png   939.87K   1 downloads

[Gaz66]

Ive just replaced a full scuttle on my project and was relatively easy to do if time consuming getting all the old spot welds out etc.
The ends of mine had been replaced and filled over but the bonnet flange was very thin too so i decided to replace the lot.
Definitely fit a heritage panel as it will fit like a glove, mine did anyway.
The cost is a bit eye watering though over a pattern panel.

[colinu]

Gaz66 thanks for the reply.  Yes it might be a bit time consuming cutting out all the spot welds, but I'm guessing it'll be no more time consuming than having to fight/fettle a poorly fitting end repair panel.

As for eye-watering cost of the Heritage vs pattern panel... I think the extra 90 quid is well worth it even if only for peace of mind knowing it'll actually fit :)  

[colinu]

Curiosity got the better of me... stripped off paint (and about 1/8" body filler!) to find that yes a repair panel had been fitted to that end.

Really poor job... the repair panel sits easily 1/16" lower than the scuttle (hence the need for so much filler), so if that's how little attention to detail the previous repair guy had then no wonder the end of the scuttle repair sticks out 1/4" too wide.

 

 

Attached Files

•  Scuttle_stripped.png   732.42K   4 downloads

[sonscar]

To be fair the whole panel seems to be skimmed with filler.Take the window out and bare metal it all would be my advice.Wholesale replacement of panels for localised damage seems to be the Mini norm.Steve..

[stuart bowes]

Im guessing that's because spot or plug welding a whole panel on is very easy whereas cutting a piece to fit correctly and welding it in tidily is 10 times more difficult + time consuming

Also mini panels are very easy to get hold of and quite cheap, compared to a lot of other cars

On the other hand removing a whole panel can be a bit of a faff to find the original spot welds and tidy up the fixing edges, sometimes can cause structural issues (although not with the scuttle) and of course there's more to paint when you're done

Right now I'm patching my inner sill because replacing an entire floor pan to sort out two small holes would be ludicrous and the end result is hidden under carpet and the outer sill. But when dealing with visible panels like the step or the rear quarter it definitely makes more sense to replace the whole thing especially if a total spray job is part of the plans anyway

Edited by stuart bowes, 21 August 2022 - 10:18 AM.

[sonikk4]

Unfortunately the end piece repair sections you find on the open market are Magnum and they just don’t follow the existing contours. Yes you could spend A LOT of time trying to massage them to get a better shape but you when you add up the time needed and obviously having the skill set to do this means it can easily outweigh a Heritage scuttle.

The one thing I will say here and I hear it a lot, oh the rest of the panel is fine, there is no rust etc. Have a REALLY good look underneath with a decent mirror and torch. Look right up the bulkhead to where the scuttle is spot welded in place and you may be surprised what you find.

My clubby was a good example of this. The end of the scuttle were starting to go that’s knew from the beginning but once I took the scuttle off, there was surface rust on the underside, the flange where the scuttle welds to the bulkhead had surface rust so it’s not always obvious.

[colinu]

Neil, as always, thanks fr your words of wisdom.  New whole Heritage scuttle ordered.  Irrespective of the rest of the panel being rot free (I've had a thorough inspection) I feel it'll take 1/4 the time to dress and spot weld a whole new one in compared to messing around with a repair panel.

 

   Cheers,

   Colin.