9 replies to this topic

[lukey1019]

I know this has been searched many of times but its easyer just to ask here and now.... what do you do to de-seam a mini.. do you just grind off the seams then like weld a plate over it??

[mini93]

its a very testing process, have tp cut the seam off about 6 inch at a time, basicly cut down n grind flat, weld the gap shut, making sure it doesnt get too hot and distort the pannel, make sure ur weldings up to scratch and very strong

if u do 6 inch at one end of the mini, then perhaps go to the other end while the welding is cooling and then go back weld, let it cool n d the other end

[lukey1019]

ok mate cheers

[Sam Walters]

on the rear seams you can plate the inside. so plate the inside fully on the back accross the seam on the inside. then cut away about 3 inches at a time from the outside and weld in the little gap. make sure you let it cool down before you move onto the next 6 inches otherwise your likely to distort the panel. doing the roof seam all has to be done from the inside because of panel that are in the way on the inside. the front has to be done from the outside. down to the a panel where it can be done from the inside of the panel.

[jack_marshall]

weld the gap shut

Bad move. When deseaming dont grind the joining lips off totally, leave about 1-2mm protruding still. You can then get good penetration and join these together. If your a decent welder, this is alot stronger than taking off the seam completely and 'filling the gap'

on the rear seams you can plate the inside. so plate the inside fully on the back accross the seam on the inside. then cut away about 3 inches at a time from the outside and weld in the little gap. make sure you let it cool down before you move onto the next 6 inches otherwise your likely to distort the panel. doing the roof seam all has to be done from the inside because of panel that are in the way on the inside. the front has to be done from the outside. down to the a panel where it can be done from the inside of the panel.

You can plant the inside, but I'd say its a waste of time. But this really depends how good your welding is. Welding plates all the way down will make a fair bit of distortion and wont make all the much difference. Like I say, if your welding is good, theres no need.

Doing the roof seam from the inside is impossible, unless your thinking of removing the headlining rail to do it, which is abit daft, cause then you cant have a headlining!

The roof needs doing from the outside because across the top of the windows and door appature is quite hard and you need to make sure the weld is decent, as the metal becomes very thin across here.

The A pillars have to be done from the outside, and In my experience, definately the easiest part to do on a mini.

The A panels can be done from the inside, and would probably make the job a little easier to fill, again, if you welding is decent.

Im talking from experience, having deseamed every last seam on my car. Trust me its a long process (the welding being the easiest part.. the weeks and months of filling and rubbing down being tedious). Only consider doing it if you know what your doing!

[mini93]

didnt quite mean weld the gap, i know welding a large gap doesnt give any sort of strength

[Tomm]

heres how i did mine!

Firstly i ran a weld up the inside of the seas where i could, i was told that this was not how you are supposed to do it but it worked fine for me, i thn cut the seams of with a 6" grinder, welded over the top again and then goround the weld back. then after that i worked with filler to give a smoother finish.

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Although when you come to do the rear guttering i welded in a extra strip of metal as where the join from the rear window section meets the roof section as there is about 7mm of stager between the two pannels!

and it takes bloody ages!

[biggav]

whoever did mine didn't bother with the roof gutter and to be honest, the roof panel and others look so far out that it would take ages...

when you de-seam, you also loose the ability to deflect rainwater away from the doors, mine drives in through the leading edge seals occasionally.

[Matt]

but i love the effect even if it does take a century to do!

[Big_Adam]

The trick is to de-seam a estate, van, hornet or similar.

Only the roof and front seams to do.