12 replies to this topic

[scrippo]

Hi all,

I've decided to do a full strip down and rebuild of my mini, after patching patches and generally ending up with a patchy finish!

I'm going to learn to weld, so it's a while before I'm going to tackle the actual car, but I've been looking at some panels I need replacing and trying to work out how to tackle them. If anyone can give me any ideas that would be great.

Inner wings - I have so far cut out the rusty bit behind where the mudflap used to be, and want to weld in a full genuine inner wing, so need to remove the rest. M-machine do a full inner wing including an A panel which I quite like the idea of. Do I need to remove the scuttle panel to fit new heritage inner wing?

Boot floor - There is a hole quite near the bolts for one of the subframe mounts, and some bodged welded repair on the other (I've looked underneath the repair and the rust is still there!) There is also a small rust hole at the very back of the boot floor where it meetsthe rear panel. How do I tackle this?! The heritage panel is far too much for the amount of rust I have, and don't fancy cutting that much good metal out of the car.

Rear quarter - Both have some rust at the top just under the side windows. One is only slight rust which I reckon can be treated and skimmed with filler, but the other one needs replacing. Anyone have any ideas?

Sorry for the essay! If anyone has any good book suggestions on mini panle replacement that'll be great!

[scrippo]

Bump!

[panelbeaterpeter]

Inner wings - I have so far cut out the rusty bit behind where the mudflap used to be, and want to weld in a full genuine inner wing, so need to remove the rest. M-machine do a full inner wing including an A panel which I quite like the idea of. Do I need to remove the scuttle panel to fit new heritage inner wing?

Boot floor - There is a hole quite near the bolts for one of the subframe mounts, and some bodged welded repair on the other (I've looked underneath the repair and the rust is still there!) There is also a small rust hole at the very back of the boot floor where it meetsthe rear panel. How do I tackle this?! The heritage panel is far too much for the amount of rust I have, and don't fancy cutting that much good metal out of the car.

Rear quarter - Both have some rust at the top just under the side windows. One is only slight rust which I reckon can be treated and skimmed with filler, but the other one needs replacing. Anyone have any ideas?

Sorry for the essay! If anyone has any good book suggestions on mini panle replacement that'll be great!

I assume this is the inner wing with A panel you mean? Couldn't see it on M-machine but minispares do it CLICKY Yes you would have to remove the scuttle to weld it in as it is, you could cut it down, and weld it in below the scuttle, depends where the rust damage is.

As for your floor, so long as there isn't any more corrosion anywhere else, I'd cut out the rot and seam-weld in patches.

For the rear quarter, you could make up a repair panel, or even buy a rear quarter panel, and use the lower section, letting it in either side of the rear window, saves getting involved with removing the window frame.

Haynes Mini Resto book is good.

What wheels are those on your mini? they look shiiny!

[scrippo]

Cheers Peter! Always a great help. The wheels are McNally 6x10s.

I think I might need to cut out some of the bottom of window frame, as the rot has spread almost right along it. I think what I'll do here is just buy a genuine panel, and cut the top section and weld that in. I don't really want to get involved with welding this panel to the wheel arch.

I can't remember whether it was M-machine or somewhere like Somerford, but thanks for the link. I think here I'll take your advice and cut it short of the scuttle, so I don't need to remove it. Its nice and solid so i don't really want to mess with it.

Welding in patches for the boot sounds good. I want to try to make the repair invisible, so it might take some work, as it's in quite an arkward place around the bracket for the subframe mount. Cutting out the bodge might make a bigger mess than was originally there!

[jonny d]

Hello You don't need to buy a whole side pannel to just do the window ledge you can make the section quite easily i did on mine

[panelbeaterpeter]

Cheers Peter! Always a great help. The wheels are McNally 6x10s.

I think I might need to cut out some of the bottom of window frame, as the rot has spread almost right along it. I think what I'll do here is just buy a genuine panel, and cut the top section and weld that in. I don't really want to get involved with welding this panel to the wheel arch.

I can't remember whether it was M-machine or somewhere like Somerford, but thanks for the link. I think here I'll take your advice and cut it short of the scuttle, so I don't need to remove it. Its nice and solid so i don't really want to mess with it.

Welding in patches for the boot sounds good. I want to try to make the repair invisible, so it might take some work, as it's in quite an arkward place around the bracket for the subframe mount. Cutting out the bodge might make a bigger mess than was originally there!

Quite easy to make an repair that looks original, cut out a piece of metal slightly larger than the corroded area, lay it over the top and scribe around it. Cut it out very accurately and set it in the hole. Slowly seam weld around it, don't get it too hot it it could warp. Dress the welds, skim it over with filler, and prime.

[jonny d]

I did mine Pete with one fold as it was gone on the rebate as well was easy though

[scrippo]

Cool, is it easy enough to make a window ledge without special tools? I would need to get the curves right or it would look poo. I'm not sure a vice and a hammer would do it

Will definitely go down that route for the boor floor though.

[panelbeaterpeter]

you can do ANYTHING with a vice and a hammer! there's a whole thread covering making that section from scratch in this section somewhere, it was up recently.

[jayare]

I think this is the thread that Panelbeaterpeter means:
http://www.theminifo...showtopic=76245
I think it would be a bit reluctant to come up in the search due to the thread title being not as descriptive as it could be.

JR

[edi57]

I think this is the thread that Panelbeaterpeter means:
http://www.theminifo...showtopic=76245
I think it would be a bit reluctant to come up in the search due to the thread title being not as descriptive as it could be.

JR

That was a thread that I posted and yes, rubbish title. I hadn't planned on posting the complete repair until someone asked me too.

In terms of difficulty, I did find it difficult to get the curves exactly right and I would have prefered a repair panel really but I suppose that's just my lazyness showing!

In terms of how my repair turned out... I am just about happy enough with it, but I am after a high standard of repairs on my mini. I'm aiming for filler free repairs and this one just about meets my target.

[scrippo]

Maybe there's a market for a repair panel there. I'm sure if heritage made a repair panel for that area it would sell, instead of getting people to buy the whole panel at £63 a time, although, thats probably why they do it!

[edi57]

Maybe there's a market for a repair panel there. I'm sure if heritage made a repair panel for that area it would sell, instead of getting people to buy the whole panel at £63 a time, although, thats probably why they do it!

Spot on...def a market for such a repair panel.