10 replies to this topic

[mr_doggy]

Hi,

I am looking for some advise on which order/way to replace the front panels. It looks like it will need nearly everything replacing including front panel, both wings, at least one of the inner wings, a panels and repair to the Bulkhead, the panels under the scuttle (flitch?) which has rusted out.

So far I have removed the engine and that's about it. Will it be best to remove the whole lot before I start to put new panels on? My main concern is keeping it all straight when the new panels go on? Some picture below.

What would the best course of action be on the bulk head. I'm going to take all the brake lines out tomorrow for a better look but it is pretty rotten especially where the top engine tie mount is.

[minidaves]

whats the rest of the car like?

dave

[myredmini]

Doesnt look worth it looking at that bulkhead and all the front end, what are your plans on the rest of the car ?

Danny.

[xBR4DLEY]

If you gave a description of the exact panels you are buying it would help better , some of that looks like surface go over it with a wirebrush. You also might be able to plate some of it.

[Shifty]

Unless you have some sentimental attachment to that I'd consider another car!!

It looks like its been parked nose first in a pond for the last 10 years!!

The structure of the front looks severely weakened and rotten. I bet theres nothing left of the inner flitches!!

Stick some pictures up of the rest of the car, however from the looks of those pictures I'd say the front end will be the least of your worries!!

If you do decide on a repair then it isn't gonna be cheap at all.

[mr_doggy]

Thanks for your replies.

I'll take some photo's of the rest but I haven't got any at the moment.

The front end is the worst. Sills both sides seem ok and the rear floor I believe to be in fairly good nick. The boot is completely shot, and the rear valance will need replacing. There is a hole more or less exactly the same on both rear quarters by the lower front corner of the window so that will need replacing.
the roof is in good nick.

The front sub frame looks quite bad in the photo's but it all seems very solid but it's covered with the rust dust from me poking around with a screw driver above to find all the holes.

I realise it's going to be a lot of work and a lot of panels will need to be replaced.

A lot of the bulkhead is completely rotten however I think a lot of it will be salvageable, all depends what parts of the bulkhead are available. I'll know much once I have completely cleared the engine bay.

It may well not be cost effective, but it will be another car saved and a huge sense of achievement once complete.

Any advise would be greatfully recieved, especially in which way to rebuild the front end to keep its "straightness".

Thanks.

[mr_doggy]

Sorry to bump it

Any suggestions on best way to rebuild front end. Is it a case of taking the whole lot of. Do the bulk head section and flitch etc Then do a panels > inner wing > bolt front end on then clamp all the rest in place until it all lines up well both sides with the bonnet on then start to weld it in place.

Just worried about taking it all off and not keeping its shape. Does anyone have a exploded diagram of how the panels are linked together/welded at factory to hepl get my head around it a bit better?

Thanks.

[edi57]

Shape and alignment of your new panels can be taken care of by re-fitting the front subframe when you are replacing panels.

If I were in your situation, I would be removing front sub-frame then both front wings and front panel.

Then start your repairs to the bulkhead.

After that, remove scuttle and inner wings.

Repair the areas behind the scuttle.

Replace inner wings.

Replace scuttle.

Replace A-Panels, front panel and outer wings together.

Ed

[edi57]

Do you mind me asking what year your mini is? It's amazingly rusty!

Ed

[mr_doggy]

I don't mind at all.

It's a early 1984 mayfair drum brakes all round.

Sadly it's sat for a few years, my fault

Your plan of attack sounds good to me.

Excuse my ignorance, my familiarity of the panel name is not brilliant but which panel is the flitch panel? The scuttle is the one that goes across under the windscreen? I think that one is surprisingly solid. No signs of rust on it and i'vwe done the magnet test and it seems to be all metal. Would that need to be removed in order to do the rest?

[Guess-Works.com]

That is honestly not worth it....

It needs a new bulkhead.