1146 replies to this topic

[minimuk]

Hugh a quick 'mano a mano',...... I know this might sound daft but........... the problem you have at the minute is not any of the wings, a-panels front panel or the bonnet,..... go back to the source of the problem,.....THE SCUTTLE PANEL......and you know it is that. This is not a nice thing to say or do but, as Neil once told me once, try and fit the window, if the corner is out the lot is, leave it as it is and your front sceen will pop ever so often,... So,.. take all off again the wings the a-panels the front panel the bonnet, drill out the plug-welds from the scuttle panel and remove the whole scuttle panel, clean the lot up and start again, this time trial fit the scuttle and the rest, lesson learned. But that is what I would do......

[Carlos W]

Unfortunately, I agree with the above, after all if the windscreen doesn't fit you have problems, if it does then at least you know the windscreen hole is correct!

[PaulColeman]

Surely you can measure the aperture first before going to the trouble of ripping it all out. My shell doesn't have any glass in it at the moment so if you need dimensions to compare I'll take some.

Paul.

[minimuk]

Surely you can measure the aperture first before going to the trouble of ripping it all out. My shell doesn't have any glass in it at the moment so if you need dimensions to compare I'll take some.

Paul.

Paul, I hope for Hugh the measurements are good and close to yours , but none of his panels are fitted appart from the scuttle panel and something is not right there as he knows too.

[hughJ]

Well gentlemen seems to be bit of argy bargy here with poor me, already stressed, in the middle!

I do thank you for the advice and suggestions and am aware you wish me to do this properly. minimuk you are so right - it is the scuttle that is the problem. But if I can at all avoid it by adjusting elsewhere I will do so!

If you check back to page 9 you will see that my old pals Graham and Neil suggested checking that my windscreen fits after welding in the screen surround - and it didn't!! In fact Graham advised earlier and I forgot all about it. That was a time of great depression. I persuaded the windscreen to fit with a bit of grinding (page 10)!



If I were to take the surround out I would cause utter chaos. I cannot get panels out like my other old friend Chris can. What would come out would be unusable! I could do just the scuttle leaving the surround itself in place. It all comes from the clamping and forcing to fit. To the right and left of the scuttle cannot be too far out - the pillars all aligned and these areas are pretty rigid. But the centre is definitely pulled back too much. With hindsight I would weld in relief pieces to the bulkhead instead of forcing to fit. I should have never cut out the bracing piece in the middle till all was welded in! However its done.

The windscreen can go in.

Tonight by using a packing piece of steel I got this fit at the scuttle





I am quite happy with this. Tomorrow I'll try and reduce the gap to the edge of the bonnet.

I'm sorry if I'm not taking the good advice given but I am just frail humanity!

My restoration is really a severe preparation for an MOT. Its not to produce a concourse car but a useful car. I can live with it not being perfect. I feel I am slowly getting to a front end that I will be happy enough with.

Worrying along

Hugh

Edited by hughJ, 20 February 2012 - 09:13 PM.

[Carlos W]

Hugh, that wing looks like a great fit, and teaching yourself together with a small pot of money means sometimes we have to make do and mend!

Live and learn

Every day is a school day!

[ToM 2012]

sorry hugh i have never fitted a front end so cannot give you advise but keep at it you will get there mate good luck

[minimuk]

Ok Hugh, you know what you are doing and that's excellent, just painfull to see a struggle on here, but I am sure you will get it right in the end. Just remember to seal and seam seal everything because a bit of packing steel is the worst rust virus you can have,... good luck

[grahama]

Agree with previous comments Hugh, you have done a great job with the n/s wing scuttle gap, mine is nowhere near that, am dreading doing it, but do it I must. All this frustration will be a distant memory soon, like the windscreen advice, lol. There is nothing that can't be done with a grinder, my mini is living proof of that and a mere windscreen opening is defo no match.

Nice one, keep going pal,

Graham

[BusheyTrader]

Surely you can measure the aperture first before going to the trouble of ripping it all out. My shell doesn't have any glass in it at the moment so if you need dimensions to compare I'll take some.
Paul.

I just read this thread and a fellow forum contributor sent me this when I took out Spike's windscreen.

The scuttle / dah top panel had both corroded badly inside the windscreen rubber taking away the top lips from them both.

Adam

[tiger99]

Hugh,

I have been following your build for a while, and am impressed with your work, considering that you are not aiming for anything super-flash, just a nice, solid, reliable car. Actually, I like the rather striking colour too.

Your wing to scuttle fit is far, far better than my last Mini, which I bought brand new, or its predecessor, a not very old 1976 model, so I don't think you have anything to worry about, in fact it is a fine achievement, compared to what the factory was doing.

[Matrix]

I don't come on here to much these day but look through your tread and must say you are doing a grand job with the paneling...takes a great deal of will power and persistance to work on a Mini. Every step is a learning curve and even after 30 years of doing them you will still be learning!!! keep at man and don't be put off when thing go a little wrong just take a wee break and go back to it with a fresh head.
Great progress has been made here and you should be proud of yourself for getting this far! well done that man for at least having a go yourself.

BRAVO

Edited by Matrix, 25 February 2012 - 12:40 PM.

[Miniowner123]

hey Hugh, long time, i just decided to have a catch up on your project, seems like you're moving along nicely

shame about this front end trouble but you wouldnt be the only one , dont know whether you kept reading my project when i fitted the front (twice ) ?

at least you know what the issue with the front is, and can sort it out appropiately, if its a couple of mm out one side you can probably make this up elsewhere, seeing as from factory the windscreen aperture usually wasn't perfect anyway

good luck

[hughJ]

Carlos, Tom minimuk, and Graham as always my thanks. Adam thank you for your help. I think I did that picture myself! I hope others aren't using it for reference! tiger99 and Matrix that is so encouraging - it does make you want to keep going on. pinhead I'm still with you. Sorry I haven't responded for some time. Do you know I shouldn't be doing this as I'm too old. I can't remember whose threads I've followed, who I've responded to! I hope I don't have to do it twice.

Its not exciting I'm still plodding away just a wee bit each night.

Forcing bits to fit - the left wing to the front panel is bad!



Should not look too bad once welded



Doing small repairs and I've filled all the holes drilled when drilling out the plug welds when removing the old wings



Still bending grinding and forcing. My Stonechip Shield for the wings has arrived so will have to move on.
Took a break and finished chipping out the tar. Will have to clean with solvent now.



Inching along

Hugh

[Shifty]

Hugh, I wouldn't be clamping and welding off the car. When you come to fit it it will all change!!