393 replies to this topic

[racinggreenmatt]

Your doing a lovely job Scott. I was just reading back on this, did you use a heritage front panel and wings? Just wondering which the best ones to use are because the heritage ones are considerably more expensive than the cheaper ones. Is there a massive difference?
Matt

[minifcd]

Yes Matt, I used Heritage front panel ALA8619 and Heritage wings 14A7240 and 14A7241. After using non genuine wings on my first mini and having a nightmare of a job to get them to fit at first, I decided to give Heritage a try. These weren't without their own problems at the scuttle join but were miles better. Actually, nearly all of the panels are Heritage apart from the inner sills and footwell repairs.

Thanks

[racinggreenmatt]

Ok lovely, cheers Scott, il cough up and get heritage panels!

[hughJ]

Hello Scott

Havn't been here for some time - that door repair is to your usual extreme standard which makes me feel so amateur. Great!

Hugh

[minifcd]

Thanks Hugh. Just wish I could make a bit more progress. Haven't had much time free just lately, but hope to get some work done tomorrow afternoon.

[minifcd]

Well, its been nearly a month since I last updated this, as I haven't had a lot of time to do any work. Finally found some time to get a move on with the doors so this is where I am now.

Got a thin skim of filler on the bottom of the door to tidy it up and then primed.




Then I realised I hadn't put the drain holes back in! So using what was left of the old door bottom as a guide, I measured and drilled them to roughly the same positions.




Primed and painted the inside of the door frame and then trial fitted the frame to the shell.




A minor bit of welding was needed to the check strap mount on the inside of the door frame, but once happy, I started to fit the skin (CZH3301 Heritage).




The door initially fitted quite well but had to spend the best part of an hour shimming the door hinges, tweeking and adjusting to get the gaps about right. Needs some work at the top of the A panel as the gap is a bit small, but at least one skin is on!


Starting to tackle the drivers door now. That looks like even more fun!

Thanks.

[hughJ]

Scott - very, very nicely reclaimed door. I'm glad even you take time out from Minis. Always enjoy your posts.

Hugh

Edited by hughJ, 09 August 2012 - 08:43 PM.

[minimuk]

Nice one Scott, sometimes it is good to have a few days away from it all, Hugh can verify that to, door look's ace andwith the Heritage panel on nearly done...

now don't wait for another month....

[minifcd]

Thanks Hugh and minimuk. Yeah, the summer time always brings other events to go to and jobs to do, so the mini gets pushed to the back of the list. But I'm back in the game and cracking on!

Started stripping the other door down to the bare frame.


Unfortunately someone had been here before and had done a "running repair" to keep it going. Piece of angled steel tacked on and a lower door skin repair had been added.


The rust had caused the folded lip of the skin to swell to nearly half an inch thick and had completely rotted the lip of the frame away.


The other corner was constructed from 50% filler and 50% rust!


Got the skin cut off and it soon became obvious that the frame would need extensive repairs to the bottom, both corners, and both sides nearly to the top.




Although it could be repaired (eventually), I wanted a quicker outcome, so looked through my "stock" for a better frame and found this one with the skin already removed. This too had seen an attempt by someone to repair it at some point, but was in a much easier state of repair.




I will remove this previous repair and make a new piece to make use of this door instead.




Thanks all, more repairs to do tomorrow!

[minimuk]

like that Scott, daring indeed, mine are a bit crusty like yours, need to clear my mind before doing them.Not the first ones for me but always a challenge, your pictures do help to have a go at it again soon.

[minifcd]

Thanks Minimuk. Here is the update from last weekend. Only just got round to uploading the pictures.

Used the repair piece I made as an example in an earlier update, to repair the curved corner.


Straight piece made (folded in a metal folder).


New repair piece made for the front "square" corner of the door. Much harder to make than the curved piece, as the extra metal makes it harder to stretch when forming.




Tacked in place. Fits quite well.


Found quite a few cracks in the frame around the hinges, so drilled the end of each crack and welded up.


Repairs to the side lip. All the repair pieces were made from the metal of the old door skin. Keeps the costs down and recycles good metal!


The door frame repaired! I even remebered to put the drain holes in this time!




Just need to fit the skin now.

Thanks.

Edited by minifcd, 15 August 2012 - 09:54 PM.

[grahama]

Looking at your passenger door, which is mint by the way, the drv door will be fine, you only have a couple of strips to weld in !!! Knowing your work it will look as new.

Graham

[twistedtorment]

I've just read this entire thread and i have to say its incredibly inspiring. I did my first bit of welding today and can clearly see ive got a loooooong way to go! I am using a gasless atm which is very hard going but have to start somewhere! I hope one day i can achieve your level of repair!

[hughJ]

Scott again just staggered at your care and precision. That is a beautiful door frame repair. Even the fit of your fabricated panels is amazing. Almost making me feel I was welding again (almost!).

Hugh

[timothy9601]

Thanks Hugh.
A little more progress. Rear quarter panel cleaned down to bar metal.


Then, whilst cleaning around the "C" pillar, I found this little hole.


Made another repair piece.






Trimmed and tacked in place.


Welded up.


Cleaned down.


Then had to do the same to the rear panel upper corner.


Small piece made and tacked in.


Welded up.


Finally, ground down.


Thanks for looking.

Thanks a lot m8, you have just sorted my problem for me....