28 replies to this topic

[midridge2]

From memory minis were sealed on the scuttle to wing join up to a certain date then they stopped using it.
Dum Dum stays soft and is no good for this, seam sealer (tiger seal etc) is a good replacement.
If you need to refill the gap you can as said fill in with braze and cut a join in, you can use body solder, you can also use filler but put this in after cleaning all the primer off down to bare metal.

[corrado vr6]

Filler will surely just crack!

I used tiger seal on mine worked a treat and takes paint very well, it's also a very good adhesive, I found an old rage and white spirit and my finger worked well for working it into the join and getting a nice smooth finish ready for primer :)

[midridge2]

The only reason for filler to crack is if it is applied to paint/.primer or the welds at the wing to top of apex panel or back edge of wing to flange is not strong enough it allows flexing in the wing.

[Mini_Alex]

I used CT1 as the person that had my car before did not give it great panel gaps : http://www.sealantstore.co.uk/ct1 It is a very good product thats is used by Marine companies. You can buy it from yacht chandlers or a good hardware shops, the brilliant thing about it is you can paint over it as many sealants have an oily texture meaning the paint wont stick. Its about £9 but its worth it!

[Mini_Alex]

The only reason for filler to crack is if it is applied to paint/.primer or the welds at the wing to top of apex panel or back edge of wing to flange is not strong enough it allows flexing in the wing.

Its not that its not strong enough, cars in general do move thats why you should avoid putting filler near the seams.

[midridge2]

Well i have been putting filler in the wing to scuttle gaps for 44 years and NEVER had a one crack.

[midridge2]

CT1 is silicone based so will cause problems with car paint.

[Mini_Alex]

Its fully paintable and thats why I have sprayed my car's paint on it and it has caused absolutely no problems.

Also I've seen some peoples project threads on here and they've painted it.

Edited by alexcumbers, 03 February 2013 - 06:55 PM.

[midridge2]

So decide how big a bead you want and cut the nozzle at a 30 to 45 degree angle (most nozzles have guides on them to help you with this - CT1 definitely does!) Make sure you use a sharp blade as any ragged edges will reflect in your sealant, and don't cut the end too large as uncontrollable floods of silicone will come out and make a horrible, hard to clean up, mess.

taken from the website.
silicone is the bain of painters, ask any painter.

[Mini_Alex]

What they describe there is someone who is careless in the the work they do, we are not talking about doing a bathroom it's a gap between the scuttle and the wing.

Taken from the CT1 website "CT1 sealant is guaranteed not to shrink, crack or deteriorate and can be painted with any type of paint."

You swear by filler and I think CT1 is great, at the end of the day its down to personal choice, end of!

[Mini Austria]

Hmmmm. A few great suggestions and obviously i`m not the only one who has had to fill this gap! I still reckon some sort of sealant would do the job best so will go for Tiger seal or this "CT1" or something similar.

Thanks for your responses!

[millermilla]

I used Autobody Seam Sealer on mine, dried quick, is flexible and painted over no probs.

[CHUNKY365]

I do chuckle at those people who proclaim 'Mines never had sealer' its to let the water run through.

NOPE!

Check underneath.

Theres gobs of sealant under there, where the flange of the wing joins to the scuttle end. Its not to stop the water going down the gap, but to stop water and crud being forced up through the gap from the tyres.

Anyway, the wing flange is spot welded to the scuttle and so the bottom end of the flange is closed up against the scuttle panel, hence no gap.

[Mini 360]

All my shell is done with sikaflex seam sealer :) Looks great and easy to use!