107 replies to this topic

[finch661]

Problem with the rust on Mini wing seams is that it starts from inside and the bubbling you see is it breaking through.

 

Alot of people mistake the bubbling as the start of the rust but in fact it's the end of it.

 

Keep going mate, it's going to be cracking when done.

 

Who did the art work?

 

Ben

Yeah, i was one of those people :) i found that no seam selaer had been used along the whole panel, so that didnt help things!

 

A local guy used the artwork for a gardening installation (garden scotland?) and wanted to use my car after seeing it in a car park. asked me if i wanted to keep it. its now hanging in my conservatory

Edited by finch661, 03 December 2014 - 01:41 PM.

[finch661]

So after finding mr tin worm has been munching on the wing, i decided to go for it and cut it off

 

The lower part of the wing crumbled away , the rest of the wing was solid. the front panel appears to be in good condition, the lip is a bit rusty, but solid! I found that the wing was spotwelded to the inner wing and only one spotweld at lip closest to the wheel. the rest was seam sealer! there was also a lot of filler used round the wing. glad i am taking it off. my only issue is that the gap where the wong meets the scuttle has been fillered, so i am finding it difficult ot see where it attaches!

 quick repair on the front panel lip





Its not bad, it will do

Edited by finch661, 03 December 2014 - 01:57 PM.

[finch661]

The drivers a panel looked okl, but there was a small rust bubble at the bottim. decided not to risk it and took it okk. Found this

 

 

 

 

 

 

started proding the panel with a screwdriver to see how rotten it was... very! It seems that the air hole bit must have been rotten, and the previous owner just put a plate across it, instead of actually cutting it out and replacing it. So the plate has rotted, and the original part has...sigh.


you can kind of see the plate


Its upsetting to see how nasty some of the panels are (and the bodges) but glad i found it now before it got too bad!
 

Edited by finch661, 03 December 2014 - 01:59 PM.

[finch661]

havent been doing a huge amount recently, too cold to be out in the garage;

All the rot was cut out, all etch primed and ready for the new panel.

.all been stone chiped, painted and undersealed -

[finch661]

Finally managed to get the wing on, what a PITA. because of the previous bodges, it would not want to line up. well after bending and shouting -

its not too bad, bit of over lap at the front. Its not a show car, so i can live with it! cheers for the help TMF, just glad the wing is on.

I also fitted the a-panel, but found that the lip on the new flich panl was too wide, and messed up the door gap. following advice on here, i will be adding a bit of weld to close up the gap.

[Ben_O]

Looks great mate.

 

well done 

[finch661]

Looks great mate.

 

well done 

Cheers ben, been a big learning curve for me, never would have even attempted this a year ago!

for me its understandign how the different panels are attached, and what can be safely chopped out! Getting there though (with help from TMF and SMF)

[finch661]

Well with sorting out the unexpected rust in the wing, flitch and a-panel, i though that was it all done!..nothing is that easy! I found a few rust bubbles on the rear quarter, one on where the bin is, one above the arch, and one near the rear panel. I started proding with a screwdirver....

 

Above the wheel arch is solid, but the screw driver went right through the other bubbles. I initally thought i could patch it up, but I wanted to do this properly, so I cut off the quarter panel.

 

Behind look ok, the bin look solid,

 

Wheel arch looked a little bit suspect, so again i took out the trusty "Rust Detection Toot" ( screwdriver)

 

and it ended like this

 

[finch661]

It seems like the arch has rotted away, but been patched up with filler and fibre-glass

And annoyingly the rot has spread

 

The whole arch is is rote and fibre glass Instead of cutting out the rot, the arch was tubbed to hide it. there was also lots of metal added to strethen the metal plate, which again has rusted away

 

The rust has spread to the arch supports and the boot floor. Just when i think i am finishing, this happens

[finch661]

i braved the cold last night and started drilling out the arch spotwelds, fecking freezing in my garage! best present though from my wife - padded boiler suit I was actually sweating in it! Anyway, finally got the last of the arch off (after breaking numerous drill bits and a spot weld cutter), and its not looking good

 

 

 

 

Looks like the rot has spread everywhere I am now feeling out of my depth in repairing this.

Looks like i will need:

• boot repair section
• subframe/arch mount
• rear arch mount
• repair the seat
• new closing panel
• new arch
• new quarter

My plan is to take the subframe out and see how bad the boot and rear seat are. then i guess take it from there 

[finch661]

Ordered my repair panels, just waiting for them to arrive (though its getting too cold in the garage now)

In the mean time, i have been looking into what else i can do with the mini, once the body work is compelte. I have a few maintenance pieces to do, new ball joints, new handbrake cable, as well as the usual serviceing things like adjusting the brakes and greasing.

 

I have been looking at the dashboard directory, and getting a few ideas. i currently have a centre speedo thingy, with a few extra gauges. I want to keep this, but maybe add a bigger tach onto the sterring cowling, and i really want to find a better way of mounting the gauges. Tempted to get rid out my 13" mountney steering wheel, and get a bigger wooden one!

 

I have also been looking at minitastic springs, as i think my cones are almost end of life. This project is getting more and more expensive!

[FlyingScot]

Minis are parasitic they feed off your bank account.....

FS

[bottledfish]

Thanks for posting this, it's a really interesting read, although a bit worrying as is am thinking of doing a rust search soon too. Hate to think what I will find.

[Stu.]

Dont let it overwhelm you. Take it in small bites and dont worry youll get there.

[finch661]

Dont let it overwhelm you. Take it in small bites and dont worry youll get there.

Yeah i will, its been a real learning curve for me. There is so much rust, hard to see past that!

 

Thanks for posting this, it's a really interesting read, although a bit worrying as is am thinking of doing a rust search soon too. Hate to think what I will find.

Arm yourself with a trusty screw driver and prod away. because i am in  no great rush to get the car back on the road, i looked at anything suspect. Going by what i discovered, i am glad i did. You dont know what has been carried out by the previous owner, or the quick fixes that have been used. I have been guilty of one or two quick fixes (filler, wiring issues, etc), but i always get round to fixing them. Giid luck with your mini, hopefully it wont be as bad as mine!

 

Minis are parasitic they feed off your bank account.....

FS

haha i know, trying not to let my wife see all the parcels that keep arriving!