31 replies to this topic

[Corey96Williams]

Hi,

 

My Mini's scuttle was filled over during the "restoration" last year (I wasn't the owner when this monstrosity happened), and now it has cracked from one end to the other. How could I go about repairing it? I'm hoping to see something easy, and nothing too drastic like using a 10mm drill on it. Although it would be good to hear suggestions. 

One of the main issues is that the car is red, so I'm assuming it may have faded since last year even though it's been garaged. 

 

Any tips/advice is appreciated. 

 

Thanks,

Corey

[Ben_O]

Do you mean the seam between the wing and scuttle?

 

If so, the filler will need to be removed before you can decide what to do. The thing is, you don't know what you are going to find beneath the filler. If everything is sound and the filler has been applied for cosmetic reasons, then once it is dug out, it can be tidies up and painted.

 

if there is rot beneath, then a new scuttle is the best repair although scuttle end repairs would do if the rust is only on the ends

[Corey96Williams]

Do you mean the seam between the wing and scuttle?

 

If so, the filler will need to be removed before you can decide what to do. The thing is, you don't know what you are going to find beneath the filler. If everything is sound and the filler has been applied for cosmetic reasons, then once it is dug out, it can be tidies up and painted.

 

if there is rot beneath, then a new scuttle is the best repair although scuttle end repairs would do if the rust is only on the ends

The panels are all new, for some reason they were filled over when it was restored. I'm afraid to start ripping into it if I'll end up needing to respray the whole car to colour match. 

And yes, that join is what I meant. 

[Ben_O]

If the paint is a straight colour then matching it shouldn't be a problem. You would need to polish up the surrounding paintwork with a cutting compound to reveal the true colour before having it matched.

 

If you are careful with the repairs, then there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to just paint the wings and scuttle and have a perfect match. Even if you did everything forward of the front seams, it wouldn't be hardly any more work than just doing the wings.

 

But this is assuming that you will be painting it properly. if you were planning on using rattle cans, then you won't want to be doing the whole front end as it will never look right in my opinion

[Corey96Williams]

If the paint is a straight colour then matching it shouldn't be a problem. You would need to polish up the surrounding paintwork with a cutting compound to reveal the true colour before having it matched.

 

If you are careful with the repairs, then there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to just paint the wings and scuttle and have a perfect match. Even if you did everything forward of the front seams, it wouldn't be hardly any more work than just doing the wings.

 

But this is assuming that you will be painting it properly. if you were planning on using rattle cans, then you won't want to be doing the whole front end as it will never look right in my opinion

That's reassuring then, and if I had it done I think I would want it done professionally anyway. 

When I park my car next to other red Minis, mine looks bright red, and others look pink. I don't think it should be too bad like you mentioned 

[Ben_O]

Is it the original colour?

[Corey96Williams]

Is it the original colour?

I don't have proof, but I bought flame red to colour match a chip under the bonnet and it's right. I was told it was when I bought it, but the only proof I have is the touch-ups. 

[Ben_O]

Probably worth having it colour matched just in case

[Corey96Williams]

I've had this idea floating around my head for a while now, could I spray the red paint into a lid and using something like an extremely thin paint brush and slowly filling the crack up with it? Once done I could use compound to even the paint out. 

 

I know this sounds silly, but does anyone think it could work for now? It's a little high maintenance to wax it with red turtle wax a few days after the car gets wet, and it's the only imperfection on the car. I can't see how it could make it worse.

[Richie83]

Do you have a photo of the area? Might help in this situation.

[sonikk4]

As a temp fix, yes but it will crack again. Have a look at the bottom of the wing to A panel flange. Is there a small joining plate there?? if not then this will not help the issue you have.

 

The filler will need digging out as Ben has mentioned then repainted. 

[Corey96Williams]

As a temp fix, yes but it will crack again. Have a look at the bottom of the wing to A panel flange. Is there a small joining plate there?? if not then this will not help the issue you have.

 

The filler will need digging out as Ben has mentioned then repainted. 

The plan is to have to done properly eventually. I'm wondering whether to sink money into the Mini or to buy another more usable classic car in the near future at the moment. Do you have any idea how much a rough quote would be for something like this? 

Edited by Corey96Williams, 25 January 2016 - 10:49 PM.

[Corey96Williams]

Do you have a photo of the area? Might help in this situation.

I don't yet, I will get one tomorrow. It's so thin that I can't see it on existing photos, even when they are zoomed right in.

Edited by Corey96Williams, 25 January 2016 - 10:48 PM.

[sonikk4]

 

As a temp fix, yes but it will crack again. Have a look at the bottom of the wing to A panel flange. Is there a small joining plate there?? if not then this will not help the issue you have.

 

The filler will need digging out as Ben has mentioned then repainted. 

The plan is to have to done properly eventually. I'm wondering whether to sink money into the Mini or to buy another more usable classic car in the near future at the moment. Do you know what a rough quote would be?

 

 

To be honest no i don't but pictures paint a thousand words. As you say the panels are new then its just paint and its a plain colour which is a lot cheaper. It wont take a long time to remove the filler, there are tools out there that can get it out quickly which a lot of body shops will have to hand. Do fit the little bracket on the bottom of the wing to A panel though

 

 

 

Another area that will cause cracking there is under the rear of the wing where it should be welded to the scuttle like this

[Corey96Williams]

 

 

As a temp fix, yes but it will crack again. Have a look at the bottom of the wing to A panel flange. Is there a small joining plate there?? if not then this will not help the issue you have.

 

The filler will need digging out as Ben has mentioned then repainted. 

The plan is to have to done properly eventually. I'm wondering whether to sink money into the Mini or to buy another more usable classic car in the near future at the moment. Do you know what a rough quote would be?

 

 

To be honest no i don't but pictures paint a thousand words. As you say the panels are new then its just paint and its a plain colour which is a lot cheaper. It wont take a long time to remove the filler, there are tools out there that can get it out quickly which a lot of body shops will have to hand. Do fit the little bracket on the bottom of the wing to A panel though

 

 

 

Another area that will cause cracking there is under the rear of the wing where it should be welded to the scuttle like this

 

Thanks for that, I'll have a good look tomorrow. It has sportspack arches and the existing wing has been cut I believe, so it may not have a bracket. 

It's been undersealed so I may not be able to see the weld, but I'll check