21 replies to this topic

[JonnyAlpha]

Hi;

 

Just about to weld my wings and A Panels on but need some direction.

 

I am a little unsure at the exact position of the A Panel specifically its position at the top and bottom where it joins to the A Post.

Also is it welded to the door step?

 

With regards to the wings, where they are spot welded along the top edge of the Inner Wing should they sit flush with the flange? Having trouble getting the bonnet on whilst the clamps are holding the wings on, need to ensure that there is enough width for the bonnet.

 

Here are some pictures of the problems I am having:

 

Should this part of the A Panel sit back on the A Post if so do I need to grind off the top corner of the flange that bends around the flitch, nearest to you in the pic?

 

 

At the bottom I guess the A Panel sits on the upper ledge of the door step and the lower part sits on the lower step, mine is a bit out as the door step was a DIY repair.

 

 

 

And I guess the top curve of the A Panel sits flush up against the A Post and over the top of the curve of the flitch underneath. It wont unless the top corner of the front flange on the A Panel is ground off? 

 

 

Need to clamp and spot weld the RH flange of the scuttle to the A Post flange, but there is still a gap into the inside of the scuttle above the closer. Should I (a) weld this shut or (b) fill it with Seam Sealer? 

 

 

Again same problem with the top of the A Panel and the A Post on the RH side? These are the better quality A Panel from Mini Spares. 

 

Lastly once its welded and re-primed do I seam seal around the inside of the A Panel and where the A Post Stiffener meets the A Post?

 

Thanks 

 

 

Edited by JonnyAlpha, 20 May 2016 - 10:34 AM.

[andrewmini67]

Just recently finished my car, I am no expert either and you may get some better advice from other members.

You should put the doors on and start the line up from there. Not happy with my A panel fitment either. I have put it down to a combination of crap panels and my lack of experience. The panel gap on the door to A panel is too big on mine but they are still pretty close to touching when you open the door which is what my final position was based on. I used filler to get the top bit looking right and follow the lines of the car, I was surprised how much fettling was required to make the panels look right...ish.

Putting seam sealer where you think it needs it can't be a bad thing, best to over do it than none at all.

[JonnyAlpha]

Just recently finished my car, I am no expert either and you may get some better advice from other members.

You should put the doors on and start the line up from there. Not happy with my A panel fitment either. I have put it down to a combination of crap panels and my lack of experience. The panel gap on the door to A panel is too big on mine but they are still pretty close to touching when you open the door which is what my final position was based on. I used filler to get the top bit looking right and follow the lines of the car, I was surprised how much fettling was required to make the panels look right...ish.

Putting seam sealer where you think it needs it can't be a bad thing, best to over do it than none at all.

 

Oh yes, forgot to mention that I was going to fit the doors to ensure that they still fit

[pete l]

Some of your panel fit is really bad.
On the first photo, the scuttle is sticking out way too far to the left.
That lip on the a panel has to be bent back so that the grey inner frame slots between the outer part of the a panel and the lip you bend back, you then squeeze them together and spot weld it in place.
The bottom of the a panel should sit on the top lip of the outer sill and butt up to the edge of the bottom lip of the door step, but I can't see it in your photo ! Has it had a new door step ?
And there are holes at the top of your a panel / a pillar, what's going on there ?
The right hand side of your scuttle to a pillar should not have a gap, I would grind the welds off, pull it all together and reweld

[JonnyAlpha]

1. Some of your panel fit is really bad.

2. On the first photo, the scuttle is sticking out way too far to the left.
3. That lip on the a panel has to be bent back so that the grey inner frame slots between the outer part of the a panel and the lip you bend back, you then squeeze them together and spot weld it in place.
4. The bottom of the a panel should sit on the top lip of the outer sill and butt up to the edge of the bottom lip of the door step, but I can't see it in your photo ! Has it had a new door step ?
5. And there are holes at the top of your a panel / a pillar, what's going on there ?
6. The right hand side of your scuttle to a pillar should not have a gap, I would grind the welds off, pull it all together and reweld

 

Point 1.  :-(

Point 2. It's a heritage panel and fits perfect on the LH side, on the RH side it lined up well with the A Post at the top, it's the LH flange that is sticking out, I grind this back.

Point 3. Ah yes I hadn't considered that, what order does this get done fold the A Panel first and then weld on?

Point 4. I repaired the door step myself, it will be pulled flush and I guess spot welded to the door step?

Point 5. The hole in the fourth photo where the bottom of the top piece of the A Post that sits above the scuttle will be welded up after I get the fit correct and remove all the panels again.

Point 6. This is all going to re drilled and re welded, I hadn't noticed how bad it was until today.

 

Thanks  

[pete l]

Sorry about point 1, wasn't kind there, appologies.

 

here's a few pics of mine

 

I can't see this lip on yours

 

 sill.jpg   41.29K   68 downloads

 

 

 sill 2.jpg   31.53K   47 downloads

 

 

here I've bent back just the top of the A panel to see how it fits etc.

 

 a.jpg   48.22K   49 downloads

[slidehammer]

A couple of points what I did was use self tapping screws in the rain gutter/ top of inner wing to locate the wing whilst checking bonnet fit & gaps. Then if the wing needs moving you can take the screws out and re site them - don't go mad you only need 4 or so, to check position. This will mean the bonnet will close with the wing in position. Second thing it might be worth starting bending over the return edge on the back edge of the A panel as with is a 90 degrees it could be interfering with its final fitting position. Don't finish the final bending until you are happy with fit. What I did on mine was drill a couple of plug welding holes so I could plug weld the A panel onto the return edge of the door pillar.

[pete l]

My scuttle was a heritage one and I had a hell of a job getting it to fit and getting the middle high enough to have the same roundness as the bonnet. A lot of pushing and pulling and forcing was involved in getting it right.!!!

 

 WP_20160424_001.jpg   48.55K   51 downloads

 

 WP_20160424_003.jpg   48.7K   35 downloads

 

 

[JonnyAlpha]

Just welded up all the gaps etc and test fitted the door on the LH side. WIth the door shut the A Panel fits fine but its catching in the middle. I reckon I could move the door back by putting some washers between the hinges and the door post. I take the shims go on the opposite side up against the flithc?

[1984mini25]

 

 

Just trim the a panel so it follows the a post. Originally the 'cut' would have been hidden by a blob of weld.

 

 

 

 

The bottom, just make a slit in the flange about 5 to 10mm up from the bottom and fold it over on itself and weld the bottom corner when fitted.

 

[pete l]

The square shims go between the door hinge and the post, the oval ones go on the other side.

[JonnyAlpha]

 

 

 

Just trim the a panel so it follows the a post. Originally the 'cut' would have been hidden by a blob of weld.

 

 

 

 

The bottom, just make a slit in the flange about 5 to 10mm up from the bottom and fold it over on itself and weld the bottom corner when fitted.

 

 

Your last comment - make a slit in the flange, do you mean on the A Panel the flange that folds over the Flitch? 

[JonnyAlpha]

Should the A Panel be welded to the edge of the Flitch as this guy has done?

 

And as much as I try the door is still catching on the A Panel, folding it over may fix it but I'm not sure?

 

The gap is about 2/8 inch between the door and the A Panel at the very top its slightly less, its catching in the middle.

 

I have put a washer on every door hinge bolt and the door sits back a little more and is closing nicely at the lock (not catching at all), so I am not sure how to resolve this? 

Edited by JonnyAlpha, 20 May 2016 - 02:43 PM.

[pete l]

If you mean the 5 spot welds going down the A panel, just infront of where the door would be then yes. it should also be welded up top to the A pillar and down bottom to the outer sill flange.

[Marco1972]

Just done my passenger side if you care to look at my thread

Strange looking A panel you have there I take it its aftermarket ?

Mark