6 replies to this topic

[Ruth's Mini]

With extensive replacement of sheet metal on our 1960 Mini I want to make sure everything is fitted properly to maintain alignment of the body. Can anyone tell me what the door gaps should be?

thanks in advance.

Attached Files

•  gaps.jpg   67.43K   3 downloads

[gaspen]

I think eveness is the keyword here. On my car I have ~4 mm at the bottom and lower rear edge, ~6mm at the window frame. This is how it fits fine - for me at least 

 

 20240802_102606.jpg   78.6K   5 downloads

[mab01uk]

 

For reference this is a page from an original BMC Dealership Service document from 1959-60 for adjusting an early Mini door to fit better with a length of wood and some brute force.....

 

BMC Service Memoranda:-

https://mk1-performa..._memoranda.html

 

 

 

[Rubbershorts]

Haha, that brilliant. My doors don't sit right but I'm not too sure about this method😂

[sonikk4]

You can make them as tight as you like by adding welding filler rod to the edges where the largest gaps are. 

 

However dont make them too tight so a good rule is the £1 coin gap. Or in your case possibly a $1 coin.

 

However the best approach is to offer up the door carcass into the cutout getting it so the window frame is as even as possible all round. Then offer up the skin. Please bear in mind to add some weights to the equivilant of the glass, operating mechanism and door mechanism. Now i move the skin a round to get the swage lines to line up and try to gap a best as possible. Once i'm happy i skin pin it in place so when i remove the everything i know it will be in the right position when i fit the skin.

 

Also depending on who makes the skin may give you different fits. In this case for my own car i use Heritage skins although Magnum skins can be made to fit well.

[gaspen]

Study material from East 

 

https://youtu.be/mIAYxWCXF8A?t=91

[Designer]

BRILLIANT