19 replies to this topic

[Paul Wiginton]

I spent the last 18 years as a panel beater at Aston Martin, obviously that means Ive fitted a hell of a lot of alloy doorskins. You cant weld or braize them together. Dont bond them all the way round, just at the top where the steel skins are usually welded. Do make sure that you put a good paint on the alloy and the steel before fitting as you will get electrolosys between the which will cause corrosion of both materials.
I fitted alloy skins to my Mini about 4 years ago, Ive had no problems at all.

Paul

[T.Harper]

I've always thought that alu door skins would be ding city! Afterall, there is more "spring" in steel.

[MR-SKIMMED]

the frames arnt really rusty i just meant the bottoms of the doors were...

but thats besides the point. the question was how do you fit alu door skins and do they need welding on as i read somewhere that they can be rivited.

the minidoor company do nice streetfighter door i agree and i nearly bought some. but the total cost for what i wanted came to £530 inc shipping!!!

the alu skins are £25 each. quite a price difference.

so , can someone without welding skills fit them?

Where can you get the aluminium skins from for £25? I've always seen then at shows but now the season is over i cant remember who was selling them!

[1987_ParkLane]

well all i want to add to this is that it is impossible to weld aluminium to steel so you would have to find another way of attaching them anyway for example riveting or some kind of bonding

I agree, very hard to do, anyway we all like a bit of bondage lol.

[spikyrob]

i'v got a pair of alloy doors from the mini door company, went and picked them up, gave him my barely useful rotted doors and was away

He's a top bloke, panel beater for god knows how many years, he doesn't weld anything, he brazes it, the proper way to do bodywork, the skins themselves are bonded all the way round, the only problem is you can't have wind up windows, so its polycarb sliding for me

Not that i'm bothered lol a full door with locks, glass and wind up is HEAVY! In comparison a "streetfighter" door, fully built up is liftable using a little finger, that is NO word of a lie

best £300 i have spent...

so far lol

Rob