Have recently bought a 62 Morris Mini that needs restoring. Most of the side panels are ok but the seams that join the panels are pretty rusty. How can I fix the seams so I don't have to replace the whole panels? Any suggestions??
These sort of seams are difficult to treat properly as you can't fully access the rust to eliminate it by physical means. You can scrape/grind back the paint and grind away the rust you can access and treat the inaccessable rust with rust converter, fishoil or other chemical means. Then fill and finish off the surface for paint. I have done similar jobs to this by getting a better rustfree body and doing extensive rust repairs with rustfree replacement panels but that is for serious rebuilds and getting rust free mini bodies is probable getting pretty hard these days. Depends on how much work you want to put in to it.
Paul, on yours, is that seam folded over? As in, does one side panel fold out, then the other panel folds out and then over the original? Or is it two sections with just the one fold joined (spot welded probably), and then capped with another "U" type section over it?
In order to fix it properly if it is that way, would mean either picking it back all the way down, then cutting out the rusted section, replacing and refolding, or just cutting it out and replacing it with a new section which you could make with new steel.
Most joins like that are generally spot welded, so that means drilling out the old weld, then you can spot weld (with a mig/stick) with the new material.
Last edited by Chops; 28th July 2015 at 04:12 PM.
Reason: The usual spelling mistakes
These seam covers can be removed , if I remember correct they are only brazed top & bottom & are only crimped the rest of the way & just leaver off using a screw driver, they came off very easy . I will have a look at mine tomorrow . You can then weld up or patch the holes. I think you can buy the covers still. I will get some photo's tomorrow also
Not 100% sure actually. I was thinking of having a go at it this weekend but dont know if I shouold just use sand paper or invest in a sander or something. Ill double check tonight
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