Mini rusted seams

[jonty.rhodes]

Hi All,

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??

Cheers.

[Chops]

How big is the rust area, and exactly where?
Pics would be good. :D

Are you going to do a build thread on this, cause that'd be cool :cool:

[LoveB]

rusty seam crew checking in

https://scontent-hkg3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/p526x296/11666254_1133417683341065_8725164820954322830_n.jp g?oh=e5161d675fa6d4feabbad65018dc394a&oe=562B9742

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/p526x296/11667389_1133417740007726_8967079605858251518_n.jp g?oh=0e9b780d5aed63270eea1069857e325f&oe=561AFAD1&__gda__=1444279552_b922874e9217f948cf8c0008ce9abc0 7

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p526x296/11224640_1133417766674390_5946083998100770693_n.jp g?oh=77905d5c859ee1f241d5cba4fcf6868f&oe=5614962F&__gda__=1445248791_24cc8aa89994a5456c33dedf21fdd9e 8



would be interested to know as I want to sort out my rusty seams and I've never done rust repair nor panel beating!!!! lol

[stealth]

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.

[Chops]

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.

[1950landy]

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

[1950landy]

Just typed in body seam covers for mini , you can buy stainless steel ones at a reasonable price . looks like they are only stuck on with stickerflex.

[1950landy]

The seam looks like it has been spot welded & the cover was held on by these claw clips. Hope this helps.:angel:

[LoveB]

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

[LoveB]

Mini parts online l Minisport Australia (http://minisport.com.au/category25_2.htm)

prices not too bad. just depends how hard i want to get into it i suppose...

but I want to finish my series 1first. I just want to stop the rust on this lol

[Chops]

Reading up on it last night, preparing for when I do mine ;) it seems the seams are joined at right angles, then yes, clips are put on and these hold the seam covers on.
Seam covers are "about" $50 a pair so that's cheap. Also, the way it's set up, it should actually be a fairly easy fix. Cut it out, make up two new sections and weld them in.
Easy peasy :eek:

[LoveB]

might be a good idea for me to learn welding too lol

[Chops]

Looking forward to getting my shed cleaned, starting in about 10mins after I've had my coffe, then getting my toy home to start work on her 😃

Being able to weld is really handy, you can do a lot with just a small welder, so long as you know the basics, it's easy.

[LoveB]

ive done very small amounts of it. Will see how bad it is then decide if its time to patch it up or time to man up and do the whole lot!!! my wife will just be ****ed that "her" mini is off the road!!

[slug_burner]

Check out project Binky on youtube by Bad Obsession Motor Sport, you will see a fairly extreme case of rust removal on a Mini.

In your case just pull the covers of the seams, you will then get a clear run at the rust. you will be able to remove the paint around the rust areas with a sanding disk on a grinder. You will only know what you have once you get it down to the bear metal. Unless you have rust holes or very deep pitting you should be able to sand or neutralise the rust with a rust converter then prime or fill and prime and work your way back up to a top coat. You can then get covers either made up or you can buy them.

I have a sliding window Mini that is beyond being a panel donor due to multiple panel benders. Before it got to that stage I pulled most of the covers, fixed what rust I could locate and painted. Left it without covers, they are there to make the thing look good. You can still use the car without the covers, that way you can work on the rust without taking the car off the road.

[Mick_Marsh]

Looking forward to getting my shed cleaned, starting in about 10mins after I've had my coffe, then getting my toy home to start work on her 😃

Being able to weld is really handy, you can do a lot with just a small welder, so long as you know the basics, it's easy.
Don't forget that other shed has to be cleaned as well.

[Chops]

Don't forget that other shed has to be cleaned as well.

My workbench is done now,, and on to sorting :eek:

I don't even want to think about the "other" she'd just yet :eek2:

Needless to say, I'm getting excited :D

[blue_mini]

Get a wire wheel on an angle grinder to find where the covers are brazed on top and bottom. Then lever the covers off. They should be held on by little clips which can be quite stuck.
I would also inspect the inner a panel (under the wheel arch behind where the door hinge bolts on), they can rust there a lot, mine certainly did. Took 4 years to go from worse than what you have to me taking it off the road.

It isn't that bad, id grind it to bare metal, killrust, filler it, then red oxide prime it and top coat.

[LoveB]

Decided to repaintthe whole mini lol

Sent from my HTC_0P6B using AULRO mobile app

[Chops]

Decided to repaintthe whole mini lol

Sent from my HTC_0P6B using AULRO mobile app

Cool, keep us posted :D

[LoveB]

I did remove the rust on the seam. managed to save it. The rust on the a pillar was just surface rust thank god. Managed to clear it.


but my colour matching skills are non existent LOL so I've decided to just do the whole car

[Chops]

Hope you do a thread on it Paul.
I was looking at a mini forum in the UK, there's a red one there that a unit student started as a fix-up, and ended up doing a full on resto from pretty much the ground up. Awesome thread. The car is just gorgeous.