Accident damage

[paulhumphries]

I've been having a little play / dream about my convertible project .
The only apsect that isn't totally rotten is the crossmember above the rack / under the battery box which the front shocks mount.
I decided this would be my starting point to build a jig and have had a shock.
It's damaged
The neaside shock SEEMS straight but the bulkhead above shows signs of being crumpled in past and the actual crossmember is buckled inward of the shock between it and the battery box.
This has really dissolusioned me and I'm not 100% sure what direction to proceed.
I assume the suspension has hit something (or something hit it ) thus shock mount has then buckled crossmember.
The attached photo's don't make it clear how much the crossmember is buckled.
With it being a convertible I'm now thinking that any accident that was sufficent to bend this part might have twisted the buklhead as well.

Like I say - I'm well fed up and cann't decide whether it's going to be worth restoring the car now. It's totally rotten - which doesen't bother me but accident damage which affects structal aspects means potentially a lot more trouble getting straight before the rot can be cut out and new panels fitted.

Can a Morris Minor take such damage and be a viable vehicle to repair or is this a warning sign not to waste too much time on it ?

[img=http://thumb15.webshots.com/t/59/759/8/ ... zNb_th.jpg]
[img=http://thumb15.webshots.com/t/59/459/3/ ... Oey_th.jpg]

Paul Humphries

[jonathon]

Paul, is the car complete as in doors bonnet boot etc fitted. If so what are the door shuts like and the general fit if the bodywork.
If the body is as poor as you say then the majority of it will be being replaced anyway, at which stage, with your jig you can build in good fitting panelwork.
I'd take some detailed measurements from the lever arm dampers an bulkhead cross member, to see if the damage shown in the pics has distorted your bulkhead or worse. The dent shown can be rectified with heat and a bolster, but you will need to ascertain its correct orientation before starting work on it.
Send me a pm or call me if you need any help

[paulhumphries]

Paul, is the car complete as in doors bonnet boot etc fitted. If so what are the door shuts like and the general fit if the bodywork.
If the body is as poor as you say then the majority of it will be being replaced anyway, at which stage, with your jig you can build in good fitting panelwork.
I'd take some detailed measurements from the lever arm dampers an bulkhead cross member, to see if the damage shown in the pics has distorted your bulkhead or worse. The dent shown can be rectified with heat and a bolster, but you will need to ascertain its correct orientation before starting work on it.
Send me a pm or call me if you need any help

The car is VERY rotten.
If no damage then I don't have a problem with that but potential distortion that needs rectifying first before rot repairs makes me seriously consider what action I take.
I've already jacked up under the crossmember and the car just bends so it's almost "broken it's back".
I expected to have to change full floor, full sills, full front chassis legs, all 4 inner wings, all outerwings, both front and rear spring hangers as well as repairs to doors and bootlid.
I bought it very cheap so reckon I still got a bargain even if it ends up being broken as a donor for another vehicle.
I think I need to remove engine / gearbox and examine it fully before commiting myself further.
Like I say - there isn't one aspect of the body (other than windscreen frame) that is good but to be fair the areas needing attention are cheap for parts. I think it'd be difficult to spend £1000 on all the body panels needed for a 100% restoration yet that wouldn't buy one wing for my previous project !

Paul Humphries

[chickenjohn]

Those pictures don't look that bad, its just a dent, may even have been caused by someone carelessly doing an engine change, and as to "very rotten"- well, all the panels are available and you did say you wanted a chellenge ;)

"full floor, full sills, full front chassis legs, all 4 inner wings, all outerwings, both front and rear spring hangers as well as repairs to doors and bootlid. "

so the "A" pillars are OK then ;)

if you take all that away, all your're left with is the transmission tunnel- so no wonder it bends, being a convertible. Are you sure the inner sill pieces are rusted, these are 2mm thick and rarely go completely.

The car still sounds savable to me.

[paulhumphries]

Those pictures don't look that bad, its just a dent, may even have been caused by someone carelessly doing an engine change,

This is what I intitally though (and hoped).
The crossmember isn't just dented but buckled meaning it's had impact from the wheel side.
That side of the bulkhead is also distorted.
In fact it seems as if the nearside might have moved 1/4 - 1/2" inwards from original position. I'm not sure yet if the shock mount is in correct position or if it too had moved - possibly forward as I suspect.
Like I say I need to remove engine and fully investigate but am very disheartended and am wondering if I shouldn't just find an undamaged shell to restore instead.

Paul Humphries.