Help & Advice Please!

Post by **PhilR** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:27 pm

I've finally bought a Minor, after missing out on one recently and looking at many others. It's a '67 4-door saloon and am intending to restore it slowly; time and budget allowing. I'll apologise for the length of this post now!
I need some help and advice re. bodywork after starting to strip the car down.
The front wings are off and the front part of the inner wings have been replaced. There is an ugly hole in the top of N/S flitch panel (previously bodged with filler).
The main problems are at the rear. The rear most part of the sill (bottom of C-post is holed and there are various holes in the inner wing and along the edge where it meets the flange for the rear wing. These were also bodged with filler. Also holes in the corners of the boot/inner wing. The boot floor has previosuly been replaced and is good. The rear spring hangers seem OK but wonder if it would be cost effect to strengthen at the same time. I've attached some pictures to illustrate.
After reading lots of publications and posts on this forum I don't think there is anything which is not typical of the marque.
My problem is that I cannot weld and need some advice on how this could be repaired and by who. Can I go for repair panels/plating or is something more major required? Could this be done by a competent mobile welder in stages as I'm not in the position to farm it out to somewhere like Charles Ware. How many hours work? Likely cost etc. I'd prefer the repairs to be done by someone with a bit of experience of Minors if poss.
I live in West Wiltshire approx. 30 miles from Swindon and Bristol and approx. 12 miles from Bath. Is there anyone out there who would be willing to come and take a look?<br>

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Post by **jock299** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:38 pm

ohhh welding is very expensive to pay someone to do for you , why dont you see if there is a welding course in your area i know that it may sound expensive but by the time you pay for someone to do the work you may be able to complete the course and purchace a welder my friend had been doing mine but my wife bought me a welder for christmas and i had about 6-8 hours practice and my welding dont look that bad now

Post by **PhilR** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:42 pm

I'd love to be able to do that but time and working hours dictate that I can't do it. If I have to save some pennies so be it but would be good to have an idea of how many!!

Post by **jock299** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:50 pm

Have you ever tried welding before it may be worth your while to hire a welder for a weekend buy some steel and have a go .

Before everyone starts shouting at me yes I know welding not done correctly can and will have a detrimental effect on car body strength but everyone started somewhere I know some people that have tried welding and after a good bit of practice have become very good at it I know others that can’t weld for toffee
In my opinion worth a go

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:55 pm

Only see the one picture - but roughly from your description it sounds like a good £1000 - maybe more if new panels are fitted rather then just cutting ot rot and making/welding in repair sections - to sort it all out properly. These cars really are best repaired on a DIY basis.

Post by **PhilR** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 12:01 am

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 12:30 am

Ahhhhhh - that's rather more than was suggested and therefore likely to be ~ £2k if done professionally with new panels. The boot floor and the rear spring shackle area look as though they need a good bit of work to make them solid - and then there's all the rest! All perfectly do-able, but will take some time as DIY project. Are the chassis legs ok - and what about the crossmember?

Post by **dustyfog** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 9:24 am

bmcecosse wrote:Ahhhhhh - that's rather more than was suggested and therefore likely to be ~ £2k if done professionally with new panels. The boot floor and the rear spring shackle area look as though they need a good bit of work to make them solid - and then there's all the rest! All perfectly do-able, but will take some time as DIY project. Are the chassis legs ok - and what about the crossmember?

that would be very expensive as bmc suggests, even to farm it out to a mobile welder due to the nature of work involved. All the areas are very time consuming to repair, even though there are repair panels available for most of them. the only option in reality is to buy a welder and have a go yourself. or to buy one on the road and use this for spares<br>

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Post by **aupickup** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 10:56 am

lookin at those repairs to be done properly and almost invisible would take a long time, and cost a lot more than 2K i would think

it may be best to get another good one for less money

sorry if thats a bit negative but sometimes best to get a good one from the start and use this one for spares in the future

Post by **aupickup** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:03 am

its a shame you are not close to me as i could you put you in touch with a very good body restorer

they are doing mine at the moment and they would be will ing to give you a quote, also you can see their work as well

linearaudio · Post by **linearaudio** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 7:06 pm

Get a welding set- good s/h rather than cheap new- and do it slowly in your own time. I would strongly suggest bolting most of it roughly back together first and just concentrating on one bit at a time- otherwise it can get EXTREMELY depressing!!

You'll feel over the moon at doing it yourself!

Post by **PhilR** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 7:28 pm

Thanks for all your replies guys. Your opinions all seem to of the same vain! Hence the car is currently on Ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0299008807
My dad has just bought a lovely Traveller so I've committed to helping him get it to the standard he wants which will be far easier and more fulfilling that repairing my existing car. I'll post some pics when he gets it.
Just wish people were more honest when discussing what has been done to a car. Stuffing rust with filler is not my idea of a "proper repair"!!!