Body Work Restoration/ tidy up!!

[KyleMorrisEvans92]

Hello all, I am a newbie to the world of Morris Minor motoring and I own a 1969 almond green Morris saloon (2 door). It is in sound condition mechanically and runs just as an A series should. I am sorry to say that the body work lets the car down. Perhaps I am just a perfectionist but there is bubbling on most/ all of the sills/ panels, and it is the usual inside out rot. I would appriciate any advice on how to cure this rot on the panels. It looks as though it has been bodged in the past and re- painted with a yard brush, ha. Taking into account I am a student and on a budget, ideas on how to do it properly but cheaply would be greatly appriciated. Hopefully all the work will be done by mid summer so I can have a road trip to yorkshire and visit the famous "Heartbeat Country".

Thanks again,

Kyle Evans

[MarkyB]

Welcome Kyle, some picture would help but as long as the underneath is sound it sounds like a good candidate for a rolling restoration.
There are repair panels available for tricky bits like the door bottoms, you'll need a MIG welder and a grinder at least to fit them.

[Neil MG]

No quick or easy solution and as Marky says you will need to cut and weld. It can be a big step to take if you haven't done any of this kind of work before. What resources can you access regarding workspace and equipment?

Unfortunately what you see is likely the tip of the iceberg and before you do any bodywork you need to make sure it is structurally sound underneath. That means lift, pit or rolling onto its side for a proper examination!

[KyleMorrisEvans92]

Thanks for the replies. The underside of the car is in excellent solid condition, with extensive welding done, when I first got the car I stripped the old underseal off with the aid of a heat gun, red leaded it and then added a waxoil underseal. It passed its MOT last month and is structually sound. From an asthetic point of view there is work to be done. I will include some photographs shortly.

Thanks

[grey111]

Hi Kyle and everyone! I am also a newby, just joined the MMOC yesterday, paid me fees now waiting the info thru the post . Myself and my wife Eve just bought two weeks ago a 1969 4 door 1000 saloon in what I think is Almond Green. The bodywork is ok generally nearer the backend. The front needs two wings and having now started stripping down found a rather rotten inner wing and hinge pillar on the drivers side, luckily the passenger side looks ok. phew! Ordered the panels from ESM £86... well thats just over the cost of six months road tax for a Mazda 323 so can't complain about that ha! Good luck with your project.

[davidmiles]

hello Kyle, great to hear she's through her MOT, as a rolling resto you need a few days when you don't need transporting anywhere, collect all you need and blitz the body/paint faults in a couple of days, sand back, treat rust and hire a compressor to retouch repaired areas, sounds simple, but you need a little practice spraying first.