rusty doors

[John33]

My 1965 two door has the usual problems of some rust at the bottom of the doors and bootlid - are the bottom repair panels the best way forward? If so how much should I expect to pay for that work, leaving aside the paintwork since I'm planning to have the car resprayed...

[tysonn]

Too many variables for anyone except the welder to estimate!

[bmcecosse]

I suggest almost a day's work to do each door properly (it would take me much longer)...so figure it out at whatever rate you can expect to pay! Or - buy a MIG welder and an angle grinder - and get started....

[chickenjohn]

6 hours per door bottom provided the inner part of the door bottom is in good condition. If not some more hours to fabricate repair sections and /or weld in the available ( but not very good bottom inner panel). And yes, the outer panel repair section is OK if a little stretched.

Ideally the restorers should also run a bead of body solder into the join between the repair panel and door structure as this helps avoid cracking if just body filler was used to smooth the join.

[Trickydicky]

If you are going to respray the car then maybe have a look for some better 2nd hand doors?

[tysonn]

That certainly sounds like the quick and most economical answer!

[millerman]

What about a fibre glass door skin? They are available

[John33]

well, thanks for all this advice. Second hand doors would be nice, but I haven't seen any good ones advertised yet? What is a usual price for them? And have been looking out for a good bootlid for a while, but no luck. But I'm not in a huge hurry, so guess I can keep looking, with repair a last resort.

[bmcecosse]

I'm surprised no-one has set up a wee business reconditioning Minor doors. There is (or was) a company doing Mini doors. I did suggest to them a few years ago that they could include Minor doors - but they said they had all the work they could handle with Minis! Have you tried 'Club Spares'? I think they had some doors a while back...but not inexpensive.
Here's one - at least gives you an idea of price... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morris-Minor- ... 27d922b3de

[tysonn]

That's a bargain compared to the cost of repairing a bad one.

[bushhouse]

Just had four of mine done. The welding for all four was £250 and now comes the filling and sanding to disguise the joints (+repair panel costs). They've all been done well but the filling and shading is going to take time. Some of the repair panels, rear in particular were awful and the welder gave up and fabricated his own !! Hope that helps.

[John33]

Where did you have them done? Send me a PM if you like?

[bushhouse]

So sorry for the late response. Ive found two chaps around the Monmouth area who did the work for me. I had already striped the doors back to bare metal and had bought the repair panels. Just PM if you need names and contact nos.