roof dents replace or repair

[S.D.L.R]

rolled my much loved but hard worked 57 4 door saloon. had for 20 years is my first car and have restored and kept it on the road. so replacement not an option. can any body help with the best way to tackle this problem. was thinking of trying to hammer it out but if fails then thought of cutting off roof and replacing with another.[frame][/frame]

[kennatt]

would take a LOT of panel beating to get that sorted. The problem with a roof or bonnet is that every minor blemish shows up like a sore thumb,and I feel that yours is probably too bad. If you can weld then so long as you brace the frame really well then a second hand roof would be the way I would go.Cut off at bases of the window frame and allong the swage line at the rear. Unless you can find another complete shell and use yours as a donor,but sounds like you don't want to do that.cos you may loose the identity of yours,or not(Well not legally anyway).absoulte bummer really feel for you,hope no one was hurt,thats the main thing. GOOD LUCK .

[millerman]

What does your insurance assessor say about the repair?

[taupe]

hi

Sorry to see such damage, trusting you came off OK.

Best option would be to get a professional panel beater to look at it for an honest opinion.

I repaired a similarly dented MG Magnette roof and found that the only way was to break all the spotwelds along the gutter line, heat and shrinking hammer or shrinking disc/flipper out all the ripples in the main roof and replace the gutter and inner side frames with parts from a donor car. Have you checked diagonals within the car to see if the whole thing is lozenged? As Kennatt says you will be very lucky to end up with a blemish free roof and some filler or lead will be required.

Taupe

[bmcecosse]

I can't see that ever being fixed - and as above - is the shell still reasonably straight? Either fit a donor roof - or go convertible ! And yes - I do realise it is a 4 door.....

[jagnut66]

Hi,
I'm not sure where you are but there is a chap in Bury, Lancashire, who is breaking a two door, so that may be the source of a donor roof for you. He includes his name and telephone number in the text of the advert.
I've attached a link below for you.
Best wishes,
Mike.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MORRIS-MINOR- ... 2579cc47f8

[kennatt]

Thinking about it a bit more,,, are you sure you want to even try a repair,the rest must also be damaged ,can't just flip over onto the roof ,or could it If the rest of the car is sound mechanically,engine brakes suspension etc I would be looking for another one needing rebuild and use yours as the donor. Yes you may love the car but the work involved sometimes needs to be considered against the value of the finished item,Its not as though its a very rare,highly valued and sought after vehicle.
I take it you didn't have fully comp. insurance otherwise the insurance co would be writing this one off without any doubt.

[GeordieDave]

Hi,
I'm not sure where you are but there is a chap in Bury, Lancashire, who is breaking a two door, so that may be the source of a donor roof for you. He includes his name and telephone number in the text of the advert.
I've attached a link below for you.
Best wishes,
Mike.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MORRIS-MINOR- ... 2579cc47f8

Shame about the accident - that's a sad sight

I was looking at the car jagnut mentioned at the scrap yard yesterday! The interior is in good condition (blue) but the bottom half of the body is shot through. I didn't notice the roof but the head lining is still in so it is probably OK, definitely not caved in.

Opposite this brekaers in another yard is a four door being broken for spares. It is also on ebay but it is on top of two shipping containers now so I couldn't look at it closely.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1958-MORRIS-M ... 3f20da3c7f

Good luck!

[Boomlander]

So sorry to see your car damaged, best of luck with the repairs and hope you get it back on the road.

[MarkyB]

Replace for sure, the metal is creased and so would need a lot of shrinking to get the shape again.
You don't have to use the original joins to get a donor although the one below the rear window would be easiest.
Cut the donor below an easy to identify spot on the pillars, get advice on the best place to cut on the front end.

[drivewasher]

The roof is also structural. It's integral to the monocoque design. Also the pillars are structural.

[alexandermclaren]

Not being a coachbuilder i may be wrong but
dont hammer at anything
hire your self a portable car body repair kit with all the fittings and arms
or there are some 10 ton ones for under a 100gbp
and heat and push everything back into place
it was pushed into that shape and can be easily pushed outwards
however as has been stated it will need a lot of prep with filler but worth it in the end if the rest of the body is straight u will have your wee car back on the road just like Herbie

[rayofleamington]

unless you have a mate with experience of panel beating this kind of damage (and will do it for a fraction of what would normally be charged) , then I'd expect you'll end up replacing the roof.

Personally I'd cut my losses! I know you don't want to, however you will soon grow just as attached to the next Minor, as although they are all different, they all become part of the family once they're yours.

Assuming nobody was seriously hurt, consider the car to be like the infamous brave dog that protected the owner from an angry bear.

[Trickydicky]

Sad to hear about your accident, hope all involved are ok, If you do scrap it and go for another at least you will have a good supply of spares!!!!

[bmcecosse]

If you do decide to push it all out and panel beat as suggested above - do take pictures - because I want to see this !!!!!

[kennatt]

by which christmas next one or2014 Be realistic its a write off unless you can get it on a jig to check all the allignments,the rest of the frame is bound to be twisted. I certainly wouldn't want to drive it without it being jigged.

[jagnut66]

the rest of the frame is bound to be twisted. I certainly wouldn't want to drive it without it being jigged.

I'm sorry to say but I agree with the above, it should be checked out on a jig to make sure it is still in alignment.
If the car has that strong a sentimental attachment for you and it's not too bad and you decide to straighten it out and replace the roof (better option than an attempt to beat it out), then I wish you the best of luck.
And if you do repair rather than replace please do post the restoration on here.
Best wishes,
Mike.

[S.D.L.R]

Thanks for all the advice so far have had the car checked and have manage not to twist the the car. I would like to think testimony to my welding but I reality just very lucky. Spoke to and got a new roof on the way from a car being scraped by CHARLES WARE'S MORRIS MINOR and as always they were very helpful explaining how to do it and actually said its not such a difficult job. Got my self a young welding mate to help and getting the welder and cutting disks out of the garage. So all wish me luck and will post the results on here and let you know how difficult it was.

[jagnut66]

Great news it's not twisted , I look forward to seeing the restoration (before, during and after please) photo's.
Of course now you'll have to respray it.................

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

When I lived in Hull I saw a very battered Morris Minor which looked like it had an anvil dropped on its roof. I wish I'd had my camera with me then.