I have recently inherited a 4 door 1959 minor that has been off the road since 2009. It’s very original and never been welded but is in need of some help now.
I have restored a few cars previously and am confident in metal work and panel fabrication. But….trying to get my head round the sill replacement scenario, I see that a good few people have the cars on their side or on a rotisserie, unfortunately due to space I would prefer not to do this, does this make the job a nightmare?
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All wings off and a few areas to repair but nothing too horrendous.
Obviously I will brace between the doors and side to side.
When I restored my own 4door Minor - which judging by your photos was quite a bit more rusty than yours - I didn't turn it on its side or anything. Just relied on raising it up fairly high on good strong stands. I didn't find any need to brace the body shell at all. I never removed the doors because they always fitted well - and still do - or the inside sill sections, which were repairable. I was pleasantly surprised how strong and rigid the whole body was even with all the outer sills and inner wings etc cut away.
Hello, Thanks for the reply. It’s not too bad and it seems a shame to do the sills but to get to the rot I can’t see anyway other than taking out the box panel and step panel.
Contemplating doing the repairs that don’t interfere with the sill work first namely rear of inner wings and seam repairs at the rear just to feel I have achieved something on it until time allows for the big plunge!
Had a look at the inner sill today and it looks good and solid as does the floor beyond it. The sill/floor panel (if that’s what it is??) behind the boxing panel and the bottom of the boxing panel have rot in them. The outer under sill is good and solid except the very ends, is it still a case of working from the outside in or can the sill/ floor panel and boxing panel be removed without interfering with the outer under sill. I think I know the answer
RichardA wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 6:36 pm
Apologies for sideways pics…. Will try and see why that’s happening.
Common problem when posting from a phone. The Message Board will always make images Landscape; I've found I have to download from phone to PC and then change orientation.
Started repairing bits on the car and it is lovely and solid in the main. Frustrating thing is that the inner sill is perfect the outer step sill is perfect except the very ends which is easy enough to repair and the boxing panel is great except for a very small piece at the front each side. The door a pillar (hinge panel?) passenger side is excellent. I will post pics when on laptop over the weekend so they aren’t sideways.
My question is, is it feasible to remove the inner sill section between the outer sill and the inner sill and replace this on its own without disturbing the b pillar or is it too much of a mission particularly given that the car is not going to be on its side.
Any advise from previous experience greatly received. I’m used to just getting going and diving in, but because it is so solid and original I’m loathe to go too far.
From what I can see from your last photo, I wouldn't even consider "taking out the boxing panel" as you previously suggested. On my own car I simply cut away the badly rusted areas and either fabricated repair sections or purchased new ones and cut them down to suit before butt welding the new section in to the body shell. That way, I was able to retain as much as possible of the original panelwork. Although my car had undergone welding repairs before, it was fortunately fairly limited so I didn't have to remove TOO much horrible bodging!
Thanks Irmscher, it needs a sensitive approach to getting it back on the road and the idea is not to lose the originality, the interior including headlining is great and the paint comes up well. It will be nice to have a classic that isn’t like a new pin.
Your inheritance looks pretty decent from here...take your time...I rebuilt the bottom end of my old heap....nothing more than lots of wood blocks and jack stands...spent a whole winter on my back welding with my trusty ole MIG welder...
I used a lot of self tapping screws to hold panels before I welded them in...
Good luck and keep on digging buddy...
MikeC
Last edited by mikec4193 on Wed Nov 16, 2022 6:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
