Morris Minor Owners Club

Them men in brown coats and flat caps were not silly, it's unlikely they took the time to design that piece of steel and the associated tooling to produce it, simply on a whim. So the question I feel inclined to ask is.... Do you feel you understand the structural design of the vehicle well enough t...

BMC has the right idea, soften with a hot air gun and the stuff comes of nice and easy. Not the nicest aroma though so try and do it outside.

Rod

Take small bites and it will work out just fine. If you can not yet wield a MIG torch, book yourself a course at the local tech. Chances are you will need it.

Regards
Rod

I probably sound like a stuck record, but have you ensured that all the doors actually fit before bracing the shell? There is very little holding the bottom of your A and B pillars and it's quite likely they will have moved.

Regards
Rod

No real downside to the Duplex setup. Just a case of want to or not. Once you have the block stripped, take it to a machine shop and have the bore's and cam bearings measured. If the bores are in spec you may get away with a hone and new rings. Likewise with the crank, if it's not worn out of spec a...

Remove the kick plates to properly check the inner sill structure. It's also always a good idea to ensure the doors open and close properly with good gaps and hinges. If the shell requires any adjustment now will be the time to do it and add some bracing to keep it in check. Once you are happy that ...

Bugger. Before you go any further get the door re hung and linen up, then add some bracing to the aperture to hold it square. With that amount of structure missing things are going to move.

Rod

Probably the best way to confirm if it was welded or not would be to examine the the old panel for signs of a factory type spot weld. These usually look like little dimples.

Rod

Not much to add to what Mark has posted. He is on the money. When I did a similar repair my seat base had been cut for speakers so I removed it. http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv120/redmoggy/Picture%20033_zpsprm8ng4q.jpg You can see the curved chassis section Mark mentions that needs to be reins...

Stanley, that is a lovely tidy looking RST. Well done Sir.

Rod

That way my thought at the time. I think the hinges are exchange though.

Rod

The ESM hinges are a good alternative to reconditioning yourself. I've used them and have no complaints.

Regards
Rod

Ensure you only sand the guide coat with a block.

Rod

If you have play in the hinge pins then now is the time to fix them. You can then re hang and align them before bracing the shell. By doing it this way you can, if need be adjust the position of the A post to get it perfect. Last thing you want is to have to cut and shut newly welded panels.

Rod

Quick coat of etch primer would go someway to protect the surface and should not cause issues for the paint shop.

Rod

I'm sure they have a better cold start device, I still had this vision of a chap in Tweed jacket popping the bonnet of a Midget every morning to 'Tickle' all four Amal carbs!

Rod

What that man said, bloody good advise!

Rod

It is very frustrating, but unfortunately you have fallen into the same trap as the rest of us. The assumption that you can buy a replacement part that fits your vehicle is a fair one. The reality is that a lot of it is rubbish, take a look at some of the panels made abroad by a well known restorati...

Depends partly on your skill set. You have several natural seams to work with that could make life easier. Below the swage line is a spot welded seam that attaches the roof and either side of the scuttle are spot welded seams attaching the scuttle to the rear quarter panels. These seams can be seen ...

It does not look like an overly complicated panel, have you considered making one yourself? 20 or even 18 gauge steel can quite easily be shaped with the aid of a vice and a couple lengths of angle iron.

Just a thought
Rod