mk1-forum.net

Ha All. I wonder if anybody would mind sending their tips on the best order to fit a Mini front end. I appreciate the need for bonnet gaps etc but the area I am not clear on is the process to fit Mk 1 A panels to ensure the doors actually close. I will take account of the door rubbers! Have done this before and always get there but wondered if there are a few nore 'slick' operators out there?
The other question is around the seams at the join between front panel and wing? I have restored several cars to a high standard yet the front panel seams do blister up externally, albeit in a small way. The panels are always brand new and well prepared and the rust is not coming from behind the panels ie in the wheelarch. Granted this happens after several years but the cars are garaged and don't do many miles so I am at a bit of a loss. It doesn't seem to happen anywhere else on the cars and in an effort to avoid this happening again I wondered if anybody had any suggestions.
Oooh, lastly what do people do for the 'join' between scuttle and wing? They always require some filler but what about that seam? A flexible sealer perhaps?? They leave the factory with nothing which contributes to rusty scuttles so any tips most welcome. Cheers. Mark

I'll have a go at replying to some of your asks, in no particular order though.
The seam under the headlamps. --- Give the seams a good coating of Etchweld primer before they are spotted together. My sprayer also suggests, during prepping, to spray the joints, under high pressure, with etch primer to force the paint as far into the joints as possible. Then apply the seam sealer.
Another method I've read of is to brush Solder paint on the outside of the seam, heat the area to be filled with a blowtorch until solder forms into little balls and flushes across the surface, then heat the area from behind which should draw the solder towards the heat and into the seam. Thus filling the seam with solder..
Scuttle end and wing top seam. -----. Pics below are where seam sealer should be applied on the front end.
I think these pics came from BMH.





I imagine any polyurethane sealer would be suitable for these seams so long as it remains flexible.
As for the Apex panels I usually dry fit the doors with hinges to the inner and outer apex panels, then jiggle everything until all the gaps etc look even (ish) then clamp the inner apex in position before welding. It can be a right pain in the rear trying to get it anywhere near right and I too would like to know of an easier way.