Rolling Shell?
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi guys, a while back i made a thread about a dilema with my turbo build and me moving away to uni!

Ive been trying to do a few bits before i leave for uni (on saturday) sorted a few small patches of rust etc, was going to cut the front off and paint fit the bulkhead box and paint it all ready for putting the engine in around xmas time.

Thought id look at the bubbley patches of paint on my scuttle panel only to discover the metal underneath has completely rotten, poked it with a screwdriver to see just how much was effected to discover all the metal underneath had gone too! If i look through the holes on the surface i can see down the the back of my front wheel from the scuttle where its rusted through both layers.

Its the same on both ends and bits in the middle, aswell as around the screen rubber and theres holes that go through the scuttle to day light from the inside above the airvents behind the dash.

Theres no point in me attempting to fix all these bits as i wont be home to do it let alone prevent it from rusting even more. So im thinking of selling it as a rolling shell!

Im not sure what the best idea is but im very limited decision wise and money wise. All the suspension and brakes are good and theres no other major rust, some on the rear valance but nothing too extensive. How much would i get for something like this if i where to sell it as a rolling shell? Im really not sure how much it would be worth!






And this is underneath the headlight at the front, would it be better to chop off the front for someone to put a flipfront on or would i get more if i left it on?


Any advise/opinions welcome! Cheers.

Edited by richminiturbo. on 19th Sep, 2006.

If you are going to cut the front off (is that right) and fit a bulkhead box then fitting a scuttle at the same time is not too difficult. It will obviously involve a bit more spraying.

I have to say I was pretty daunted by fitting a scuttle, but after doing one I found it to be as easy as any other pannel.

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

As Wil says - Cut the whole scuttle off, and it's really easy to replace - much more so than trying to make good the repair 'ends' such that the lines are good and they fit well against the rear of the wings.

Removing the scuttle also makes the other repairs (around the air vents) much easier.

I'd have no quarms about doing a full scuttle personally.

Well i have 2 options really. One is to fix the shell between term times and complete the conversion. And the other is to sell it as it is and buy another mini with a decent shell around next summer and put the turbo engine in that.

Ive never welded before so am not sure how id do the scuttle repairs or any of the other stuff! Would it be expensive to pay someone to fix the scuttle and the air vent surround on the inner wing or would you advise me to go for it myself?

I have fitted new scuttle ends to both of my minis now and in all fairness i wouldnt bother doing it again if the front end is coming off i would definately fit a whole new scuttle.

I am sure that you could do all the hard work, i.e. cutting off the old scuttle and fitting up the new one. Then see if anybody on here will help you out with the welding or get a mobile welder in to do it. That should keep the cost down and get a good job done.

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

I suppose id be cutting away all shitty metal anyway so its not a loss really, and if i sold it i would lose so much cash!

While im at uni how should i keep the shell to stop it from turning into a pile of rust while im away? Ill have cut the front end off by saturday, should i cut off the scuttle too, hammerite the rough edges and cover it up for when im back would that be best?

I would cut the front off, but leave the scuttle untill you have a new scuttle in front of you so you know how much to cut off. Also a slightly rusty scuttle is going to protect the car better then no scuttle.

I guess you are asking about protection because you don't have a garage?

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

I'd do what Ben H says and leave the scuttle but take the front end off, then when ya get back start on the scuttle.

I'm doing a MIG welding course at the mo mate so when you get back from uni get in touch and i'd be happy to come and help ya fix it up! Mine will be in bits over winter too doing pretty much the same so im happy to give ya a hand mate,

Cheers Matt

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Hi,
I'm driving around in a mini with alot more rust on it than that
I guess I better get the welder out too!
Stick some gaffer tape over the holes to stop the water getting in and rotting it from inside out.
Cheers,
Gavin :)

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Well thanks for the advice guys its much appreciated!

I will take your advice and cut the front off, leave the scuttle on and protect the rest as much as pos until im back! The car has been stood on the drive for about 10 months and its turned to this, would be so much easier with a dry garage!

Matt- help welding would be awsome! Would be really helpfull! I should be doing all this around xmas and get most of the build done so i will defo help you out with yours too if you want.

Thanks again for the tips guys. Sorry about all the questions and that but sometimes i just dont know what to do with this car!!!

Cheers, Rich

Id go for a flip front, alot cheaper than new panels and it wont rust.

Living by the sea, and having a garage full of crap, i used one of those £40 silver car cover things on my road mini while i was away at uni, and found them bloody good.
Theyre not as good as a garage, granted, but they are well worth the money.

Good luck rich

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