mk1 conversion plates
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi, dont know if this is the right section,
so i wont be offended if its moved!

Im gonna fit the rear plates tonight to convert to mk1 rear lights,
but what i was wondering is, is there any special way of doing this? do i just put them in slightly recessed, then filler it out, or do they have to be at an exact angle? (if you know what i mean)

thanks for your help,

martin

Hi, you will need to weld them in flush for best results.

how did you all hold them in place to weld?

thanks

you should be able to use a welding magnet

http://i7.ebayimg.com/01/i/07/8b/95/f4_2.JPG

(matching one bit of metal up to the other), tack the new panel in place, remove the magnet, then weld the remaining. You can then use a grinder and a sander to get it flush to make the welds smooth etc (where the new metal meets the old).

hope this helps.

ive discovered that those flapper wheels that you can get for an angle grinder as wonderful for jobs like this when smooothing welds

whilst mark is technically correct in that you should hold them flush, if you are not confident, then i would be tempted to weld them in very slightly recessed.... its a lot easier to build up filler, than it is to get rid of steel if they end up proud....

just my 2p

Pete

edit; i agree nic, they are the ONLY thing i will use for smoothing welds.....

Edited by nutter driver on 8th Oct, 2006.

And on the 7th day........... God created turbochargers!

yeah you could do that.. but i would be a bit worried about the filler cracking, not sure how much the body flexes in that area when giving the car some stick. but that would be a bit easier. :)

no longer a series, but still 1.3 turbo.

these things... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-X-100MM-4-120-GRIT...1QQcmdZViewItem

And on the 7th day........... God created turbochargers!

yeah them things are amazing!used them to strip the paint from the car!and they last forever!

thanks well the car has filler on the dents and joints so i dont think some more will be bad! so i think with my welding ability its best to recess them! ill give it ago now!

martin

the Mk1 rear light panels do make your car look a bit like a Mk1 but only a bit since there not normaly pressed deep enough. fitting them behind the original rear panel will make this worse.

i dont fully understand wat u mean!
I have placed them on the outside!bout 3mm recessed all way round!
martin

the pressing in the conversion plates is not as deep as the original Mk1 so the lights sit more flush than they should. if you lap the two panels with the conversion plate behind the original panel the poor pressing is exagerated

i should point out this is what i was told by a person who had a MK1 with MK2 lights who was converting back. he replaced the entire rear panel and sent the conversion panels back to mini machine