1981 Mini City 1000

[ctwomey]

Tacked in the floor patch panel against the tunnel.



I have also tacked the side that will be butt welded



M-machine panel didn't fit against the inner sill so I have made a relief cut and will put an additional patch in later.



The flute in the M-machine panel is narrower than the original one so I have put in cuts that allows the flute to widen and reshape to the original floor.





Plug welds have gone really well using a 6.5mm hole and a 3mm hole in the back of the other panel

It's a day's work to get it this far, but if you rush it, it will not come out well.

[colinf1]

What's the thinking behind the 3mm hole on the lower panel? Seems like it would blow through fairly quickly, quicker than if it was just the 6.8mm hole on one side?

I was less technical with matching the flutes on the repair panels lol, bashed them into shape with hammer and dolly...

[ctwomey]

Hi Colin,

The 3mm hole was used with the Cleco clips that I used to align the panel. It helped to always put the panel back into the same spot when doing all the measuring and cutting. I just drilled out one side to 6.5mm for the plug weld. If you use your normal thin sheet welding settings then you won't blow through the hole.

[colinf1]

Ah I see now, I thought it was to ensure full penetration!

[woody]

I was wondering the same thing about the holes. Personally I'm a hammer and dolly man myself, you'd be amazed what you can achieve with a bit of practice

[ctwomey]

Started welding up the tacked floor panel this evening



Always easy to blend a butt weld when it's on an outside curve



Finished up just after the first inside flute this evening





A splash of etch primer to keep it clean until I get to body prep



I think I am going to run out of gas soon so will need to order another bottle of MIG gas