Hi Guys,
I need your opinions please. Were Mk1 doors attached to the body during the factory painting process or not? My question relates to the appearance of the hinge gaskets, body colour or black?

Kind regards
Al

i'd say you should spray the doors off the car. it'll be alot easier to paint . i got some new hinge gaskets from a grade panels and they arnt the old cardboard type, they are rubber, and are black.
about $22 for a full set including boot hinges i think

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real men race downhill - keiichi tsuchiya

Most historical photos show the Mini body being painted ASSEMBLED. This would mean the hinge gaskets WERE painted.

I am not sure whether the individual 'swinging' panels were primed before being fitted.

In regard to paper Vs rubber gaskets, I have used both.

The paper type are better IMHO, but you must have paint on the back of the hinge and the door where the hinge fits. This will stop rust forming here. The rubber type hinges 'swage' out from under the hinge as you tighten up the bolts. This looks VERY ordinary, and seemed unavoidable when I used them.

Im with Anton, doors were painted on the cars.

Doogie

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I won Hay once, here's the pic to prove it..


Hay, it's not about the car, it's not about the venue, it's about the people that come here. Peter Dwyer, Mayor of Hay NSW.

I would say the way they have always been done is paint everywhere. I am a little bit more phiniky and I don't like bulgy lips on paint around the doors. I would not paint them, as long as you can hide them so it's not more noticable. and yes paint the back of the hinge is a good idea

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-doing a Degree in Mechanical Engineering,
and a few conversions:
13B Extend in a 1600
4EFTE in a mini ute (all slowly)

Hi Guys,
I've just removed the hinges of an old NZ assembled Mk1 in the yard and there is not a spec of paint under them. Providing English cars were the same, it seems the doors were fitted fitted prior to painting and I may have answered my own question. However, I think they might look better without paint as some have suggested. Thanks for your opinions.

Al

How will you feel a month down the track when flexing has cracked the paint all around the door gaskets though? It might look a bit crummy.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Hi Mick,
I don't recall seeing that problem when the cars were new and it would take a fair bit of paint to cause a problem. However, I think the way to do it would be to apply a few coats, fit the hinges/doors and then follow with a couple of light coats.

Regards
Al

BINGO! That would be my ideal method, and I may well do that on my GT.

Ok, so just not thick enough to cause a fillet around the gasket then.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Hi Mick,
My approach will be to add some colour to the gaskets and that is all. I will not put enough on so that it will bridge and cause problems.

Regards
Al

I've seen a paint shop do this.
They paint the gaskets lightly, separately.
Then they hang the painted doors as usual.