So, I recently bought a '78 panelvan. Excellent. I need to remove some rust in the roof gutters, but no rust in sills, floors etc. Do need to replace the door skins, but I reckon I can manage this (especially for the $2000 I was quoted to have it done). What I have discovered is that the car was in a low speed front on crash (i.e. ran up the back of someone) sometime in its early life and instead of fixing it properly, it has just been bogged up. The front inch or so of the wings is almost exclusively filler, the lower bumper and grille are stuffed but the rest of the panels are fine. I'd ignore it but the original paint is through to undercoat in patches. So, should I just paint over the bog for now (at least get some paint on it) and fix it properly sometime in the next couple of years as funds allow (impoverished uni student), or is this just going to create future misery?

Bog that thick is never good, it tends to crack.
If it's not cracked and has no signs of rust under it try to leave it alone.
It will only really be a problem if you crash into something.

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Dean Hutton's first car was a Mini.

put a roundie front on it

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

It's a how long is a piece of string type question. If you want/need it as a daily and cannot afford the full respray & repairs just patch the thin bits of paint and ensure the underlying bog/steel is sealed from water and the elements drive and enjoy until you can afford to go nuts on a full rebuild.

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Re-skinning the doors isn't exactly an easy job. You would be better of finding another set. They are cheap and easy to find. This also allows you to prepare the new doors off the car paint them etc and then when you are ready, just swap them.

Ryan

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Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

probably what it was and in true 70's enthusiasm someone "converted it"

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Potato

You have a clubby van with damage you say.....you want one that doesn't have so much damage i hear you say......well.......um......

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDMkVq1jRGU

Thanks for the replies. To be honest, I'm leaning towards NAV's suggestion of just getting some paint on it to protect it until I can afford the time and money to do it properly. @ ryan: I thought it was better to keep the original doors, as they're the only ones that will fit the shell. Or have I been led astray?

Astray. You just need to source some other clubby doors.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDMkVq1jRGU

All doors will fit as they were not made for any particular car. Just get the alignment right when you put them on and it will be all good.

Ryan

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Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

I think you mean any lift up handle door (aka clubbie doors) will fit. There is a difference between the roundie doors with the push down (turn) handles and the clubbie doors (lift up) where the doors catch on the body.
I don't mean to be rude Ryan I just don't want him getting the wrong idea that any door will fit.

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Thanks for the replies, it was more about the "massaging" done on the production line (5:16 http://www.videosift.com/video/Top-Gear ... -challenge) and each door only fitting that shell (not door size, hinging etc). Also, I already have the new door skins (from the PO).