I new there was a couple of small rust bubbles starting to show on the passenger side A panel - well today I bit the bullett and looked into it.



Close Up



And from inside the wheel well



Do I ?

1 - Bog - after treating and filling the space between the two layers with fish oil

2- Cut a piece out and MIG a patch in _ how do I handle the inside panel?

3 - Replace the whole A panel


Advise please.

Might add the magnet test seems to indicate no more bog in the A panel. ( Found some elsewhere but we won't go there )

There is a small bubble of rust on the inside higher up on the edge of the seam - 1/2" long by 1/8" wide - picked it off with my fingernail

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

because the two panels are sandwiched together, when you get a bit of rust in between them, water and gunk gets in there and just keeps on rusting - you could cut more out of the panel and see, but I reckon you'll keep finding rust between those panels - they rust from the inside out

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

if the holes are small enough just mig them up and gring it back flat.. if they are a bit big for that cut a small patch out (providing the rot is localised) and weld in a new bit but dont ever just bog over holes... doesnt matter what you put on them they will be back or youl at least see them under the paint.. do it properly once!

if the rust hasnt got to anywhere else in the panel dont worry about a full a panel replacement...

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Potato

I cut a small rectangle about 2" x 3/4" and the metal around the area seems strong. There was a bit of fine flakey stuff which sucked out with the vacuum cleaner. I'll enlarge the cut out tomorrow and check it out further

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

I would cut a hole in the outer panel bigger than the one needed in the inner panel.
Weld a patch into the inner one, paint it both sides with coldgal, then patch the outside.
Of course if inner is too far gone for this, replace both the panels, but it's a lot more work.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Do all minis have the 2 panels their or was it a later thing?

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Respect mine and I'll respect yours.

All Minis, even the later ones that look like Rovers.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.