Hi All,

Hopefully this will be the dumbest question I ask on Ausmini

How hard will it be to take the seam covers off my Mini?

I need to get them off to see how much rust is behind them.

When I get it sorted what is the best way to treat the rust?

Ian

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1965 Mk1 Austin 1800
1961 Morris Mini 850

Just popped off with a screwdriver for me - some say that they are brassed on top and bottom but mine weren't.

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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!

In the factory they did braze them at the top and the bottom. It's not a bad thing either, because it will stop them falling off, which they may or may not do if not brazed. The rest of it is held in place with clips and it is not a bad idea to replace them when putting the strip back on. Don't use the Stainless ones that now appear available as these will cause the body and / or strip to rust. Use paintable seam sealer to seal the strip back on to the body.

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I too need to do mine. Good thing you asked this question because I was going to get stainless steel ones. Now I wont be.
Paintable seam sealer. I have never heard of this, is it easily obtainable from a general automotive outlet like Repco, supercheap or Autobarn? Is it known by another name?
In line with this thread, should I be looking to get the stainless steel clips aswell or get 'normal' ones because of the same reason?

I thought they were meant to stop rust?

I hate it when those little pressed metal clips beneath the stainless door trim rust and let rust stains form down below them over the paint...zinc plating them seems to have done the trick this time around.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

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

It probably is known by other names, but in general most automotive seem sealers are paintable. I think Autopro might keep it, but any Smash Repair Suppliers will have it and really that is where you should get to make sure that you get the right advice and product.



The clips won't rust, but the adjacent steel will.

Next time your in bunnyrabits, get yourself a pak of stainless selftappers. Screw on in to some scrap sheet steel and leave it in the weather. See how it goes.

The problem is dissimilar metals. Stainless Steels actually work by rapidly producing a fine corrosion layer where exposed to air. That is why stainless (true stainless) never polishes well and appears to dull quickly.

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supercrap now stock a 3M range of automotive paint products. seam sealer included. not that expensive from what i remember

I don't go in to supercrap that often but that is handy to know. Thanks for the tip. 3M stuff is very good.

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I don't braze them. I paint the seam, then fit 2 original type clips, fill the strip with Sikaflex 291, and push it on.
Wipe the excess down the edges to smooth it.
Sikaflex stays slightly flexible and is paintable. It keeps all the moisture out so the seam and clips don't rust.

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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.

I've found from experience that it's importaint to have the clips AND another method of securing the seam covers. I have just the clips on my van and the drivers side one pops loose with enthusiastic driving...

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How can it be rusty when it's covered in so much oil?

Not that I have painted many Minis over the years, but that is the way I do it too.

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Have a Nice Day.
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