To those who have restored/resprayed there cars what did you do with the hinges? Is it better to attach the door/boot hinges etc to the car then painting all as one piece or should they be painted separately and attached only after being painted?

I'm thinking I might have the hinges of the doors and panels painted separately and attached them after wards, I think this will give a cleaner look instead of that look where the paint seals across a join... does that make sense? thoughts pros and cons please?

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Jenk.

You are right IMHO. You can't do the door or the hinges properly if they are painted together. How do you use the gaskets otherwise?

They done them at the factory all bolted on gaskets and all

I paint minis with doors, bonnet, boot, and all hinges off the shell. I prefer nice clean lines around the hinges.

The factory would have painted them together to save time and not risk scratching the paint when they were assembled.

If you want to paint the car with all hang on panels in place paint under the hinges first, let the paint cure, then bolt everything up and adjust your gaps. This way everything under the hinges is as well protected as it can be. I also do this with the seam covers and then glue the seam covers on with Sika flex, then seal in the gutters and around the seams before paint.

Hope this helps.

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Lindsay Palmer
06 Mazda SP23
80 Alfa GTV (weekend toy)
86 626 Turbo (daily drive, now stolen)
71 cooper s replica
69 cooper replica
76 clubman
62 english 850
68 Mini Auto

Thanks all for your responses.

Lindsay your'e not located in Sydney are you? Interested in painting another?

Clean lines is what I'm after, the only concern I would have is if when bolting the hinges etc back on would the paint not crack under pressure of the hinges tightened down against the fresh paint, or do the gaskets relieve the pressure?

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Jenk.

No, I'm in Melbourne. Unfortunately I'm in the middle of a house renovation and currently don't have a garage to work on cars (this will change very soon), so can't take on anything extra yet.

The paint should not crack under pressure as this panel shouldn't flex as the hinge in tightened up. It is a double skinned panel with a strengthening bracket behind it for each hinge (door, not boot). You can't really tighten the hinges that hard to flex and panel enough to crack the paint, unless there is poor repairs under the paint. Besides I think the studs in the hinges would break.

Have you stripped the car back to metal? Unless there is excessive paint film build or bad repairs I would not worry about cracking paint.

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Lindsay Palmer
06 Mazda SP23
80 Alfa GTV (weekend toy)
86 626 Turbo (daily drive, now stolen)
71 cooper s replica
69 cooper replica
76 clubman
62 english 850
68 Mini Auto

That's a shame mate.

Im stripping my current car then will paint strip the donor car soon after, the donor is a very clean car no rust and straight, just the front floor requires a little panel beating which I might attempt myself, then get it to a panel shop.


thanks for your help and good luck with the reno.

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Jenk.