When working on the Mini a couple of days ago, I notcied the strip that covers the seam was coming off........so i kept pulling as one does....

The seam underneath looks to have rust etc in spots and general crud all around it. I was wondering how on earth to repair this.....

Also how do i put the strips back on.......adhesive etc

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[Maverick] 1971 Mini K

The vertical seam strips are you talkin about? From roof gutter to wheel arch?

Correct

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[Maverick] 1971 Mini K

Ok if you're talking about the vertical seam covers, they are held on with little clips with teeth in them. Not too sure what they are called.

Some adhesive wouldnt hurt - this is how a body place did a mini they had there when there wasnt enough clips.

im probably more concerned with the seams themselves...e.g if they have rust etc in them....

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[Maverick] 1971 Mini K

Ooo, maybe u shoulda left it on, what u cant see wont hurt u!!! Not sure about repairs, im not a panel beater. Could try some of that stop rust stuff, not sure of the name. Its meants to neutrilise the rust, or at least slow the chemical reaction down. I replaced mine when the car was painted, as when removing them they were to easily damaged.

But the the new ones were refitted with small metal clips and sealed with some sort of sealant that is meant to be flexible. So as the car flexes it does to, this prevents the paint along the sealed edge from cracking. Not sure of the name of the stuff. Like I said, Im not a panel beater.

i might have to post some pics and post them online.......it didnt look overly bad. e.g holes etc......but it didnt look pretty either

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[Maverick] 1971 Mini K

I'd put a 4" twistknot wire brush in the angle grinder, that'll get all the loose stuff off. Then treat it with Permatex/Loctite Rust Converter (white bottle/orange cap).

Instead of the clips which cut into the metal and make it rust, I used Sikaflex 291 on my son's car last time. As well as holding the covers on it seals the weather out.
Once it dries you can paint over it. It's a one part polyurethane. Good crap.

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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.

what he said

Well i bought a flat twist knot like you suggested kev...worked a treat on the floor pans etc.......So ill attack it with that i guess.

I have some of that loctite rust converter here so ill splash her on too.

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[Maverick] 1971 Mini K

Dave, I think most have a bit of surface rust under there. Treat it and wack the seam cover back on.

Out of sight, out of mind

Well thats what it looks like its going to be.......i keep finding little bits of rust everywhere. Its driving me nuts

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[Maverick] 1971 Mini K

Speaking of seams, what's the most structurally sound way of de-seaming a mini? (on the A and C pillars, they look strange with no roof seam). Is it to cut off 5" of seam and then deep weld repeating the whole length of the seam, or is it to cut the seam every few inches and "finger-join" it (i mean one lap one way, the next the other and so on). I've heard of both ways being done.The removal of the seams means less rust, which is a good thing on a 30-40yr old car. But you wouldn't want the car to fall apart either!

Keep finding rust well just remember it is a mini and dont expect to stop finding it anytime soon
on the upside you get to practice your panel beating skills

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Cheers

de-seam the whole car

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~*~ ThE SOR53Y PrInCeSs in MERLIN the MIN-WAH!;)~*~
*~* cruising in an EVO 6.5 TME as well! *~*