So I finally got my boot floor welded back together and now I'm trying to fit in the lower rear valance panel. There is a gap between the closing panel and the rear valance flange on both sides. I can't remember if this gap was there before. I did not drill any holes in the closing panel in this area which means there probably weren't any welds there before. I also did not completely remove the closing panels so they are still in the original spot. I'm probably going to put a plate of steel between the two to keep road crap from getting behind there but I'm curious if they were built like this or if I screwed up somewhere along the way.

I need to tidy up the body work in the boot some more and I want to shoot some primer behind the rear valance before I weld it on. Heres some pics of what I have done so far.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...y.php?cat=2426

 

This is a common problem when replacing the rear valance and closing panels. Even though you are using the original closing panels... fitment of the rear valance is probably off slightly from where the original one once was (giving you your gap). I found this same problem when I started restoring Minis years ago and dont even fit them anymore. I dont see that they matter much structurally, and they only hold water/moisture if it should get in there. I now remove them and seal the seams with seam sealer to prevent dirt and water from lodging up in the cracks. With these panels removed it is easy to stick a hose up there and wash it out too. I dont know that I helped you out at all, but I think if you took them out, you would be saving yourself time in the long run (welding in extra plates and then new panels when they rot out again). Good Luck!

 

ya, they have that gap there and sometimes even larger ones. My original valence was rotted out in exactly the spot where the mud gets trapped due to that gap. I stuck the new one on, but made a small patch to cover the gap and seam welded it closed to prevent the same problem from happening again.

 

brandondonat,
Do you actually leave the whole closing panel off or do you just remove the "mud flap" looking piece that comes down. I'e got the boot floor welded into it pretty good so I don't think removing the whole closing panel is an option. Removing parts of it may be an option though.


Would you reccomend putting in a drain hole at the bottom to let any moisture that gets trapped in there out?

I've made a few rookie mistakes on this project so it makes me feel better to see that this is a common problem.

 

I will say that you are not the first to run into this problem and definately wont be the last Dont leave out the fact that the panels may not be perfect either... so blame the imperfection of it not mathing it up perfectly on that. It will help your confidence

As far as the rear valance... I put that on the Mini, but had removed the closing panels since I was originally planning to replace them. When I noticed the same gap that you have I decided to leave them off the Mini, and have done so in more recent restorations just because it is best (in my opinion). I dont know about putting holes in it to let any water drain, but that is an option. I would hate for you to cut it out of the way and make a bigger problem. Can you put a few more pics of it on the site so that I and anyone else can make suggestions?

Dont worry about mistakes... thats the way we learn. Most people wont know the mistakes except for you. We are our own worste critics.

 

I just looked through your other pics that you put on the site. I see that the rear valance was clamped on... did you happen to weld it in place yet? If you didn't weld it to the rear valance then the closing panels should be able to have the spot welds drilled out of boot floor and it should solve your problem. Then you would only have to fill the spot holes that have been drilled out.

 

I did not weld the rear valance yet. I'm not sure what I want to do now, I'm going to have to put some more thought into it now. I welded the floor real good into the closing panel over by the wheel well. It's going to be a real pain to drill those welds out again. I'll take some more pics tomorrow when it's light out. Thanks for your help.