Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[mollymidget]

Nearly finsished body repair to Midget shell, and have just noted that the rear boot area is twisted to one side, looks like the twist is in the boot floor area where it rises up over rear axle, inspite of all the bracing I put in, the shell is still on the car roller (spit) my question is do I try and repair whilst still on spit or would you recomend once back on floor with axles and wheels on, my instinct tells me the later, and to cut out the hump in the boot floor, try and twist shell back and reweld, what would you recomend, any help greatly appreciated, as Ime at my wits end with it after all the work I have done, by the way the rear outer wings are still off the car and the boot floor isnt atached to the rear valance as this was going to be done when back on the ground
Mollymidget

[victor 101]

IMO you will need it back on the floor, and you dont say wether the doors are on or not, if not you need to refit them to check shut and alignment. (you will need to temporarily fit the rear wings)when its on the floor you can use jacks to straighten. and take cross measurements to make sure its straight before welding. Have you any pics?
Rod

[mollymidget]

Thanks for reply Victor, doors are not on, I need to replace A posts and outer sills both sides when back on floor, will try and post pictures tonight, I think its twisted to one side about 5mm, but looks a lot worse when ligning up boot floor with floor pan when car is on its side.

[ukdave2002]

Hi

You really need to see exactly where the distortion is, you can do this pretty accurately with a simple plumb line , some chalk and chassis dimensions which are found in most workshop manuals. You essentially have the car on a flat surface, plumb down to the ground at the specified chassis points, chalk the marks, and compare the dimensions to the spec, it will at least tell you where and how bad the distortion is.

Dave

[traction39]

Any use?

http://www.ketcherside.net/chassis.htm

http://www.spridget-tech.com/page3.html

Of course who is to say it left Abingdon in spec!!!
_________________
Alistair

Citroen Light 15 1953, "12" 1939,
Riley 9 Special 1932