People with cut out & plastic/cf/ally boot floors - MOTs?
Turbo Mini Forums

Guys,

I've failed my MOT twice now on the boot floor - at two different MOT stations. First time it was just a hole, and it failed on that, now it's got a riveted ally sheet in place, and it still failed, this time because the seat belts (harnesses) and subframe mounts are too close (within 12"!!) of the cut away area.

So, how do you chaps get MOTs? The guy said I had two options:
1) Weld in a bit of metal.
2) Get a letter from an 'authority' saying it was OK as it is.

I feel that I can personally do neither, realistically..

Help!

-a

Can you move the harness mounts to else where, like a bar between the cage rear legs?

Yes, but he said it'd still fail because of the subframe mounts.

What do the regs say about the subframe mounts?

No 'corrosion' within 12".

May be that the boot floor need to go back in, but other people seem to be getting mot's with boot floors missing so who knows.

I think welding a new floor in would be the easiest solution. Just get your ali floor remade in steel, trim it and weld it in?

I really like the boot floor and was thinking of replicating it it steel and welding it in.

I think it may be the easiest solution. Thanks lads :)

you could argue it this year and end up with the same next year; who else has the same floor in their mini?

shameless plug...

http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=407671

If you do weld a panel in, it'll need to be welded from underneath as it would be a right PITA to do it in leaning into the boot to get to the bits near the seat back.

He shouldn't have failed it on corrosion though as there is no metal to be corroded!

Haha, thanks. I really do not want to spend £140 on a panel that I'll have to chop up, though.

I only just spent more than that on my whole engine!

What about bonding the Ali panel in and covering the joins with seam sealer?

The MOT man isn't allowed to tamper with anything so wouldnt be able to tell if it's welded or not.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

I'd get a steel one made using the ally one as a template; as for welding it in, I'd agree it may be easier to get better access from below although you will probably need to drop the frame to get the best finish

Sounds awfully dodgy! It's bad enough driving around in a loud, bumpy, crashy, million year old car, let alone a dodgy one.
Edit: This was to the bonding idea, not welding :)

Next question - where can I buy metal online, and what type do I need? (I have a little mig welder)

Edited by AlexB on 22nd Feb, 2011.

no problem, i had a quick look and couldnt see how much you are missing..

On 22nd Feb, 2011 AlexB said:
Haha, thanks. I really do not want to spend £140 on a panel that I'll have to chop up, though.

I only just spent more than that on my whole engine!

You need mild sheet steel around 1mm thick.

It's quite a big bit to tackle if you've not had much practice...

seeing your boot floor has just seen off my intentions then to fit a carbon boot floor I do intend to make my car road legal at some point but as I have my beam tagged to the floor as well that probably classes as a suspension mounting point.

Do you not know any mot testers or friends or mini friendly people?? Tbh if it were me i would just spray it all black bond it in and give the man the finger, is there anyone near you that has a rear beam you could borrow surely this would solve your problem??

Drives
-Ford S-max Mk2 Ecoboost
-Rover 100 VVC #2 - track project

Searching is all you need on TurboMinis

I do not know anyone mini friendly really - certainly both the local places I usually use for... less than perfect cars, are the two that failed it.

I'd love there to be an easy way out, but at the same time, I would like to do a fix that requires no fucking about.

Bring it to swindon ill get you an mot but seriously wouldnt the ally even thougb its rivited give back the strength required?? Loads of people have carbon fg floors and get through mots just fine i dont see what there big fuss is about tbh

Drives
-Ford S-max Mk2 Ecoboost
-Rover 100 VVC #2 - track project

Searching is all you need on TurboMinis