fiberglass front end install
Orig. Posting Date | User Name | Edit Date |
Mar 22, 2020 10:09AM | Willie_B | |
Mar 22, 2020 09:14AM | ErikG | |
Dec 9, 2013 03:11PM | MUDandROX | |
Apr 21, 2013 10:07AM | 82mini | |
Apr 20, 2013 11:28AM | MiniMike | |
Apr 20, 2013 05:32AM | N. J. | Edited: Apr 20, 2013 06:07AM |
Apr 20, 2013 05:14AM | N. J. | |
Apr 19, 2013 08:56PM | 82mini | |
Apr 15, 2013 01:29PM | Nicholasupton | Edited: Feb 23, 2014 10:29PM |
Apr 15, 2013 10:52AM | malsal | |
Apr 15, 2013 10:30AM | 82mini | |
Apr 14, 2013 04:58PM | MtyMous | |
Apr 14, 2013 01:12PM | N. J. | |
Apr 14, 2013 12:45PM | malsal | Edited: Apr 14, 2013 01:11PM |
Apr 14, 2013 12:21PM | MtyMous | |
Apr 14, 2013 08:20AM | N. J. | Edited: Apr 14, 2013 08:24AM |
Apr 13, 2013 07:58PM | MtyMous | |
Apr 13, 2013 06:19PM | Spitz | |
Apr 13, 2013 05:20PM | N. J. | Edited: Apr 13, 2013 05:54PM |
Apr 13, 2013 11:41AM | malsal |
Found 22 Messages
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"How can anything bigger be mini?"
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hey guys hate to bring up such an old thread but im about to start on this project....hinges arived today and expecting the fiberglass front end this week....any insight to help me along the way? would love to ask a few questions to someone who has done this install....
thanks!
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thanks guys thats what i needed to see, the pictures and info is great thanks again
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I prefer the removable front apron and fenders with a normal opening hood..90+% of the time you can do what you need by opening the hood..anything major, you can just pop the front off.. and you can't tell it's removable..I have done this on 3 cars now..there are pics on my website and the build forums..
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Re: hinge mounting...
Before and after taking a clearance cut.
The pics with a shock mounted were taken before the clearance cut was taken and are from a different car.
Unless you've already been in there, you may find some tinworm behind the shock mount. I had to get a patch panel the size of a deck of cards welded-in.
N J
Sarcasm - Because beating the crap out of someone is illegal.
Avatar: 'B, bye Veruca. Luv ya.
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Here are some pics that might help:
I used the Clubbie Estate pics as a guide to cut my red car. I chose to cut down the front of the wing seam rather than down the back or split it (tedious work).
The Blaze orange car is a front flip, the final result of the 'Clubmanectomy'.
N J
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i am going to do the metal flip front, anyone got a build forum of this with photos? hinge mounting and cut lines and such, how did you line up and weld the bonnet? how did you measure it out? i saw one on youtube with an interior hood release for the whole clip on a flip front, anyone with this info of how that was done. thanks, Don
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I prefer a 2 piece removable front. Bonnet can still open as normal, and when you need more room pull the complete front end.
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A quality fiberglass front end probably weighs close to the same as a metal front end.
If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.
Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.
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how heavy to raise is the welded metal front?
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The idea was to get as much access to the engine as possible while looking as stock as possible. If I could do it while keeping it actually stock... that would be the biggest benefit.
I think I'm going to abandon ship an go with the minivation hinges.
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Hmm... well, NJ you're making some good points. Thanks.
I really like having the ability to mount things to the side fender walls... As Mal notes in his post, there are some flips that retain the inner wings. Obviously, one has to be very careful when lowering them. (as opposed to flipping them UP to close, where you're looking at everything as you do it.) I'd opt for incorporating some sort of guides. And, leaving the inner wings sort of defeats the purpose of flipping the front clip anyway, eh?. And I'm pretty keen on fresh air ducting. Me, too. When I asked Norman @ MinTec about them closing off the inlets and using the eyballs for A/C, he said "Nah. If they want fresh air, they can open the windows. I don't want to have to fool around with trying to keep (fresh air inlets) when I'm putting A/C in a car." So, I came up with my answer to retain it. And a few other things.
Are you talking about the minivation hinges? I was actually looking at those and a CF bonnet. I'm in the investigation stages here, so it's all up in the air. I just want to do it right if I'm going to do it. Yep. Those are the ones. If powerunit access was the object, then I'd be hard -pressed to do otherwise, whatever the bonnet material.
N J
Sarcasm - Because beating the crap out of someone is illegal.
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I have seen A series with flip fronts with the inner fenders removed and with the majority of the inner fender still in place maybe an inch or so removed around the edge but most people remove them for access or Honda transplants.
If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.
Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.
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Hmm... well, NJ you're making some good points.
I really like having the ability to mount things to the side fender walls... And I'm pretty keep on fresh air ducting. And a few other things.
Are you talking about the minivation hinges? I was actually looking at those and a CF bonnet. I'm in the investigation stages here, so it's all up in the air. I just want to do it right if I'm going to do it.
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I've been really contemplating going this route on the rebuild with the original body metal front, weldint it all together, but still also having the ability to open the bonnet. I know I've seen this before.
But what are the real downfalls to this mod? State of welding skills and $$$?
Can i still use my fresh air ducting? Yes. You can tie it to the bracing (see note below) or, unlike foward flips, make it long enough to flex, or add intakes like I did (NACA ducts high on the wings are fresh intakes that tie into dash eyeballs. See pics.)
What kind of stuff has to get moved around? Anything mounted directly to the inner wings is a candidate.
Is the front end body wobbly after it's done? Should add bracing from above the shocks to the bottom of the front corners. Commercially available. Lots of pics of these around. (non issue with VTEC framing)
What are the pros and cons to all the guys that have done this? step 1) gash head; 2) cover latch w/ slit tennis ball; 3) install 'quick release' hinges, 4) hinge the whole front clip; 5) note there are new 90° bonnet hinges in the UK and wish they'd been available before you spent so much time and money on hinging the whole thing.
Had I to do it over on a non-extended front, I'd skip straight to #5.
NJ? Care to chime in and give some opinions?
N J
Sarcasm - Because beating the crap out of someone is illegal.
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I've been really contemplating going this route on the rebuild with the original body metal front, weldint it all together, but still also having the ability to open the bonnet. I know I've seen this before.
But what are the real downfalls to this mod?
Can i still use my fresh air ducting?
What kind of stuff has to get moved around?
Is the front end body wobbly after it's done?
What are the pros and cons to all the guys that have done this?
NJ? Care to chime in and give some opinions?
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Check over on the mini forum...there are several good threads with detailed pictures
"Everybody should own a MINI at some point, or you are incomplete as a human being" - James May
"WET COOPER", Partsguy1 (Terry Snell of Penticton BC ) - Could you send the money for the unpaid parts and court fees.
Ordered so by a Judge
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//www.minimania.com/part/MT130300A/Front-End-Hinge-Kit-For-Fiberglass-Frend-Vtec--Std-Mini
ok i agree but how well does the kit mate up and how hard is it to install?
Not sure on the installation but several Mini owners have done the conversion themselves so it can't be that hard. With regards to fit i have seen them at shows and they look like the fit and finish is good, you may want to check the gallery as there are several pic' of Mini's with the flip fronts. If you chose to go this route i would buy the front from them also as it probably already has the hinge mounts fiberglassed in place.
Yes to nearly all the above. As Mini factory body panel alignments would win no Demming awards, and most cars have been tweaked in some manner somewhere along the way, fitting the MiniTec F/G can be a bit fiddlety. The Gallery on the Mini Tec site is a treasure trove of examples, but as they were developed for the original conversion, they are extended. You can buy just the hinge kit and flip your standard metal front clip. That has been done a number of times. In fact there's a red one somewhere in FL that came to ST back in J-ville.
82, if you decide to go that way and you want some step-by-step specifics, I can supply more pics from my build and the matching parts of my diary "Diary of a M.A.D.M.A.N....the Search for More Hamsters".
N J
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//www.minimania.com/part/MT130300A/Front-End-Hinge-Kit-For-Fiberglass-Frend-Vtec--Std-Mini
ok i agree but how well does the kit mate up and how hard is it to install?
Not sure on the installation but several Mini owners have done the conversion themselves so it can't be that hard. With regards to fit i have seen them at shows and they look like the fit and finish is good, you may want to check the gallery as there are several pic' of Mini's with the flip fronts. If you chose to go this route i would buy the front from them also as it probably already has the hinge mounts fiberglassed in place.
If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.
Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.
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