8 replies to this topic

[Albino_Hedgehog]

Hey,

How easy is it to fit a elf/hornet bonnet to a mk3/4 Mini?

Keep seeing things about it having different hinges?

Will this be much of a problem?

[elf66]

Your biggest problem is going to be the front panel. They are as rare as hens teeth!

[Albino_Hedgehog]

I was gonna make my own front panel to make it a bit more personalised ;)

[Will16]

IIIRC Elfs/Hornets came in mk3 for so if you found a mk3 bonnet off one of them it would be a straight swap. If not and you get a mk1 bonnet (with the narrower hinge mounts) you'll either need to weld some new hinge mounts to the bonnet or car, or maybe use some threaded bar as really long bolts?

[Albino_Hedgehog]

Oh, so its just the position of the fittings on the bonnet itself?

That shouldn't be too much of an issue then :)

[1984mini25]

From memory of the elf I worked on a few year back. The bonnet had the narrower mk1/2 hinges, it also had external hinges on the doors. So I don't know if when they later swapped over to internal hinge doors that the bonnet hinges changed too.

 

As for the front panel, you can get conversion panels to convert a normal mini front panel or m-machine do new elf/hornet front panels.

[humph]

My mk3 Elf (internal hinge) has Mk1 Mini hinges i.e made of tube & mounted further inboard than Mini hinges. So as far as I can make out you'll need to weld new hinge mounts to the bonnet.

 

Front panel conversion piece is available from the link below to convert a Mini front.

 

https://www.catmint....1bjf3hu66f15u44

Edited by humph, 28 September 2016 - 09:00 PM.

[1984mini25]

The hardest part I see with the conversion to put a elf/hornet front on a normal mini (some were made with a normal mini boot) is finding the bonnet, grill, indicators, grills and front bumper. The easy bit is the front panel, apart from a bit of welding.

[humph]

In fairness a quick look on ebay usually comes up with someone selling a bonnet, grilles, lights etc. Bumpers are not so plentiful, but they do come up regularly and it's usually the front. The rear bumpers & the overiders are the really rare items. Obviosuly you can stick with a standard Mini bumper for the front as the bumper lip remains unchanged on an Elf/Hornet front end.