12 replies to this topic

[Ni83mini]

Hi Everyone,

 

I am is despair at trying to get my front end aligned...

 

I have replaced everything with the exception of the inner wings... the A panel, wings, scuttle and front panel all look to have great alignment and gaps, BUT...

 

I cannot get the bonnet even close to where it should be any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

my biggest concern is the overhang at the front panel, the catch is aligned in the locating hole in the front panel but as the pictures clearly shows the bonnet sits very proud of the front panel

 

Im at the point of throwing the panels and going fibreglass one piece front end as I've spent over 4 weeks at this point just trying to align.

 

Thank you

 

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Edited by Ni83mini, 08 January 2017 - 01:42 PM.

[spraybeater]

Where about in East Yorkshire are you?, could possibly have a look and offer some assistance 

got to be a work around rather than fit a fibreglass front

[miniseven61]

Hmm, The bonnets do tend to finish slightly forward of the wing front edge on most cars but not as much as that, you may have to try a different approach to the fitting of the panels, is the front panel bolted to the front subframe correctly, the wings are notoriously difficult to get right, it looks like the panels may be non genuine, this could be the problem, if the front panel inner brackets are not in the right place it will throw everything out and you may have to push and shove the wings to get them in the right place, it's not easy and will probably take a bit of time, see if you can get someone local with a bit of experience to help with this, without the knowledge you may struggle to get it right. I'm in Southampton, sorry.

[Ni83mini]

@spaybeater - Im based in Gilberdyke near goole.

[Ni83mini]

@miniseven61 -Thanks for the advise, the wings are non-genuine parts that come with the car when i bought it.  the front panel is bolted into the front subframe and the rubber mounts are in the locating pins etc.. its very frustrating that all the other panels appear to fit together well with the exception of the bonnet.

[Steve220]

Genuine or copy panels?

[Ni83mini]

Suspecting they are copy panels....  after more fettling i am getting the following, but the d/s wing even looks the wrong curve so suspecting poor quality panels are adding to my pain.

 

 

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[sonikk4]

If you don't get any more adjustment out of the bonnet then the next option is to cut a small v on the return either side of the curve in the bonnet. Then gently press the front of the bonnet back to close the gap. This should then sort the overhang.

However there really should not be any need for this and could well be down to the pattern panels. We used pattern on my lads car Project Erm including a new pattern bonnet. Total nightmare,and took 45 man hours to sort out by cutting, slitting and adding metal.

I fitted all Heritage panels to the Mini Special I did a couple of years ago with no issues at all. Scuttle, A panels, wings and front panel. The bonnet was original.

[Ni83mini]

Thanks Sonikk4, Think i will order up a pair of Heritage wings and see how that helps before i start cutting an reshaping the bonnet.

[R1mini]

Thanks Sonikk4, Think i will order up a pair of Heritage wings and see how that helps before i start cutting an reshaping the bonnet.

 

I've had this exact problem in the past whether I used Heritage panels or not, I would typically reshape the corners of the bonnet using a wooden block, I never cut any panels in my time and have always got at least a good fit. I have fitted around 500 front ends on minis in my time working with classic cars

 

Cheers

David

[Ni83mini]

Thanks R1mini. Would you use the wooden block like a hammer and dolly or as an edge to bend around?

[spraybeater]

@spaybeater - Im based in Gilberdyke near goole.

As said if you need help the offer is genuine!! I am an hour away along M62, retired bodyshop man

was in trade for 50+yrs mainstream and classics (and a fair few of what we now call classics before

they were known as such) HaHa.

 

Frank

[Ni83mini]

Hi Frank very kind offer, thank you sir. Have private messaged you my contact details