7 replies to this topic

[42harry]

Since last June i have been restoring my first ever mini van and infact, my first ever mini! i have had experience with fixing my 1982 city that was restored and given to me as my first car and have a good mechanical mind as well as my dads help meaning that so far i have made good progress! however, the previous owner installed a new front panel and instead of welding in a new van one piece stamped front end he installed the saloon type with the grill screwed on.

 

My next big decision is weather or not to weld the front grill in to make it one piece as it should be and original. My main concern is how bad the access to the front of the engine is for routine jobs such as oil changes and removing the distributor cap and alternator ect.

 

can anyone advise if they have experience with one piece front ends and grilles and how they find it? its tight and will be harder i accept that and surely people managed before but since i have a choice its making me think twice haha 

 

thanks! and heres some pics of the job so far to give an idea

[42harry]

pictures of the stage I'm now at 

Attached Files

•  FullSizeRender.jpg   66.91K   18 downloads
•  IMG_0772.JPG   51.39K   11 downloads
•  IMG_0927.JPG   43.93K   10 downloads
•  FullSizeRender 2.jpg   135.54K   13 downloads

Edited by 42harry, 24 January 2017 - 07:14 PM.

[Rocket.]

Very nice van! The access behind the fixed grill can be a pain especially if you don't have tiny hands! means jobs seems to take twice as long

But having said that I'd still weld it on always looks better in my opinion

 

You could always use grill buttons     

[42harry]

Thanks It'll be a push but hopefully it makes it to IMM if not I've got the backup 82 City e to go in haha!

 

I agree with you that it looks ten times better as one piece welded in, I just don't want to regret it later when it comes to an oil change   if only the previous owner had put a full one piece in from the start i wouldn't have to question myself then 

[Rocket.]

Something along the lines of this should help with oil filter changes in the future if you decide to go weld on

 

http://www.ebay.co.u...BIAAOSw65FXsWYW

[42harry]

should be great if i can get the socket onto it from below, seen them before but never really considered them but definitely will if i go down the fixed grille route

[Rocket.]

should be great if i can get the socket onto it from below, seen them before but never really considered them but definitely will if i go down the fixed grille route

 

should do the trick  

[cal844]

I'd fit buttons, paint them body colour