11 replies to this topic

[Steve220]

Hi all,

 

Well spent around 3 hours last night working on the mini's grill alignment. Almost lost the will to live! I see on loads of MPi's after renovation that their bonnet bar is perfectly aligned with the hockey sticks. I fit the bonnet catch and had a play round with height settings, and without almost having the bonnet touching the front panel, I can't get it to fit as well. You'll notice that if i do that, the bonnet to wing fit goes out the window. I've added a few pics on here, if any of the restoration experts out there could help understand this situation, or do my panels need some work..

 

 

 

 

 

[sonikk4]

Steve is the bonnet pattern or Heritage??

Either way I would pop the bonnet lip off and move it down enough to align with the hockey sticks.

Getting the curvature of the bonnet to align with the wings can be painful at the best of times, however if you have the height set correctly with the catch and are happy with that I would look at repositioning the lip. It's only spot welds.

[Steve220]

Steve is the bonnet pattern or Heritage??

Either way I would pop the bonnet lip off and move it down enough to align with the hockey sticks.

Getting the curvature of the bonnet to align with the wings can be painful at the best of times, however if you have the height set correctly with the catch and are happy with that I would look at repositioning the lip. It's only spot welds.

 

Hi Neil,

 

All the front end is heritage. I see what you mean though, I may have to leave that to Sleaford Mini Centre, as frankly the more I delve in the bodywork, the more i see it needs more and more work.

[Shifty]

Can't you move the grille up?

[Steve220]

Can't you move the grille up?

 

Shifty, if i move the grill any further up, the lip at the top of it protrudes over the top of the front panel.

 

Just done some measuring and fettling (oo-er). The lip is 3 mm prouder on the N/S than it is to the O/S (got to love Heritage 'quality' control). The lip is going to have to come off to sit correctly. I've seen some people pack the lip trim do it sits lower, I may give that a go also.

[Shifty]

I've moved the grille up and then ground the lip back so it sits flush before now. Do you have another grille to try before getting too drastic.

[Steve220]

I've moved the grille up and then ground the lip back so it sits flush before now. Do you have another grille to try before getting too drastic.

 

Unfortunately not, i chucked the old one

[Steve220]

Ok chaps, i've been playing about with the bonnet alignment and i think I'm happy with how it now sits. You can also see what i mean about the lip being further out on one side. This is trivial in the end, however I think moving the grill upwards (not too high to hit the headlight rings) and bring the bonnet lip trim down should make this work. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still not sure what's going on with the welding on this wing..

 

 

[sonikk4]

The lip looks to be the issue then. That randomn welding on the l/h wing I have seen before as well. Had something similar on Wills Mini Special and that was all Heritage as well. Fortunately for will we used his original bonnet.

Unless like Sean mentioned you reposition the grill then I think packing the lip should have the desired effect.

Heritage can be truly hit and miss as I found out with my Heritage bonnet for Paddy. It was bloody awful finish wise.

[pete l]

If you are having this much hastle with heritage panels, what am I going to run into when I put my magnum front end on with heritage wings ???!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steve220]

If you are having this much hastle with heritage panels, what am I going to run into when I put my magnum front end on with heritage wings ???!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It's all character building.

[Shifty]

Magnum front ends fit fine, they need a little fettling but nothing major.

Ive done a lot of pattern fronts and not had a big problem yet.

A handy hint is to use a plastic number plate as a template for the wing to bonnet gap. The thickness of one will give you a nice gap, plus the length of the plate will help you get it even all the way down.