10 replies to this topic

[Magic jason]

First off, don't plan on building a race car! Just a summer run around to go to events and the odd drive here and there when its nice and sunny! (so in other words, twice a year  )

 

Fitting a 1 piece removable fiberglass front for the time being (old front got a bit dinged up to say the least  ) ongoing on the road project and will probably go back to a steel front in the distant future... but not getting a professional respray untill ALL the rust is gone (so again, probably never  )

 

But for the time being this summer, hoping this ought to do the job!

 

 

 

Just given it a skim of filler to smooth out the small imperfections, so needs a bit of sanding! but otherwise i'd consider it done!

 

Main question is - Is it strong enough?!

 

Mostly made from 2mm steel, PLENTY of plug welds. The area the brace bar bracket is welded to is around 4mm thick if you include the crossmember and the old section of the wing support. brace bar bracket is made from 2mm steel, with some support top and bottom (hole for water drainage).

 

Crossmember was boxed off with 2mm steel (long enough to drill the shock bracket holes in) and then a piece of 1mm plate the same size welded over, with plenty of plug welds again! and the rest of the wing made from 1mm steel.

 

All in all seems pretty solid..

 

Seen the same sort of set up on other minis, just never known how thick they make it all.

 

All thoughts appreciated! sorry for the long post 

 

Edit: Please no talk of IVA test! 

Edited by Magic jason, 14 March 2018 - 03:18 AM.

[nicklouse]

so no cross car bracing?

solid mounted subframe?

[Magic jason]

so no cross car bracing?

solid mounted subframe?

 

no, but elaborate a bit?

 

Yes.

[Cooperman]

Since you are departing from the original monocoque construction and can't have done a stress analysis, you won't know if your design is adequate until you have a frontal impact.

[Magic jason]

Since you are departing from the original monocoque construction and can't have done a stress analysis, you won't know if your design is adequate until you have a frontal impact.

 

cant see it holding up better in a front/partial front impact than with a steel front, More than likely going to cause more damage to whats left.. but i would imagine that being the same with all fibreglass fronts, unless youve got an 8 point cage.

 

just want to make sure its not too flimsy so to speak for supporting the shock mount and brace bar.

 

Everything's time and money unfortunately! when removing the old damaged wings it needless to say revealed more work. But a steel front will be going back on, hopefully after the summer.

[Will16]

That looks good, very miglia-ish! I've done similar on mine but removed the cross brace completely and boxed in the inner wing ends. The shock is braced by the bulkhead, the cross brace is the inner wing stiffener iirc. Also if youve got the choice, go for a 2 piece front 

 

[Magic jason]

That looks good, very miglia-ish! I've done similar on mine but removed the cross brace completely and boxed in the inner wing ends. The shock is braced by the bulkhead, the cross brace is the inner wing stiffener iirc. Also if youve got the choice, go for a 2 piece front 

 

Swear i was up against you for the first run of the day last year at MITP   So whatever you've done was obviously correct     

 

Cheers :) Got a really good price on a 1 piece, taking the cheapest option but at the same time still wanting to do decent job. Had to pretty much make the whole shock mount area again from scratch with just multiple layers of rust from past bodges to go by 

 

Just got to repeat, new os flitch, fit the front and then off to L2B!

[cradley-heathen]

i have had several minis with no inner wings and no bracing at all, just solid mounts.

 

if you have ever had a mini with a solid steel front end, and no subframe in, ever tried pulling the front end about? it really is quite flimsy! there is very little strength or crash protection in the standard mini front end. the reason the front panel is mounted to the subframe is to stop the front end from moving around, not to stop the front of the subframe from moving.

 

ive seen a few racers with no brace bars in, if its good enough for them, its good enough for me. that said, my current build has got inner wings, but only because I'm trying to keep it more standard looking.

[nicklouse]

so no cross car bracing?
solid mounted subframe?

 
no, but elaborate a bit?
 
Yes.

Ok I can not see the whole thing so it is very hard to comment. But I like the bit that I can see. If both bars make an angle to the center line and are about the same then when bolted to the front of the subframe they will stiffen it up.

As Mr C-H says the subframe is a solid bit of kit and is it a body bolted to an engine or an engine in a body. Either way tying the front of the subframe into the crossmember will be good.
Consider the brace bar kits you can buy. Only held onto the inner wing by 2 bolts each side!

And you will learn to hate the one piece as they make anything a pain in the butt they are rarely beneficial. Soon you will be longing to just take a bonnet off without needing to find somewhere to put the front and retrieving it when the wind picks up.

[Will16]

Edit, apologies for my previous response, I completely misread your post  ! Thought you were talking about the inner wing bracing, I missed the 'and'

 

As said, make sure the subframe is solidly mounted, brace bars look good and more comprehensive than the standard type and tie into a more structural part. Mine doesnt have bracebars at all (no room) and has coped fine with heavy use and just a solid mounted subby 

[Magic jason]

Cheers for the thoughts!