146 replies to this topic

[gregh55]

did you want to sell that trails bike i spotted in your garage

[Dan6061]

No I don't! Sorry.

Tom - I'd rather just use the ones I have, seeing as they work and everything.. My dad's mate will probably be able to cut the square holes for them if I ask nicely...

[Dan6061]

The panels I have left at the front now, with the side repeaters coming out of, how much of them can I chop off?
Also, what the hell are they called!?

[Tom Booth]

The inner wings? Best thing to do dan is to look into where others have cut. I think you cut an inch or so foward of the shock mounts thou, but don't quote me on it....

[Dan6061]

Ah ok. Just trying to keep in mind that I've got the electric fan there too, which obvously sits quite far forward. Or can I just get rid of that?

[Deathrow]

Look at my thread again mate, you can basically lose everything back to where the bulkhead crossmember spot welds to the inner wing, no more.

If you're keeping your electric fan, naturally, maintain more of the inner wing on the passenger side so it has something to mount to.

If in doubt, check those links I left you, it's all in there mate .

[Trials_Chizz]

Minis looking good. Spotted the zona in the garage there

I was wanting to do a flip front but i think it will cost me too much as i have to have the car done by may.. And its a fair bit off.

[Dan6061]

Look at my thread again mate, you can basically lose everything back to where the bulkhead crossmember spot welds to the inner wing, no more.

If you're keeping your electric fan, naturally, maintain more of the inner wing on the passenger side so it has something to mount to.

If in doubt, check those links I left you, it's all in there mate .

Ah sorry, I forgot about that! I'll keep them in mind.

Started to cut off the metal strips on top of the inner wings, one side was easy thanks to some rust, but the other side took ages! Impressive spot welding...haha.
Just waiting for the flap disc to arrive in the post, and I can finish smoothing it all off, also need a block of metal to flatten it all out... Then I'm basically done until the flip front gets here.
I'll probably end up tarting about making the engine all shiney or something now!

[Dan6061]

Thinking up designs on mounting it all now.. The wings/etc will be on hinges at the front, and fastened to the A panels using these on the inside: eBay link. So you won't be able to see them.

Then i'll keep the bonnet on the bonnet hinges, so that flips upwards as normal. Then I want to lose the internal release altogether, as it's really stiff and generally a pain! I wanted to have locking bonnet pins on the front of the bonnet, but the only problem I think i'd have is mounting the pins on the inside of the engine bay? What would I bolt them too? Plus they stick out don't they, so the bonnet would hit them on the way down when closing it...

Little stuck on ideas now. I want to keep the bonnet hinges really, seeing as I know cutting those out will cause problems! but I'm stuck with what to do with locking the bonnet down?




In other news, cutting discs and flap disc arrived in the post today! So I get to go out and make a racket again tomorrow.

[Dan6061]

Thinking up designs on mounting it all now.. The wings/etc will be on hinges at the front, and fastened to the A panels using these on the inside: eBay link. So you won't be able to see them.

Then i'll keep the bonnet on the bonnet hinges, so that flips upwards as normal. Then I want to lose the internal release altogether, as it's really stiff and generally a pain! I wanted to have locking bonnet pins on the front of the bonnet, but the only problem I think i'd have is mounting the pins on the inside of the engine bay? What would I bolt them too? Plus they stick out don't they, so the bonnet would hit them on the way down when closing it...

Little stuck on ideas now. I want to keep the bonnet hinges really, seeing as I know cutting those out will cause problems! but I'm stuck with what to do with locking the bonnet down?




In other news, cutting discs and flap disc arrived in the post today! So I get to go out and make a racket again tomorrow.

Help me.

[Dan6061]

Cut the drivers inner wing down, obviously removed the ECU and horn. Bit stuck on where to mount the ECU though? Don't want it on the outside of the inner wing as it'll get wet/covered in much!
Been looking at re-routing the cables and have it mounted inside? But that looks to be a lot of fiddling...
Is there an alternative solution? Maybe one I haven't spotted yet?

[robh]

Hi

Long time ago I worked on a mini with a flip front.
The wiring was always getting caught when opening and flipping forward doesn't always make some things like timing up the distributor easy.
So we put a trailer plug in line of the headlamp / indicator wiring and mounted a socket on the front of the offside inner wing.
Then we modified the hinges so that the pins through the hinges were retained by spring clips.
That gave us a flip front for normal use and a lift off front end when needed, by removing the hinge pins and unplugging the lighting.

by the way because you haven't posted any update pictures I can't see, have you fitted the re-enforcing bars yet?
We fitted a cross rail and mounted the oil cooler and servo on it.

Good work!

I'm looking forward to seeing the next update

Rob

Edited by robh, 02 December 2008 - 05:13 PM.

[Dan6061]

I haven't got the brace bars on, no. I should hopefully receive the cheque from my insurance tomorrow, so I can cash that in and get ordering!
Mini currently looks the same as it did in the last pictures, apart from one of the inner wings being chopped down.

[Tom Booth]

Dan, Make some bracket to fasten the the ECU to the brace bar when it comes to the time. I'm with guy up there to, go for a removable front, it'll be ALOT easier to work on in future. Best be ready for the next TF car meet too chap!

[Dan6061]

I'd rather have it flip forward to be honest though, saves the risk of chipping/scratching the paint! Plus if I ever do need to remove it, I can just take off the hinges, etc, and do it that way.

Cheque still isn't here.