14 replies to this topic

[The Colonel]

hi guys im a bit of a noob when it comes to body work and stuff what i want to know is how easy is it to convert a roundnose to a clubman front? and how easy is it to find a steel front not a fibreglass one?

[oli]

I've done this using a removable steel front. The inner wings are way different and the only way to fit a Clubby front is to make it removable or spend lots of money and time fitting clubman inner wings, Clubby parts are expensive. Heritage front bumpers are £135! and thats only the begining.

To do mine as a removeable front, I:-

Cut off the roundnose wings at the A panel seam
Cut the inner wings in front of the subframe towers
Cut the wings off round the scuttle
Spend ages grinding and dressing the scuttle
I bolted the clubby front panel to the subframe using the the original rubber mounts
Fittted a clubby bonnet by just bending the hinges. Sounds a bit hamfisted but it works.
Then fitted clubby front wings, welding them to the clubby front panel, paying attention to the bonnet gap,scuttle and A panel. Clamp the wings to the A panel at this point.
Once youve done this you need to extend the lip that the original wing was welded to on the remaining part of the inner wing I made some L shaped plates and welded them on above the shock mount.
Drill holes in the A Panel seam through wing and A panel and find some small bolts I used Allen headed ones. If your really clever and can get holf of any that are not zinc plated you can weld nuts to the lip to make the nuts captive
Drill holes and put a couple of bolts through the clubby wing lips where it meets the bonnet. These bolt through the extended lip and are hidden with the bonnet closed.
Use an original catch and you can have an opening bonnet and you can also take the complete front off if needed and chip it every time like I do.

A one piece fiberglass one makes it a little easier as you dont have to worry about the inner wings but you still need to attach it somehow.

PM me and I'll try to take some pictures if needed

EDIT forgot to mention the brace bars these bolt to the original holes on the front subframe these need holes drilling above the shock mount through the L shaped piece above and bolting on.

Oli

Edited by oli, 07 December 2009 - 08:34 PM.

[olds_kool_lews]

you got any pictures oli? sounds interesting! wouldnt mind doin this myself!

[oli]

PM me with your email address and I'll try to take some tomorrow if its not too cold.

[The Colonel]

that sounds like an epic mission i mihgt just by a clubman thanks for the advice tho buddy

[roofless]

finding a good quality steel fron is very difficult, and dont forget inner wings are different also, so youll need a big wad of cash to go the heritage route to buy new panels.

I'm doing the same, and its proving very expensive.

its about £700.00 so far including scuttle.

[MINI 1]

good luck finding wings for that roofless , just spent all weekend trying to find a NSF wing for a clubman . got one in the end tho , from p and l minis .

aparently they are on back order until next year now !

[scoticus]

Clubmans have different scuttles?

didnt know that lol

[Tomf]

Clubmans have different scuttles?

didnt know that lol

No they dont there the same scuttles...

But im guessing to fit new inner wings it would be alot more difficult with the scuttle fitted... If thats even possible.

[scoticus]

Oh right, just checking.. im going to be making a clubman front.. so that i can have both makes.. round nose and clubby but using one shell

next year though, the prices are silly and im skint

[roofless]

Sorry, should have been clearer, scuttles are same on slabfront and round nose, it's just that with the nature of the modifications it's easier to do the scuttle whilst were in there.

I got everything from P&L minis - including both wings - they were superb and the only stock holder of all the bits for both sides.

[Lukie-J]

Sorry to hijack your thread!
I'm planning to do a clubby flip front on my mayfair, but using 2-piece fibreglass front.
Would I be able to keep the inner wings?
Also, how much extra bracing would I need to add (ie box section around the engine).
And could I use a normally hinging bonnet or would I have to go for a removable one?
Cheers

[oli]

Sorry to hijack your thread!
I'm planning to do a clubby flip front on my mayfair, but using 2-piece fibreglass front.
Would I be able to keep the inner wings?
Also, how much extra bracing would I need to add (ie box section around the engine).
And could I use a normally hinging bonnet or would I have to go for a removable one?
Cheers

The wings are welded to the front panel, so when you take that off, you will still need bracebars. The bracebars then wouldnt fit and the inner wings wouldnt do anything but flap about. Its best to cut them off 1" in front of the shock mounts, reinforce and fit bracebars, which are only £30 I think. But its been a long time since I bought mine.

[Pitcrew6464]

unless you buy this i just found

here

[Lukie-J]

The wings are welded to the front panel, so when you take that off, you will still need bracebars. The bracebars then wouldnt fit and the inner wings wouldnt do anything but flap about. Its best to cut them off 1" in front of the shock mounts, reinforce and fit bracebars, which are only £30 I think. But its been a long time since I bought mine.

Aaah, I see, cheers for that!