7 replies to this topic

[fasteddie84]

Hi all

Tried searching and after reading loads of threads, couldn't find anything conclusive.

I am considering buying a flip front and can't decide on whether to spend the extra on a carbon fibre one. I am currently looking at the Curley Clubman two piece one that will be fully removable and not hinged.

I have been thinking about it and come up with the following:

CF should hopefully be stronger
CF will be more difficult to repair in case of damage
If removing all the time, the extra strenght should reduce the paint cracking.

What are your thoughts?

[david@skeggyminis]

hi i have fitted 4 round nose fiber glass fronts from abs and one Curley carbon fiber iwould use asb fiberglass every time they are a good fit and strong

Edited by david@skeggyminis, 23 October 2011 - 09:35 AM.

[E.L.M.O]

If your budget allows go for the Carbon fibre one.

Have you considered having a steal flip front made up? Its what I am going to do. Yes it will still be prone to rust but id take good old steal over fibreglass any day.

[fasteddie84]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I am not sure what the quality difference between Curley and ABS but the Curley one looked better to me. I like that the lights and grill have already been cut out and the bit below the grill looks better (on the Curley one, it has three possible holes where the ABS one is just one).

Have considered the steel front end but it's more expensive (£370 for the front panel and wings vs £308 for the two piece Curley one). Plus, do you need to fit the Clubman inner wings when fitting a steel front end?

[E.L.M.O]

I ordered group 5 euro arches from ABS and wouldnt personally ever order anything from them again. Not only did I think they were terrible quality, but I called to report that the strip that fits between the body and the arches wasnt includeded, and when I asked if it was meant to be the answer was "yes, we will investigate why this wasnt included" and I never heard anything from them again. I could have chased them, but just decided to not use them ever again instead what with the quality issue also. - I also got fed up with the response, How about instead of "investigate" you just send me the bloody strip?!

However ive never bought from Curley, but have seen their stuff, and spoken with them at shows and their stuff looks absolutely spot on

Edited by E.L.M.O, 24 October 2011 - 09:09 AM.

[SA MINI]

I've managed to find a strong great fitting fibre glass one on eBay. New £150. Nice Carbon fibre ones seem to fit just that bit better
Though the odd stone chip inside a fibre glass one is an easy repair where carbon fibre wouldn't be

[fasteddie84]

Cheers guys.

shaunarmes, that's what I was thinking... Not sure how to fix CF so may be better to go for the FG one.

Just considering doing a steel removable front end and how difficult that would be.

After doing some thinking about how I would do it, I came up with:

Attach a bar that goes from the bulk head to the a panel to keep it in place. Then I would put locating tabs on the a panels to locate the front wings in to the correct location and then dzus fastners on the wings to secure it to the a panel.

On the front, I would use the subframe mounting holes to connect the front panel to the car.

My only concern is the inner wings. Would these fit in place or are these too short (http://www.minispare...id=33892&title= and http://www.minispare...id=34041&title=)?

I am going to be installing a AllSpeed subframe and a Vauxhall 1.6 16v so I have to cut up the inner wings anyway.

What do you guys think?

[fasteddie84]

Did some more searching last night and it looks like those inner wings would be perfect.

My next concern is if I cut the original round nose inner wings off about an inch after the bulk head/subframe tower mounts, would these new inner wings line up with the old ones? I had a thought last night that as the round nose bonnet tapers in and the Clubman one is straight, would there be a gap with the new inner wings and the old ones?