19 replies to this topic

[miniboo]

Well i now have a steel removable front waiting to go on the Badger.(thanks Sevretta)

I need to do the passenger side A panel anyway so was thing i could weld the a panels to the removable front and have it that way?

I know that you can get this type of front in grp but i was wondering if it is feasible to do with it being a steel front end what with the added weight etc?

Plus it would make it much easier to get it looking good i think

[cooper_shaz]

Sounds good to me,

I have been trying to convince a friend to let me do a steel flip front but open it conventionally, ie, lift the front bumper up with the aid of Hydraulic rams and hinge the bonnet.

We should be making a start in a couple weeks once he has got the panels etc together..

so I would be interested in seeing how yours turns out

I think adding the A panels to the flip is a great idea since they are where the majority of te C**p gets stuck and the rust starts.
Would make it easy to keep clean..

[minislapper]

You are adding more weight AND making it harder to maneouvre on and off the car. Gray's steel front is from the A panels forwards and it's a fair weight. If you're trying to put the front back on AND try to line up the A panels etc it could get a bit tricky and you'll end up damaging the paintwork.

[miniboo]

not too fussed by th weight as i am only going to be removing it rarely.

i need to replace the front end anyway so just thought i would make it semi removable.

[pikey7]

the extra weight (over standard) is only the two brackets you'll have for the fasteners, and they are anyway fixed to the shell. Don't worry about that!

My FG front is with A-panels and it is so much easier to line things up and be neat with arches and fasteners than having the a-panels fixed.

Just to confirm though, it will be removable rather than flip right? To have a hinged front with the A-panels will mean that you clatter into the seams on the A-pillars as it rises. Removeable and it will "slide" the first inch or so before it can be lifted.

[minislapper]

If you remove the A panels then is there still enough support for the hinge panel that's holding your heavy door ????

Just a thought !!!

[miniboo]

yep removable rather than flip.

i think minislapper meant the weight of the front end not the extra weight on the car

[pikey7]

If you remove the A panels then is there still enough support for the hinge panel that's holding your heavy door ????

Judging by the decent section, the way the panels go the the inner wing, the a-pillar and the sill, and the fact that quite a few have done it, I'd say the chances are pretty good......

Certainly I can't lean on mine (the flange that it, the door isn't on yet!) and it wont budge. And I haven't even put the last welds on.....

I still can't see any extra weight on the front end, except maybe a little reinforcing plate between wing and A-pillar. I guess they won't be that heavy!

[minislapper]

Trust me........a steel front end is NOT light !!! and thats without the A-panels attached !!!

[pikey7]

Oh I believe you! Just that 2 panels and a little bracket ain't gonna make that much difference.

[mini1976]

Correct me if im wrong Minislapper but Pikey I think the point is that a removable front end is heavy. Not hevier than standard, just a heavy lump of steel.

[minislapper]

Of course not heavier than standard but just heavy to remove and replace !

Still much better than a fibreglass one though !

[miniboo]

so is it a good odea or not lol?

[pikey7]

Yes I get that its heavy. Its a big lump of steel. I have actually lifted steel before.

The way I read Minislappers original statement was that the addition of two small panels makes it necessary to borrow the 100foot crane from the local building site to take it off. A thousand apologies for taking that view.....

Jeez.....

And Yes Miniboo, I for one believe that the addition of the a-panels to the front end is a good thing. If for no other reason than it allows you to fit and finish the arches in a better way. Far too many Minis with flip fronts I've seen have a really badly finished (IMHO) gap between the front and rear parts of the front arches. I don't believe that the removal of the a-panels from the welded structure makes the drop on the doors uncontrollable or structurally unsound, and I don't believe that the addition of a 100foot crane to the garage tool collection is a detremental thing.

[mini1976]

Sorry Pikey i didnt mean any offence. But did find your sarcasum quite amusing