1498 replies to this topic

[analogue_radio]

Payday today

Just phoned up Custom Consoles & ordered the dashboard.



It'll be the second from bottom, black with cream & 3 gauges above the steering & radio housing in the middle.

Should be arriving on Tuesday! It was a little more than I would've liked to pay, but I can't imagine I'll ever change the dashboard again so I might as well make sure I buy the right one to begin with, so once this has come I can take out the airvents and block those up, then stow the dash in the back and crew across to Motorworld in Loughborugh and sort out the sound system.

I might have to just get the headunit & two 4" speakers, and then at a later date when I've got more money buy two subs for under the rear seats.

[analogue_radio]

Gah .

I don't know if I should go Fibreglass or Metal for my front end..

Fibreglass would be so much cheaper and easier, lighter too.. and I could go a while without painting it.. It'd also mean I could debumper the front without doing any welding, I could still have my bonnet on pins too..

Metal would be more expensive, heavier, but I'd feel that I hadn't ruined the classic aspect of the car.. It'd also be safer if I ever did get into a crash or a bump, but more expensive to fix..

Help?

[AndrewJ530]

Go fibreglass mate, looks so much cooler when ya pull the whole front end up and it just has the engine and subby showing - looks well good.

Thats my opinion anyway lol.

Andrew

[analogue_radio]

Yeah it looks good but not if you've got a messy 998 underneath! I suppose the money I save on the front I can spent on making the engine bay smarter.

At the minute it would look a little silly, but once I do that I can start changing the rest of her.. I also need to think of prices for a full respray as I don't really like the green but I'd run around with a white front until I sort the rest of the rust elsewhere, the front end is the majority of my rust so a whole fibre glass front would solve 70-80% of the rust.

I just keep turning things over my head and I'm going around in circles! If I could get a subtle front with minimum pins & fastners showing I'd easily go for fibreglass.

I was thinking of a 2 peice front but I wouldn't mind bonnet pins, so any ideas how I can fasten the front down without showing the fixtures?

[AndrewJ530]

Even if it is messy ... still looks kool lol

I'm as new to flip fronts as you are bud, but i've got a link of a guy who has done it, just half way through looking at the link now and he might have some useful tips ...

http://members.lycos...ont_guide_2.htm

Ya might be able to hide some of the screws for fixtures behind some of the brightwork and put the fixtures on the inside, just an idea of course.

Andrew

[analogue_radio]

I flicked through some mini magazines last night to look at some flip fronted minis and I think I will definitly go for it, It even opens up the option of going for a clubby nose which I'd honestly love to do because I love the clubby nose.

[analogue_radio]

So I think I've got my heart set on a clubby nose!





£160 in total not including postage, then I need brace bars, pins, hinges etc..

2 piece so I have more options, and one day I can replace the fibreglass bonnet with one showing weave .

Is it the same steps as fitting a round nose, are all the measurements the same? of course I need to buy all the bits and pieces (headlights, grill etc..) but is it a one for one straight swap?

& on that note, where can I buy a clubby grill? couldn't find any apart from a second hand one from the bay.

Edited by theIMAGE, 15 June 2008 - 07:56 AM.

[1987_ParkLane]

Looks good Luke, need a hand hen you get it? Jst give me a text and can come and help lol.

Cheers

[analogue_radio]

Dashboard was waiting at home for me .

Seeing as I can't even afford a sound system now I might have to keep it out until I get some extra money, so these are the only pictures you'll get until I fix it in.

Great service from Custom Consoles, ordered early Friday morning, craftsmanship looks superb! very pleased.

[markaboot]

nice mini, its looking good. especially that new dash of yours.
think i'll be making one myself, havent decided what tho.

if i do go down the flip front route, im definatly gettin a clubby nose. there so much meaner looking
i jus havent decided, i think i'll be more sure once i have the engine out and i can have a proper look.
passenger side is shot, drivers side doesnt look bad. but you can never tell till its in bits. was the same with my interior looked fine till i stripped it n found a couple of holes and sum fairly minor rust. nothing a good wire brushing and rust inhibitor wont fix.
theres jus so many more benefits to havin a flip front. but it will cost me more as i only need to replace 2 panels (i think). though thinkin about it the front at the bottem is fairly gone. its definatly sounding more and more tempting. especially the no welding panels together part.

i'll get the engine out this weekend. dependin on what the weathers doin n how bad my hang over is. or at least get it ready for lifting out.
unfortunatly i dont have loads of garages like you mines stuck on the drive so really limits what i can get done.
im thinking my spray booth, when i get round to it will be a gazebo and a load of plastic sheeting round it.

to be honest i think if i hold back on anything i will regret it. especially after the respray, because once thats dun thats it.
so may deseam it too.

best of luck with urs.

[analogue_radio]

Yeah it all makes more sense than replacing the panels with metal, It also means I can run around with the gel coat on the fibreglass until I can afford a respray.

I've got so much more work to do yet until I'm happy with her, another 5 years until she's ideal! but one step at a time I'm getting closer.

The spraybooth could work a treat, are you using spray cans or a gun?

[analogue_radio]

Fitted the dashboard this morning, a good couple of hours spent and a few angry moments!

I didn't expect it to be so longwinded and tricky but it's in now, although I'm not happy with the right hand side.. It doesn't fit as snug as the left but I expect it will come out again when the headunit and speakers are fitted so I'll have another go then.

Old airvents out, gauges out & bracket removed.






Cheers Sister!


Indicator stalks cut down and guages screwed into the dashboard.


Ready to be fitted.


Fitted .

[analogue_radio]

.

Edited by theIMAGE, 19 June 2008 - 03:44 PM.

[AndrewJ530]

Looks cool mate

[analogue_radio]

Alternator died last night (I think)

I took my girlfriend home and turned the ignition off when I dropped her off, then started and got nothing.. she got her Dad out and he pushed me to try and give me a bump start but still nothing so it was jumped in the end.

The electrics were fine at the start, lights were bright and everything worked then on the way home things slowly started dying, my headlights were so dim I turned them off and didn't notice any difference.. managed to get home though much to my relief.

The battery is out now charging so I'll put it back in later and see what happens.

Anything I need to check on the alternator?