mini front

[stephenlovesminis]

how do i take the front off my mini??
HELP ASAP

[keith]

the grille? the shiny bit between the headlights? a number of self tapping screws holds that in.

if you mean the whole front including the valance and outer wings, then you will need and air-chisel.

note: putitng the grille back is easy. putting the wings and valances back is not.

[stephenlovesminis]

the whole front wings and valance

[keith]

ok. .. i'm in the edge of my knowledge here.. *but* if you look at pics of flip-font mini's the cut along the outer wings usually follows the join with the A panel. I'm guessing you are replacing the original front with a fibre/glass "flip front" ??

the inner wings will either need strengthining or removed and replaced with structure to support the front of the subframe and the top of the dampers.

this is not a trivial operation, and it involves stuff that could really hurt you and others.

by all means go for it, but be sure about what you do!

[stephenlovesminis]

ya i was thinking of putting on a flip front... i was talking to a friend and he said it was spot welded holding on the wings but when i went out 2day and put it on axel stands and looked in i couldn't see any welding is it pierced together or something like that?

[kerryminigringo]

The spot welds are along the A panel to wing joint that runs up the body seam.This is covered by the exteral strip that runs from arch to roof.To see the welds you need to take this seam off but if your taking the wing off this seam will be coming off anyway.There are also welds along the inner wing edge,scuttle panel and front panel.Hope you have plenty of cutting and grinding disc,s.You,ll need them.

[stephenlovesminis]

ok thanks how should i take the seam and the wing off??

thanks

[kerryminigringo]

Seam cover comes off by levering it off with a screwdriver as it held onto the seam with clips and the wing has to be cut off along where it is welded to the body.

[stephenlovesminis]

angle grinder so?

thanks!!

[kerryminigringo]

Certainly and if you are fitting a flip front the inner wing will have to go and the subframe will have to be braced.I,ve only seen the end result so somebody here may have done it before.Personally I do not like them,if I needed more room I,d buy a Clubman.Long live the true Clubman.

[stephenlovesminis]

thanks a million!! i try do that again tomorrow

[minis24se7en]

To make it easier, and a tidier job, go to your local motorfactors and ask for a "spot weld" drill bit. Have a look along where the wing is joined to the a-panel and inner wing, and you should see what looks like round dimples in the panel, (you can lightly sand it to make it easier to see). thats your spot weld.
Next, drill out these spot welds, taking care not to drill through both panels.
Then, with the aid of a hammer and chissel the panel should pop off relatively easy.

[stephenlovesminis]

ok how much is the drill bit?
thanks

[minis24se7en]

can't remember, around €14?, but i could wrong! not exactly cheap (for a drill bit!), but takes most of the awful grinding work out of it.
They come in different sizes, but an 8mm bit should be plenty big for the job if you centre it on the spot-weld.

[stephenlovesminis]

ok thanks for the help!