21 replies to this topic

[mini670]

Today ive been battling with putting a new front end on, incliding scuttle.
Its taken a while and much cursing. I had a gen Rover wing which pretty much flew on and a heritage one which really really annoyed me, as id paid extra expecting to avoid fitting issues.

I have a slight run out on the bonnet line on both wings. At the front the gap is around 3mm and opens out to around 6mm at the back. Although its symetrical i dont think it will look right when its painted. Im wondering what the correct gap should be?

Also the wing to scuttle joints are slightly different, one side is lovly and tight, the other side is failry close with a gap around 3mm. Is there a standard size for this gap?

Cheers

[minidaves]

put a picture up, but my guess it starts off around the headlamp area

dave

[mini670]

put a picture up, but my guess it starts off around the headlamp area

dave

#

It starts at the very bottom yea round the headlights, it was a tw@t as i thought it was right then clamped up the inner seams and of course it kept on pulling it in.

I left the lead for my phone at work over easter like a plonker so cant put any photos up.

[mini670]

if anyone has a spare 5mins tomorrow morning? Could you have a quick measure up and let me know. Ive not had a mini for ages, and aint really got anything to refer to without a 10mile drive. I have tomorrow off so im hoping to get cracking on with it.

Ta

[DoubleHB176]

The standard bonnet gaps are notorious for being apalling, I would say you are better off going for the best gap you can get rather than factory standard measurements.

[sonikk4]

Very common for this car, the wing gaps on Project Erm are rubbish but the scuttle gaps are spot on.





The bonnet we have got is shot so i'm going to add metal to the sides of the bonnet to see how well i can get the gaps down in size. I may even split it down the sides and weld in new sections to decrease the gap. Oh the joys of mini ownership. Just as a footnote i replaced both wings, inner wings, front panel and scuttle.
The scuttle and the inner wings are Heritage and the rest patent panels.

[mini670]

Cheers,

My bonnet gaps are now sorted to a standard im happy with, not perfect but they will do. Used the self tapping screw method suggested by minidaves and shifty, thanks guys!

Those scuttle gaps look really nice and even. My Offside is nearly there but its tight at the bonnet corner and opens out slightly towards the a panel. Also i noticed on your scuttle you have a small indent on the nearside, mine is exactly the same!

Edited by mini670, 09 April 2010 - 08:34 PM.

[minidaves]

i use a couple of plastic numberplates to set the gaps up

dave

[mini670]

i use a couple of plastic numberplates to set the gaps up

dave

nice idea! thats tomorrows task sorted out then

[sonikk4]

Cheers,

My bonnet gaps are now sorted to a standard im happy with, not perfect but they will do. Used the self tapping screw method suggested by minidaves and shifty, thanks guys!

Those scuttle gaps look really nice and even. My Offside is nearly there but its tight at the bonnet corner and opens out slightly towards the a panel. Also i noticed on your scuttle you have a small indent on the nearside, mine is exactly the same!

Nothing that a spot of filler won't cure. Its a pressing mark from where they formed the scuttle. Pretty poo considering its a Heritage panel.

[mini670]

yea filler should sort it. When i read about Heritage panels, especially using one for the scuttle, i imagined they would come propely spot on! As you guys know, the wing was terrible.

[Shifty]

It is possible to get good gaps, this is one I've just done, hadrian wings/front panel and a genuine scuttle.

Several self tappers, blocks of wood, mole grips and swearing later.

[sonikk4]

The amount of force i had to use to get the gaps that i have got now was ridiculous. I was lucky not to bend the wings. The stupid thing is the scuttle was not a good fit either so talk about an uphill battle.

[Shifty]

Every front ends different, That one took the best part of a day to do. Some just drop in, others fight you all the way.

To get the bonnet to wing gaps I use the long armed mole grip style panel clamps(through the headlamp), if that doesn't work then I self tapper the wong along the edge. I push the wing up so it give a good bonnet gap(ignore the scuttle gap, just make sure the wing tips close to the scuttle) then stick a couple of self tappers in and then tap/push/fettle until its ok. Sometimes you may need to self tapper a few times but its a damm sight easier than grinding welds off. Also you can use the tappers to "Pull" the wing in.

[sonikk4]

It is possible to get good gaps, this is one I've just done, hadrian wings/front panel and a genuine scuttle.

Several self tappers, blocks of wood, mole grips and swearing later.

I was using skin pins plus brute force oh and a podger to lever over some small pilot holes i had drilled in the wings and inner wings. In hindsight i do think its down to the replacement inner wings as well. The attachment flange on the inner wings was very poorly formed especially at the front where it curves over. I did measure the original inner wings before i cut them off and the new ones are within a couple of mm's.

It will all come good in the end. I tried the swearing thing a lot as well but maybe it needed to be stronger???

I remember a few years ago when i replaced the wings on my missus old Mayfair the gaps were spot on but then the inner wings were original. Anyway there's nothing i can do about it now apart from modifying the bonnet