17 replies to this topic

[petwar]

My front panel is in a tangle and a wing is dented so im thinking of fitting a flipfront. I have been offered one but im unsure as what it would look like due to my shell being de-seamed with regards to the join with the A panels. Has anyne done this or have any pics?

[dhende84]

Sure I've seen pics years ago in Miniworld/Mini Mag in the past.
Guess there are 2 main ways of doing it - standard bottom hinged or top hinged.
Bottom hinged you would put a plate on the back of the a-panel and use something like dzus fasteners to fix the panel in place (shimmed to get a good panel line up if required).
Top hinged - best to look on some project threads on here for best tips. I would create a stiffening frame to achieve a good panel line up to a-panel.

[Tupers]

Personally I think I'd only do a flipfront with with built in A panels on a deseamed Mini, otherwise really can't see a way of getting rid of that joint.

[dhende84]

Nice idea actually. If you could keep it stiff enough you could have a locking latch on either side.

[h4wx1e]

mine is deseamed with a flip front and i have the problem with the a panels joining flush, personnely i think its the flip front thats the problem and when i line up my new curley one it sits alot better. will be fitting new a panels with fiesta boot locks on which should keep the sides more rigid hopefully.

[morley]

My dad had a deseamed flip front on his old mini so it can be done!
heres some pics:

[petwar]

i think its going to be a suck it and see really then. i think as long as it has a few good fasteners on then maybe it will sit and look good. also can you chop the inner arches out with a flip front as mine are looking tatty.

[petwar]

wow thats nice ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ i think that has just made my mind up for me! its not far off the same colour as mine too!

[E.L.M.O]

My dad had a deseamed flip front on his old mini so it can be done!
heres some pics:

Are they black fastners that you turn to lock the front wing onto the a panel?

Where do you get them from in black? ive been looking but cant find them. or did he paint them?

[dhende84]

Have a look HERE

Probably find standard type ones too.

[foxfan]

Morley's dads mini is beautiful, cant fault it, but my personal opinion is that whether a flip front is top or bottom hinged, it doesn't give much better access to the engine than a standard bonnet. My current project is de-seamed and I am fitting a totally removable front (no hinges) but with a removeable bonnet aswell. Glad I saw this thread tho because I was wondering what the A panel-wing joint would look like and now I've seen morleys pics I'm happy it can be done to look good.

[dhende84]

I'd say that the deseamed a-panel to wing joint looks better than the seamed on a flip front. Just looks neater.

[foxfan]

I'd say that the deseamed a-panel to wing joint looks better than the seamed on a flip front. Just looks neater.

agreed

[morley]

Are they black fastners that you turn to lock the front wing onto the a panel?

Where do you get them from in black? ive been looking but cant find them. or did he paint them?

they're just the normal, chrome/polished dzus fasteners, probably worth mentioning that it's an all steel flip front too

thanks for the nice comments guys, just a shame it's now sold

[andy pandy]

Morley's dads mini is beautiful, cant fault it, but my personal opinion is that whether a flip front is top or bottom hinged, it doesn't give much better access to the engine than a standard bonnet. My current project is de-seamed and I am fitting a totally removable front (no hinges) but with a removeable bonnet aswell. Glad I saw this thread tho because I was wondering what the A panel-wing joint would look like and now I've seen morleys pics I'm happy it can be done to look good.

i agree with you on this as i want a removeable front for doin major work , but for just checkin oil etc just lift bonnet