67 replies to this topic

[Jamie]

I'm fiiting a removal front to my mini and have purchased a set of brace bars from minispares.

howeber I remember seeing in an old mag someone user stainless tuding and had a curved bar to the bulkhead.

I was wondering if anyone had any pics of different designs or ways to brace the front.

[ibrooks]

You can see where they mount at the front of the subframe. Up on the bulkhead there are spreader plates extending towards the centre. There are two bolts through the spreader plates and the box section. Inside the box is a plate with two captive nuts - bit of a fiddle getting them in and the bolts in place through the tower bolt holes. There's also a triangulation plate going towards the centre from the brace bar to the spreader plate.

No more photos unfortunately as I sold the car a few years ago.

Edited by ibrooks, 13 February 2013 - 11:08 PM.

[benjy_18]

Here's the set that I've made for my project, they have a new bracket welded to the cross member





Regards
Ben

[TopCatCustom]

Wish to be removed from this argument.

Edited by TopCatCustom, 17 February 2013 - 10:19 AM.

[tiger99]

Every one completely inadequate structurally. The bracing bars MUST be fitted to meet the remnant of the inner wing as high as possible to be effective. Those are only greatly multiplying the stress on and around the ends of the crossmember.

In any case, if you want to use those on the road, the car will have to pass an IVA.

[TopCatCustom]

I'd be happy for anyone to test mine, those tubes pass straight through the bulkhead (welded on both sides with spreader plates) and join into the triangulated roll cage (almost space frame). It took approx 1800kg pressure at 1m radius to bend that specification tubing 4°.

I know I'd rather be in mine in a crash than in one with some dodgy bits of 20mm box section (with kinks in) bolted on as the "specialists" sell.

[mini_in_progress]

I'd be happy for anyone to test mine, those tubes pass straight through the bulkhead (welded on both sides with spreader plates) and join into the triangulated roll cage (almost space frame). It took approx 1800kg pressure at 1m radius to bend that specification tubing 4°.

I know I'd rather be in mine in a crash than in one with some dodgy bits of 20mm box section (with kinks in) bolted on as the "specialists" sell.

Im with this guy...

[Jamie]

I'm must admit those tubes into the bulk head looks much stronger than the ones you can buy. I this is the kinda thing I was looking for. Plus wouldn't any type of flip whether steel or fibre glass need an iva technical not just because the bulk head has been altered to pass the tubes through.

Personally I think all braces should be as strong as those and they must be stronger than the original front end.

[mini_in_progress]

Yes any type of mod which cuts the inner and outer wings legally needs an iva

[Minidarren83]

Yes any type of mod which cuts the inner and outer wings legally needs an iva

Where does your information come from other than on this forum? So by your saying adding sportspack arches and cutting the wings to match requires an iva? Or for lager wheels? Mot testers are perfectly happy with brace bars replacing the inner wings and unless you are about to take your car to a local vosa testing station and volunteer your car for an iva then you will not be asked to take one for those that bang on about iva this and iva that I ask who will make you take this test? Not the mot tester

[Artful Dodger]

Here's the set that I've made for my project, they have a new bracket welded to the cross member





Regards
Ben

wow... literally designed this, thinking it would be kinda original.. guess not XD hahaha great minds mate!

[mini_in_progress]

Yes any type of mod which cuts the inner and outer wings legally needs an iva

Where does your information come from other than on this forum? So by your saying adding sportspack arches and cutting the wings to match requires an iva? Or for lager wheels? Mot testers are perfectly happy with brace bars replacing the inner wings and unless you are about to take your car to a local vosa testing station and volunteer your car for an iva then you will not be asked to take one for those that bang on about iva this and iva that I ask who will make you take this test? Not the mot tester

im not the iva police... and I did say cutting inner and outer wings not or. Or trimming and I never said it was an mot failure..... its prob an insurance invalidation if un declaired

[Minidarren83]

Sorry mate didn't mean to jump on your case just had enough of the scaremongering that goes on here

[Bungle]

Yes any type of mod which cuts the inner and outer wings legally needs an iva

Where does your information come from other than on this forum? So by your saying adding sportspack arches and cutting the wings to match requires an iva? Or for lager wheels? Mot testers are perfectly happy with brace bars replacing the inner wings and unless you are about to take your car to a local vosa testing station and volunteer your car for an iva then you will not be asked to take one for those that bang on about iva this and iva that I ask who will make you take this test? Not the mot tester

no cutting wings or even removing them is fine it's removing the inner wings that leads you in trouble with the 8 points system

i'm surprised this still comes up as i.m constantly told everyone knows this

[Minidarren83]

Yes any type of mod which cuts the inner and outer wings legally needs an iva

Where does your information come from other than on this forum? So by your saying adding sportspack arches and cutting the wings to match requires an iva? Or for lager wheels? Mot testers are perfectly happy with brace bars replacing the inner wings and unless you are about to take your car to a local vosa testing station and volunteer your car for an iva then you will not be asked to take one for those that bang on about iva this and iva that I ask who will make you take this test? Not the mot tester

no cutting wings or even removing them is fine it's removing the inner wings that leads you in trouble with the 8 points system

i'm surprised this still comes up as i.m constantly told everyone knows this

Ha ha here we are again good afternoon sir