11 replies to this topic

[ozz1]

Just wondering are the pros and cons to flip-fronting a mini, mainly concerning the degree to which protection is lost in the event of an impact, and any loss of structural rigidity that could affect the handling of the car- even with strengthening brackets in place.

 

[wile e coyote]

Pro - easy engine access....

(Assuming you're thinking of a f/g one rather than a full steel removeable front)

Cons - loss of panel rigidity (hideous wobble / vibration in the only one I've been subjected to - that had apparently already been dealt with...- didn't work obviosuly) , easily damaged, devaluing the car (bit subjective that last one), cost....

Impact protection wise - providing decent brace bars put in not a lot - a parking dink will probably blemish steel and crack f/g, a "decent" bash the subframe / engine will take the majority of the initial force regardless but as an opinion only I'd fall on the side of welded on steel panels and intact inner wings offering better protection

[Tommyboy12]

This has been covered a lot in the past. You should have a look through the search function

 

Pros: Easy engine access. Lack of rust if its fibreglass.

 

Cons: Just about everything else. On top of what you have mentioned they can rattle and vibrate if badly fitted. This can make a lot of noise and cause your headlights to vibrate. Your vehicle can lose value too. I cant say ive heard of a loss of structural rigidity but I suppose its possible.

 

I have one fitted because the previous owner put it there. It doesnt really bother me that it has one (its great for access as I said) but I know that in a crash I would not come out of it well off. Also mine is secured at 8 points in order to reduce wobble, as such I have no wobble problems but it does make it a pain to take off.

Edited by Tommyboy12, 23 February 2014 - 06:14 PM.

[Shifty]

Pro - nothing

cons - Awful, quickest way to devalue a car possible

[Alex_B]

As above, there is a lot of information on them. 

But I cant really see many positives, they are quite cool turning up to a meet and flipping the front, but a proper flip front that flips forwards makes engine access worse than one which can be removed entirely. 

They are much harder to fit and achieve reliable results with, if you are fitting a GRP one they tend to be a very odd shape and are noticeably sub standard compared to a standard steel front. They are very likely to rattle, reverberate and considerably increase the vehicles NVH (noise vibration and harshness) 

Crash protection is severely reduced which I see as the main consideration to not fitting one, I personally have had a front end crash at about 30mph closing speed with a standard good condition steel front and it deformed a huge amount, if I had a flip front then I would predict I wouldnt be walking now, the subframe was pushed backwards which deformed the toeboard and the bulkhead on the drivers side was an inch further back than it should have been. Brace bars do not replace the full steel front due to them often being made of a very small box section mounted in completely the wrong place to dissipate the energy in an accident.

Personally I wouldnt fit one unless It was on a racing car that wont go on the road, and that would only be for weight saving and access 

[Dusky]

Pro - nothing
cons - Awful, quickest way to devalue a car possible

Thats not true either.

Pros are engine acces deffinately..
cons: a crash, but imo, a mini without a flipfront isnt that crash-proof either..id fit a flipfront toghether with a good rollcage..

[Shifty]

 

Pro - nothing
cons - Awful, quickest way to devalue a car possible

Thats not true either.

Pros are engine acces deffinately..
cons: a crash, but imo, a mini without a flipfront isnt that crash-proof either..id fit a flipfront toghether with a good rollcage..

 

 

Nope never got the access thing, unless you spend your weekends changing clutches and engine mounts, its useless.  

[Tamworthbay]

The issue is the load paths in an accident. What is often forgotten/ misunderstood is that the energy has to go somewhere. If you fit a super rigid rollcage then the energy will go somewhere else, some will be loaded into the cage but a lot will go into the engine/ subframe which will then deform the bulkhead and floor. Some of that energy will also go into the driver due to the increased deceleration, in a race car that is protected against by the use of crash helmets, harnesses, HANS devices etc, none of which apply on a road car. With a metal front the energy goes into deforming all the metal panels. Even if you make a car that is as safe as a metal front one you will almost guarantee to make one that will be written off in an accident as the shell will be bent.

[mini93]

Its horses for courses...there would be little point in someone like me, with mine having a steel front seeing as I've chopped a hella load else out of the shell.

Main reason I did it was because I wanted a clubby front and weight loss.

[Cooperman]

Personally I hate the things. I don't think they are properly engineered, no crash-case load path calculations have been done and,  as 'Shifty' says, they just about halve the value. There are lots of people who would never buy a Mini with a flip front at any price and if I bought one I would want the price reduced by the cost of fitting a proper & safe steel front and re-painting the car.

There are very few advantages really and access to the standard engine is really not bad, certainly when compared to modern cars.

[PaullyB]

I've putting a flip front on mine. The key seems to be reducing the vibration as much as possible whether through bracing on the rear of the fibreglass or off the subframe. I'd only recommend doing the conversation if you are modifying the engine and need the extra space.

[Cooperman]

I can never understand why anyone would reduce the safety and the value of any classic car by fitting fibreglass bodywork, especially a Classic Mini.

Even when modifying the engine, there is really no need to ruin a classic car by cutting the bodywork up and fitting a 'bodge-job' in the form of GRF body parts.

All 'Cons' & no 'Pros'.