6 replies to this topic

[NuFab]

Hi everyone,

After a few weeks away from working on my Mk1, I've returned to it today and spent ages tinkering and adjusting the front wings... I just want some opinion on whether I've got things lined up right! The bonnet it original, a-panels, and scuttle have been replaced with Heritage panels. The wings and front panel are also Heritage.

So the car looks like this... the spacers are wedged in because the bonnet sits to far to the drivers side without them, touching the wing most of the way down and opening a big, although fairly even, gap on the other side. Hopefully the bonnet catch will hold it across a little once fitted....
 IMG_8513.JPG   66.96K   14 downloads

The drivers side headlight area is a tight fit... I think that spacer is 2mm...
 IMG_8515.JPG   32.19K   14 downloads

The gap widens towards the back of the bonnet...
 IMG_8514.JPG   41.71K   17 downloads

It's probably about 7-8 mm at the very back...
 IMG_8516.JPG   43.43K   14 downloads

On the passenger side, there is a large gap near the headlight that closes as the bonnet curves back...
 IMG_8517.JPG   37.53K   8 downloads

That gap then opens up a bit towards the back...
 IMG_8518.JPG   28.92K   6 downloads

Basically, that's about the best I can get it after a long time faffing with it. Should I just weld it in? Are there any other adjustments I can try?

Any opinions are welcome!

Cheers,

Chris

[minimans]

Don't rely on the catch to move the bonnet! keep adjusting the wing until it's right. you may have to cut a slice in the wing to move it away from the bonnet in an extreme case. If you rely on the catch it will take the paint off as it wont move it over until it's too late.

[Daz1968]

You really need to work it a much better fit else you will regret it big time after paint. I spotwelded my wings to front panel before fitting and although I used heritage inner a panels, scuttle and wings I actually used m machine full outer a panels and modified front panel which i believe is a magnum one.
But going back to your problem you need the bonnet lined up to scuttle and then modify the wings if necessary to get a good gap and fit. But you will be surprised how far you can bend them.
I used self tappers in the rail section to hold wings to correct bonnet gap then basically pulled them to the a panel joint with clamps.
I also had the bonnet catch installed on front panel so I could fasten bonnet properly while adjusting things

Edited by Daz1968, 26 June 2017 - 07:51 PM.

[NuFab]

Thanks guys, that's very helpful.

I guess where I have gone wrong is in relying on clamping the wings to the front panel and a-panel first... I'll try using some self tappers to set the bonnet gaps and then work from there.

One issue though... it seems like there's no adjustment at the front panel seam, due to the shape of the wing to front panel seam... basically it only fits in one position and leaves the wing too close to the bonnet. Any way around this?

[tiger99]

You are correct, it fits where it fits, and that is that. Unless, of course, you want to reshape the edge, if you have that kind of skill.

 

It is more common to change the width of the bonnet by cutting a very narrow strip out near each side, or letting a strip in. Long, tedious welds, but not technically difficult.

 

But it is annoying when you have to do all that extra work even with Heritage panels. I get the impression that the press tooling is rapidly becoming worn out, and suspect that there is insufficient funding to refurbish it. It was all very worn already when they inherited it from Rover.

 

I am surprised that you have not (yet?) mentioned the wing to scuttle joint, as that has been problematic for a long time. If you look at a good MK 1 it will be close fitting, but by about the mid 1980s the gap had become so wide in the middle that  they stopped filling it and just allowed water to drain through. Again, it is a lot of hammer and dolly work to change the curvature, or a cut and weld may be easier. But you may be lucky and find one that fits. I saw a fairly recent Mini a few days ago with nice, tight seams at that point.

[Daz1968]

The wings can be reshaped on the curvature around the front panel joint and if required trimmed a little, also are you sure front panel is central to car, start again by lining wings to bonnet first and then carefully pull them to the other connection points. It can take a while though to get it acceptable. Only issue I had was I had to reshape the passenger side wing near the scuttle to enable it to be pulled to the a panel joint

[NuFab]

Thanks guys.

I've done a lot of work around the scuttle and I'm pretty happy with that join. I think with a small bead of filler it will look good.

I've already had to trim about 4-5mm out of one of the wings around the arch where the wing was basically too long for the car and would have ruined the line of the arch. I may end up altering the bonnet in the same way, but I'd rather not.

The front panel is bolted (loosely for now) to the front subframe, which I'm hoping is straight!