7 replies to this topic

[1984mini25]

Yep I know it’s late , but I’ve got a question to ask you good people. As my mini is coming along nicely and only have the front floor, scuttle support and front wing left till it’s back on the road again, see that pikey it’s been off the road twice now and you still haven’t caught up yet. [attachment=20884:attachment]

Only problem being the replacement wing I bought in good faith, no matter what way it’s pushed, pulled, hammered, etc just doesn’t fit. Which causes a bit of a problem, with out it; it’s not technically finished. Only problem is I’m now running low on funds for a new one. :'( :'( :'(

So from the experience of you lot , who makes the best non –genuine or cheapest, best fitting genuine drivers side front wings? As the one I’ve got is joining the old one on the scrap pile.

I know it’s lot to ask but I’m sure someone out there has the answer.
Cheers,

[pikey7]

I could tell ya, but i'm not sure i'm going to now!

[1984mini25]

What cut the other wing off along with the front panels and put a fibreglass front end on?
Suppose it would stop the rust

Anyways you know your is ganna be worth the wait.

[Guess-Works.com]

all wings, even genuine, will take some fiddling, especially if you're trying to line them up to A panel, scuttle, inner wing and valance..

IMO, the most important part is the fit to the front valance. The A panel is best left until the wing is attached then fit the A to the wing..

Non- Genuine, I'd say M-Machine are probably the best, and hadrian are not that bad.

Another thought, is your front subframe mount still attached, release this and it may give you a degree of play to work with...

[midridge2]

i agree with guessworks on this one, even genuine (sp) panels can be a bu**er to fit.
ive found with hadrian drivers side wings that were they join the front panel around the side its almost impossible to get them to pull together, they seem to wided out were they meet next to the wheel.
when fitting a wing get the correct gap at the back of the bonnet to scuttle panel first, then the correct gap down the side of the bonnet to wing and align the front panel right in the corner so its straight with the front panel, tack the front and back of the wing were it sits on the innerwing flange, now align it with the apex panel and tack in place and then align with the flange on the front panel as it goes around the side.

again as guessworks said you can remove the bolt holding the front subframe mounting and this may help to pull the panels into place.

remember because original panels maybe slightly out its made worse because a mini shell may have had other panels fitted in the past and the shell could be out of original shape.



this is my opinion and will differ from others.

[1984mini25]

Well I know all panels not just the wings will need a little fettering to get to fit, kind of expect it with a 20+ year old mini were tolerances are a lot wider that there are with the latter ones.
But the non – genuine wing I got hold of, and this is after trying my best at getting it to fit, doesn’t fit round the scuttle and can get at least 2 of my skinny fingers down the gap. The gap along the bonnet is fine at the top and bottom, but bows outwards and upwards, so is higher than the bonnet in the middle. And the front valance just doesn’t fit, for a start the wing sits to far behind the valance and buy the wheel arch sits an inch away.

So I could probably get it to fit, eventually, but probably won’t really look right if you know what I mean, which would kind of defeat all the effort to get it to fit in the first place.

The a panels has already been replaced along with the flinch panel. Hinge panel, corner of the doorstep and along with the corner of the scuttle al on the driver’s side. Which is probably why I’m having a few probs, or wouldn’t be helping matters.

Will have to try removing the bolt in the front stubby mount as they are brand new, only been on for a few months and were a tad on the tight side to fit.

[jack_marshall]

Hadrien panels have always been decent for me.

[1984mini25]

Cheers , looks like I will be giving m-machine another ring or looking out far a Hadrian front wing.

Only I’ve now found that the top part of the inner wing is rotten and needs replacing :'( , I’ve tried to replicate the area with a patch I’ve made, only the patch isn’t working. :'(

So am now on the look out for this part of the drivers side inner wing, as I can buy a ready made panel to chop out the section need, but it’s the whole inner wing and is there for a bit pointless for obvious reasons. :'(