16 replies to this topic

[mbolt998]

Everyone knows how annoying the self-tapping screws that hold the grille on a Mini are. You need to keep taking the grille off to reach anything, especially the distributor. Every time you do the screws get a bit looser, and before long most of them fall out on the road somewhere. Captive nuts seem to be what are needed but if the front panel is on the car it's pretty hard to get behind/inside it.There are various official solutions but I'm quite pleased with the below and think it might actually work.

 

Step 1, clean up the existing hole (the pencil is because there seem to be some wires running inside there that I was keen not to drill through)

 

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Step 2, drill it out to 8mm

 

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Step 4, make this in mini-lathe. OD is 8mm, ID is 4.2mm. Then I cut off a piece about 3mm thick.

 

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Step 5, insert into hole:

 

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Step 6, weld it on carefully

 

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Step 7, grind it down somewhat flat

 

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Step 8, tap it to M5

 

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Works like a charm. Not going to use Allen bolts like this but something with flatter heads. But the point is it's got 3mm of metal behind there to screw into with a proper thread in it, similar to a nut, only welded on from the front.

 

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[DeadSquare]

That is a much more Pukka job than my 'bungee' hooked round the plastic dipstick guide.

[Shooter63]

If you don't mind me saying, why didn't you just use some rivnuts?

Shooter

[I hate Brian]

Second that Shooter I used Rivnuts as well

[stuart bowes]

agree with rivnuts but it's nice bit of engineering I'll give you that

[mbolt998]

Rivnuts, never thought of that! I don't own any or the tool. It sounds like they should work though.

[nicklouse]

Tool not needed. A bolt a nut and some washers is all you need.

[Shooter63]

Tool not needed. A bolt a nut and some washers is all you need.

Yup that's the way I fit them, it is slow but does the job

Shooter

[Clip]

+1 on the rivnuts. I bought a kit off fleabay for $60 AU and have used it so many times I don’t know how I ever did without. Having the right tool just makes it so fast and easy. 

[madalicesdad]

+1 on the rivnuts. I bought a kit off fleabay for $60 AU and have used it so many times I don’t know how I ever did without. Having the right tool just makes it so fast and easy.

Make it +2. Buy the tool and a few sizes of rivnuts and you'll wonder how you did without them

[coopertaz]

if using rivnuts just make sure to grease the bolts and don't overtighten. have them everywhere were i work and people always running them up with a bit in drill and they end up spinning. Then they are a pig.

[Tones61]

Or just use grille buttons,
10 min job to fit

[bpirie1000]

50 year old designs can always be improoved...

Alec was on a budget when he decided to do it that way...

Not stupid if it works.

[absx2]

I`ve been using these for years, just file the hole square and no more seized or cross threaded fixings and no rust.

 

https://www.ebay.co....pS9XoBWePYZ6A87

Edited by absx2, 29 March 2023 - 06:34 PM.

[mbolt998]

50 year old designs can always be improoved...

Alec was on a budget when he decided to do it that way...

Not stupid if it works.

The problem is you have to keep taking the grille off to get at things because access is so tight down the front of the engine. If they were just fit-and-forget maybe with some thread-lock they might be OK.