I have just got my 4efte, I have been going along reasonably quitley, in the ACT, converting a Van to a Ute, and was planning on dropping this motor in the Mini.

the problem is I want top put this in a round nose, and I thought getting a glass flip-front might make sence for me, giving me a bit more room to play with.

what penels need to be removed for them to fit?
do you use your own bonnet, or does the whole nose come as one piece?
and how do you secure them?
where do I go to get one?
and how much should I pay?
and should I run into problems at the engineer?

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-doing a Degree in Mechanical Engineering,
and a few conversions:
13B Extend in a 1600
4EFTE in a mini ute (all slowly)

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Morris-Mini-Fibr ... dZViewItem

perhaps a bit late!!!

yeh, thats not a bad buy right there....

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http://www.minisport.com.au
the guys there are dead set champions

I'd check with your engineer first! Some engineers don't like flip fronts at all.

But the idea sounds good to me - more access, and you can fabricate removable inner guards (bolted to your new subframe?) to make access even better.

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

I like the man already.

Any reason why it needs to be made out of glass? Why not just use your existing panels?

P.S. I like your sig, sounds like role call at Asian school.

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But he's thriving and striving and hugging the turns.

The only problem with using metal panels for a flip front is most engineers are concerned about them becoming a guillotine blade and coming through the windscreen to meet you . You can do it if you find an agreeable engineer and use burstproof bonnet latches from a car that had it standard and do a lot of reinforceing . Most engineers will allow fiberglass as they say it should shatter and only come through in little pieces rather than a solid blade . You will also need to run braces from the firewall bulkhead to the front of the subframe to compansate for the lack of bodywork . Mini's are fine without this bracing on the race track but for engineering purposes are required .

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Is access better? Unless it has a quick release system, I can't see the access, to the distributor in particular, being anything but considerably worse.

UK guys often use the original steel panels as they are much less flexible.

Ones I've seen have had quick releases on them so the whole lot's easier access . The one I was impressed with most though was done by a mate up here on a clubby GT . The bonnet hinged like standard but with quick release's on the hinges and the inner and outer guards/stone tray/grille hinged forwards . These were secured by two zeus fasteners on either side and a quick release hinge at the front . If you were just checking things at home or a servo you undid the bonnet pins and popped the bonnet like normal (normal bonnet catches were still used and pins as extra security) for usual easy access . If you wanted to do anything else the bonnet came off in a minute and the rest hinged forwards and then off in a couple of minutes , too easy and the best of both worlds . Plus it was all steel panels and the engineer loved it because it was all stiff , there were firewall to subframe braces as well but all the panels were rigid and stayed where they were supposed to .

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Here's pics of how mine's connected. Pull the pins and release the rubber latches to flip forward. Can be removed by removing pins from front of subframe. Previous owner didn't give me any type of engineers certificate so who know's?!

Drivers side

Drivers side top connection to body

Drivers side front lower connection

Drivers side pin holding flipfront to frame (red circle) held in by hairpin clip (green circle)

Passenger side pin holding flipfront to frame held in by hairpin clip

Bonnet to side panel connection/seam

Trailer lights bracket (red circle) so front can be taken off and lights easily disconnected

Same as above but from passenger side

Passenger side top connection to body (top view)

Passenger side top connection to body (side view)

Passenger side hole for pin and moke style rubber bonnet holder

Drivers side lower connection

Drivers side lower front connection (top right of pic)

Drivers side front lights from behind

Drivers side where bonnet meets side panel (screwed together)

i'd look for duez (sp) clips look alot nicer than the moke bungy style
makka

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Anonymous moderation means the agro that is built up towards the mods isn't aimed at an individual (fewer "Makk" attacks). Less stress for mods means less moderator "retirements".

u got a pic?

i really have my heart set on a flip front as well...not too concerned about it actually being able to flip though...might be easier to just make the whole front removeable havent even mentioned it to the engineer yet am a wee bit worried he'll tell me to get f*cked if i mention i wanna do a flip-front but i spose i have to bite the bullet at some stage

personally i really would prefer NOT to go a glass front...i have friends with glass kitcars (mostly shelby cobras) that have flip/removeable fronts that start to get hairline cracks in the paintwork and deform ever-so-slightly...not a good look...

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Bling me up Scotty!
"wait till it grows into a plant...then bunny rabbit THE PLANT!"

1966 Morris Mini DeLuxe FOR SALE

that one up above seems to be hitting on the tie rod

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http://www.minisport.com.au
the guys there are dead set champions

Yeah well... couldn't be helped... not my fault

Marvin, I like the images, they say an image is worth a thounsand word's. you gave me a few thousand there!!!

it seens to be a decent quality job. just one question. is it still all steel. or have they used other materials as well?

and if so. how much does it flex, it looks reasonably solid!!!

definatley along the lines of what I'm lookin for. the accecc is better than stock, and I realy like your idea's on the zeus clipped inner guards and panels so you only have subfame to contend with.

I don't want to put the motor in and then realise I can't take the oil filter off without dropping the engine out. I want to be able to play with my motor and leave some room for mods. for when I need more power

never heard of a duez (sp) clips. can't google anything but someone called Sophie Durez "Clips" don't think their them. wouldn't mind a hint on where to see/get them

_________________
-doing a Degree in Mechanical Engineering,
and a few conversions:
13B Extend in a 1600
4EFTE in a mini ute (all slowly)