flip front catches
Turbo Mini Forums

been putting a steel flip front on a mates mini among other things this last month

I just cannot get a fit i am happy with, i am either being really picky or its a MF of a job to get right

how have you lot secured your flip fronts at the A panels? ive used two duez (spelling) clips per side but they allow slight movement and i am just not happy with it

any pics would be handy

i've secured mine using countersunk allen bolts and countersunk washers, it's given it a nice fit....i'll get some pics for you.

““A turbo: exhaust gasses go into the turbocharger and spin it, witchcraft happens and you go faster.”” - Jeremy Clarkson

have you tried putting a bit more tension in the 's' springs at the back of the dzus to help with the movt?

could you use a few dowels behind the a panel to locate the brackets?

they are a pain, i sympathise!

"Turbo's make torque, and torque makes fun"

"did you know you can toast potato waffles?"

If it any help, I know merlin motorsport have a good selection of panel fixings etc, but both the above mentioned ideas sound a good way to go.
Shane.

I use 6mm allen bolts too. Also try putting a fixing on the remains of the inner wing near the bulkhead. I have self tappers in there but am replacing them for M4 bolts later this week. Made a difference to mine.

Check out the (slow) progress at.......
http://www.turbominis.co.uk/dn89mini

I've got riv nuts and button head bolts. looks really smart i think anyway!

Just a thought ..... with an obviously removable front end has anybody had problems with bits being stolen?

I've had a full engine top end stolen from under a normal front end with internal bonnet release whilst the car was parked outside a friends house before. I've had grills stollen, spot lamps and wheels plus have had my girlfriends Polo vandalised.

An obviously removable front end or bonnet pins etc. would be asking for trouble to my mind. That is why I like the method used in Dave's article on Manchester Minis as if a little bit more thought had been put into securing the bonnet it could make it almost impossible to tell.


I know it's a little OT for this thread but worth considering unless the car is always garaged at home and never left anywhere unattended.

Edited by RogerM on 13th Apr, 2007.

Every day is a school day ...........

How fast and how expensive ...... the same question...

i had a mini with removeable bonnet on pins and that had small padlocks in them.

only a deterant as a good pair of side cutters would see them off! lol!

but i've never left a mini anywhere un attended, its too easy to steal.

The security issues are the main reason, along with the limited protection a welded steel front gives, I won't fit one on a "daily driver". I have no problem with them on a garage dwelling track car though and my own car will be wearing one at the next rebuild.

Every day is a school day ...........

How fast and how expensive ...... the same question...

Wolfie..... have you thought of the aerocatch?

http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/FASTENER..._249/index.html

There is a lockable version and I think they look cool too.

Just a thought

Every day is a school day ...........

How fast and how expensive ...... the same question...

i'm not convinced a welded front offers any more protection but thats personal opinion not fact!

end of the day if they want it, they'll have it!

as we found out last night when somebody took the gf's window out on the drive to get the radio.

Sorry OTT! i've had dzus and "bolts" for want of another word and i prefer "bolts"

put a shake proof washer under there and your away.

i have parked my mini in some of the rougher bits of glasgow , sometimes overnight, with only bonet pins holding my flip front on, never ever had any bother apart from kids smacking it to set the alarm off.

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

i am using those aero catches, they are a big improvement over the dzus fastners

Steveo,

I like them in that location ... looks good to me ..... now if you could just bond them on so there were no visable fasteners ..... that would look so smooth.

Good work fella

Every day is a school day ...........

How fast and how expensive ...... the same question...

right

finished with the front still not happy with the front fit but its very strong, the fit may be down to bent shell or poorly fitted a panels as non of the door gaps are right either i noticed