Flip-Front
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi all,

After a bit of advice. Replacing the front end on my 1990 turb. It currently has a removable front, but not a flip.

Just wondering, is it possible to buy a flip front all in one piece, ready to paint? Or is it best to buy parts? It's getting done in a couple of weeks by a bodywork bloke in my local town, he said to have a look for parts and see what I could find.

Would appreciate any advice!

Thanks

if the front is removable then getting or making the brackets to make it flip would be the easiest unless you want to go for a lighter glassfiber one

"Tuning should be a compromise between what is possible and what is necessary"

10)Thou shalt always quest for more power

A few places do hinges;
Arc Angels £30 ()
Or Arc Angels Ebay, £23?! ()

PL Minis, £14 ()

Fastening it at the back might need Dzus clip, Bonnet pins, or with a bit of luck you might be able to use whatever held your removable front on?

Dave

Edit, missed an url /url

Edited by Pottsy on 20th Jan, 2011.

i woldnt have it flip at the front, and i would also have a 2 peice, that way you can take the bonnet off when you need to do the odd job and just bolt the rest on as to me i think flipping it forward can only be a hinderance considering thats where most of the bit you will be fiddeling with/ servicing are.

I'd have it hinge at the bulkhead and use a 1 piece home brew steel front.

Thanks for your advice guys. Maybe I'll ask to have it hinged at the bulkhead then.

I didn't mention that the front end on my mini is in a pretty bad way so it's all going to be new parts.

Where would be the best/cheapest place to get these? Or could I buy a flip-front ready made?

Thanks

If you're going for steel, buy panels from the usual places and stick them together. Again, all the usual places for plastic fronts.

If you plan to hinge it on the bulkhead, you will need some pretty bulk hinges. Rod S' build thread is worth a read.

pay peanuts get monkeys chespest isnt alwas best, with both steel and firbre fronts if you buy cheap your likely to hae to grind sand and jiggle to get them to fit, your better off paying a little bit more and geting heritage steel or a decent make fibre front.

Ah ok. Cheers guys.

Would anyone recommend a fibreglass front or would I be better off with steel? I'm not hugely concerned about it being show standard, just something that is easy to work with and looks fairly tidy.

Flip forward is a pain in the arse! I had one on my old mini was a pita to check the oil level!

Just ordered a carbon-fibre one piece front from Curley, should be here in a few days. Hopefully all goes well!

I just got my carbon one from Curley :)

Don't know about fit, had a little damage on the bonnet but I rang them up and they where happy to help in the form of exchanging it for another. Great customer service, there is also a small crack on the shell from where the poasties chucked it around I presume and there sending a repair kit for it. Very helpful people.

Edited by Rick.SPI on 25th Jan, 2011.