The Truth about Fibre Glass Front Ends
Discussion
I've probably posted on this topic before, but here goes again:
The Mini bodyshell is designed as a monocoque which means that all panels are stress carrying and all contribute to the excellent torsional rigidity which the Mini has, this in turn contributing to the fantastic handling/roadholding.
If you cut the front off and fit a flip-front, the new front will not be capable of carrying any structural loads. Thus you need to replace the load carrying capability from the original structure. But how is this done when you don't have the stress analysis details of the original? What happens is that people guess what additional strengthening is needed and you would never find out if you had it right unless you had a really big accident! It's the part-side impact crash-case which would worry me most. How is that load resolved with the front wings and inner wings, which in a standard front carry the loads into the front panel and thus into the sub-frame, now removed and replaced with a non-load-carrying one-piece front.
Be nervous, very nervous!!!
Peter
The Mini bodyshell is designed as a monocoque which means that all panels are stress carrying and all contribute to the excellent torsional rigidity which the Mini has, this in turn contributing to the fantastic handling/roadholding.
If you cut the front off and fit a flip-front, the new front will not be capable of carrying any structural loads. Thus you need to replace the load carrying capability from the original structure. But how is this done when you don't have the stress analysis details of the original? What happens is that people guess what additional strengthening is needed and you would never find out if you had it right unless you had a really big accident! It's the part-side impact crash-case which would worry me most. How is that load resolved with the front wings and inner wings, which in a standard front carry the loads into the front panel and thus into the sub-frame, now removed and replaced with a non-load-carrying one-piece front.
Be nervous, very nervous!!!
Peter
Cooperman said:
I've probably posted on this topic before, but here goes again:
The Mini bodyshell is designed as a monocoque which means that all panels are stress carrying and all contribute to the excellent torsional rigidity which the Mini has, this in turn contributing to the fantastic handling/roadholding.
If you cut the front off and fit a flip-front, the new front will not be capable of carrying any structural loads. Thus you need to replace the load carrying capability from the original structure. But how is this done when you don't have the stress analysis details of the original? What happens is that people guess what additional strengthening is needed and you would never find out if you had it right unless you had a really big accident! It's the part-side impact crash-case which would worry me most. How is that load resolved with the front wings and inner wings, which in a standard front carry the loads into the front panel and thus into the sub-frame, now removed and replaced with a non-load-carrying one-piece front.
Be nervous, very nervous!!!
Peter
eeerrrrrmmmmm.........So you dont think i should do it?
Miglia spec in other words Clive.
Though I think they may be 10/12 point and a very complex array of tubes.
Fatboy has a welded cage and a GRP front and when following him he didnt seem to have any issues with flex.
Though if you are going to cut the front off I would recommend putting a proper cage in for the reasons that Cooperman states...
Though I think they may be 10/12 point and a very complex array of tubes.
Fatboy has a welded cage and a GRP front and when following him he didnt seem to have any issues with flex.
Though if you are going to cut the front off I would recommend putting a proper cage in for the reasons that Cooperman states...
I have never been able to see the advantage of a flip front,either in steel or grp. By the time you've welded in lots of extra strengthening you probably dont have a weight advantage, then you add a roll cage which is c.20 kg to keep yourself safe, I reckon your car weighs more than it would have with a standard bodyshell. Remember also, a cage does not go very far forward into the footwell area, so the front bulkhead is still vulnerable.
If you want to improve accessibility to the engine, you can make the top section of the front panel removeable. To do this, move the loom out of the way, saw through the top section of the front panel about 3" in from each end. You then fold up 2 off 6" long nested sections in 16 swg steel and bolt these into each end. Use 4 off bolts of 1/4" unf on each side of the joins. With the grille mounted on grill buttons it makes access to the entire front of the engine so much easier.
If you want to improve accessibility to the engine, you can make the top section of the front panel removeable. To do this, move the loom out of the way, saw through the top section of the front panel about 3" in from each end. You then fold up 2 off 6" long nested sections in 16 swg steel and bolt these into each end. Use 4 off bolts of 1/4" unf on each side of the joins. With the grille mounted on grill buttons it makes access to the entire front of the engine so much easier.
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