Front End Refit *Budget Restoration* - Classic Mini Workshop Part 21

[@DRW58]

Looking good Keith, a fine days work, it’s coming together nicely someone’s going to get a great mini. Take Care Stay Safe Everyone Regards Dave 👍😎🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@keithgarland3404]

Great work. Great video. Well done. From an old bmc trained technician.

[@classicminiworkshop]

Thanks 👍

[@Alexnse10]

Nice work yet again 👌

[@markdraper7]

Well done mate, Great job! 😎

[@andrewnewton5893]

Shes a solid old girl now who ever buys it will benifit fomm decent solid car

[@philhuggett4776]

Really good stuff Keith. You're giving me the confidence to start cutting out my floor and seeing where I end up from there. Here goes nothing 😁

[@classicminiworkshop]

You can do it!

[@philhuggett4776]

Wow, cannot believe it's been 2 years since I commented on your video Keith. I just revisited this one as I was wondering how you went about welding the front panel to the wing below the headlights. Your videos are a god send. Thanks so much for all the effort you put in. Just purchased some of your stickers which will be proudly displayed in the back window once done

[@richardwalker5906]

Brilliant vid as usual 👏

[@paulastanmoore1413]

👏👏👏 well done

[@classicminiworkshop]

Thank you! 😃

[@1chish]

I am using Heritage wings and a front panel from that Italian firm. I am glad you said even Heritage wings need fettling and metal removing because I have been struggling to get them 'right'. (bloody OCD!). I am clearly putting too much faith in Heritage. The inner wings are full panels from Heritage (and are spot on) as is the scuttle panel but its not as easy as I hoped on the wings. Don't even ask about A Panel fit! Noah will be on its wheeled dolly next week so I can get the subframe in and get the front panel at least bolted up and then see how its all sitting. So your two videos have been priceless. I am not too sure putting panels on a car while in a rotisserie is actually a good idea as its all stressed wrong. But as always mate you got it all pretty much spot on and thanks for putting so many hours in. 👏👍

[@paulrobinson3528]

So the Title of next weeks video................How to Lead Load 😆 Its coming on and looking really good 👍

[@EnginesRob]

Keith - it not only has a new face now, but I believe a very good one. The minor issues you are left with on the fit really are minor when you consider your budget build aims. it will look so much better still when its blended in with paint too. Thanks for sharing!

[@velmathemini]

Thought this episode was brilliant 👏🏻. Your commentary was helpful as soon I'll. Be ready to do the same. As how the length of time it took you, I don't think it really matters. All of mine will be mig welded as I don't have excess to a spot welder & the electric is from the 50's so it'll probably trip it every spot 😂😂. Mines a budget restoration & I'll be using the same panels as you so I'll be using your videos as reference 😀. Can't wait for the next episode.

[@classicminiworkshop]

Thanks Rick

[@michaelatejnorova5044]

Nice, Keith.

[@stanthology]

Cool! I wish I had your perseverance!

[@MattJonesBedwas]

I think it looks fine Keith. I always find when you do a job yourself and you're right up close you do see even the tiniest little problem. I had a replacement heritage wing on my and the gap is about the same on that. I'd be pleased with the result you've got there.

[@stevenlawson9591]

Looking good and solid 👍

[@anthonybrown7959]

Hat off to you Keith. You've done a great job 👏. Way better panels than my build. I had the same difficulty with regards to the left wing but it was my right hand side. The front panel on mine had way to much of a ripple in it and when I took a hammer and dolly to it sprung the panel. So glad you had better luck.

[@recreativesigns4571]

Keith this budget restoration is awesome. Can’t wait to see the updated budget spent and the number of hours you’ve put in to this build so far. Someone will end up owning a cracking motor. 👍

[@andyfry1970]

Hi Keith, once again you make it look easy lol! Despite the giggling about with the panels to get it as good as you can. Thinking ahead with regards to spraying the inside of the front panel at the tear drop mounts, that's attention to detail from a protective point of view! Great stuff, and looking like a MINI again!! YAY! 👌😊

[@classicminiworkshop]

Thanks 👍

[@paulrobinson3528]

Keith, that Spot Welder.............was it your Grandads 🤣 Was late again for your video, was out collecting MIni bits from Fleabay lol

[@dnf1903]

Hiya Keith. I'm no Mini specialist but it looks brilliant to me. Fascinating video-really enjoyed it. You are making a great job of Bruce. Keep well and thanks!

[@johnwren3976]

Found my Harbor Freight spot welder invaluable in building my Minis. As you said, you can never have too many vice grips.👍 some specialty grips, too. Long reach for example.

[@1chish]

I imported my Harbor Freight spot welder from the States to the UK last year and apart from upgrading the CBs to 'C' type it works fine. The one I have is labelled 'Chicago Electric' but the customer support number (and they were excellent) was Harbor Freight. Even with Import Tariffs (thanks EU) it was half the price of welders here in the UK. Just had to reshape the weld tips. All made in China of course.

[@PocketRocketGarage]

I am thinking I really need a spot welder for my sills / front end…. Plug welding is very time consuming! Fantastic result Keith 👍🏻 looks great

[@franktaylor7617]

Can't get your head and helmet inside the wing. Having the same issue at the rear. I can fit my head but not my nose not to mention my helmet. I have a spare welding helmet so I trimmed of the hood and chin area so I'm left with just the auto glass. Hopefully that will work. Worked very well in the boot near the tail lights for repairing the floor. Nice work on the front end. Especially with repops (aftermarket non-genuine fenders). We call them repops, knockoffs. I'm sure my car has a few knockoff parts. Keep up the great work mate. Cheers from the PNW USA.

[@petesmith2132]

Another great video Keith! I will soon be doing a similar job on our 1971 Mini 1000, but intend to reuse the wings and front panel, because they are still in good condition, despite being fitted by me in 1998. I need to remove them in order to replace the rotten scuttle panel that I should have also replaced in 1998, but didn’t. I also hope to achieve better panel gaps, as I was never very happy with them.

[@paulrobinson3528]

15:51 Is there a Pigeon living under there 🤑

[@classicminiworkshop]

I think it's a seagull judging by the size of it's sh1ts

[@jameseabonn2674]

Keith, looking great so far and someone is going to get a properly repaired mechanically sound little mini come the end. What is your plan for when this one sells? Would you be looking to take on another similar project?

[@classicminiworkshop]

Yes, I will be looking for another project after this one.

[@MiniMattTV]

Top job mate! Shame about the troubles with the flange widths, but it looks great and like you said when painted the panel gaps will be less noticeable. Anything you would do differently?

[@classicminiworkshop]

Nah, I don't think so. I should maybe have borrow Marks spot welder

[@callumhulsmeier9081]

Fantastic job! I had similar struggle with the bonnet gaps still not sure how we managed to get the wings on after spending days lining it all up. I also had to modify the bit at the bottom right of the headlight aperture of the d/s wing to allow the bonnet to fit. Maybe a thing with using different suppliers. It looks really well though, great job

[@paulohlsen3332]

I had the same bonnet to wing gap problem with a magnum panel, I'm only replacing one side so it stands out like dogs balls and I need to modify it to match the other side

[@sfraser12]

Really liked the voice over on the time lapse. Great video. Is there supposed to be a small strengthening plate where the bottom of the A panel meets the wings?

[@classicminiworkshop]

No, however there may be on earlier Minis, there definitely is if it has external hinges

[@sfraser12]

Ahh that makes sense. Thanks!

[@markpdouglas]

All the difficulties you went through leave me thinking it's not worth saving a couple of hundred quid on these inferior panels. Especially with the inconsistent gaps - even the door to A-panel gap looks too big at the top.

[@classicminiworkshop]

The door to A panel is adjustable with the door shims so not worried about that. If it were a car I was keeping I would use Heritage