Front End Removal *Budget Restoration* - Classic Mini Workshop Part 15

[@classicminiworkshop]

As a few have said, it would have probably been a good idea to cover the windscreen to avoid damage from the welding sparks! DOH 🙈

[@velmathemini]

I'll definitely be using most of your videos as a reference for mine 😀 thanks

[@rbirdi900]

Keith, chopping the front end off is a man's job. 👌 Testament to get the major chunk off in one go. May be another trophy on the garage wall?

[@classicminiworkshop]

Yeah, I'm sure I will find a place for it :)

[@PocketRocketGarage]

You don’t hang about Keith! Nice work great to see you enjoying it again

[@classicminiworkshop]

Thanks Kevin.

[@alandoyle3972]

Can't wait to see the next stage.

[@andywhitelaw6957]

Great informative video, hoping I don’t need to take my front off but not holding my breath!

[@RobinTheMini]

Very interesting as usual

[@classicminiworkshop]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MiniMattTV]

To anyone watching, cover the windscreen before you start or you can end up with sparks embedded in it like I did. Keith, You made short work of that! Definitely worth doing looking at the state of it. Another piece of wall art? Looking forward to seeing how you get on with a non heritage front end. 👍 keep up the good work.

[@classicminiworkshop]

Thanks Matt, I'm going to check the screen later. Fingers crossed!

[@karlgt9989]

Excellent progress as usual mate

[@classicminiworkshop]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@recreativesigns4571]

Wow that seemed to come off rather well. Good to see you have your Mojo back, smiles from start to finish. Can’t wait for the new panels to go on.

[@milanbauer4226]

Nice as always.

[@classicminiworkshop]

Thanks again!

[@TheGentlemensMotorRacingTeam]

Fantastic work sir

[@Alexnse10]

Will be watching this front end build very closely 👍

[@yvesmaetz4839]

Thanks for this episode and the whole channel. I've probably watched all your videos in the last year: it gave me the courage to do similar jobs on the '92 1275 Mini Sprite I've bought 18 months ago: it'll be a full restoration. I started dismantling it completely this week-end. I'll watch a lot of your videos again and again to learn from you. Thank you for sharing your experience. No need for me to cover the winshield when cutting the front end: it's off ;)

[@johnwalters3782]

Hi Keith, making decent job mate, if I were you I,d protect that front screen from grinding sparks. Big mistake I made. The hot metal burns into the glass which can,t be removed.

[@GasketGaz]

That’s exactly what I was thinking, done the same mistake years ago.

[@steveheard7522]

It's a budget restoration, Keith is bound to fit a new screen 🙂

[@classicminiworkshop]

Good call, I didn't think about that. Ill clean it off tomorrow and see if there is much damage.

[@nicholasreason8379]

When removing the bonnet I used to a scribe to scratch the hinge around the connection with the bonnet. Only a small mark but gives you a precise record where the bonnet and hinge were.

[@classicminiworkshop]

Good tip, thanks Nicholas

[@paulrobinson3528]

That Mini would be up on the tallest ramps i could get my hands on, less stress on ones back old chap !

[@classicminiworkshop]

I need to invest in a rollover jig I reckon

[@paulrobinson3528]

@@classicminiworkshop A roll over jig for your body or a roll over jig for your Mini lol. My Mini came off the roll over jig a few months back. Passenger door dont fit now lol

[@JPMergens]

It's so motivating to see your exuberance. I'm swapping in a 1275 in my '72 mini as I spun my main bearings in the original 998, and your excitement keeps me motivated through it all. Thanks for all you do and cheers from the southwest USA.

[@classicminiworkshop]

Thanks Joe

[@Tears4Guthix]

Hi Keith, you made this look very easy and glad to see you so happy about the progress. If the front subframe is fine I would leave it since this is your budget build. Cheers for the awesome content as always.

[@classicminiworkshop]

Cool, thanks

[@paulrobinson3528]

Missed first 😆 some of us have to work late at the weekends 😫 😩

[@classicminiworkshop]

Next time!

[@sfraser12]

Good news for Bruce but I was hoping the scuttle and inner wings needed replaced so I could see how that was done! Lol I'll need to check if any of your other videos cover that. Great video!

[@dnf1903]

Hiya Keith-hope you're well. The Christmas break seems to have done you good! That front end was a lot worse than it looked really-but you made removing it look so easy. Can't wait for more progress videos. Brilliant stuff. Thanks.

[@classicminiworkshop]

Thanks Dave, yes it was nice to have a break over Xmas.

[@kevinevison3117]

Hi.keith.like your energy. But can I remind you to cover up all the glass before grinding. Kevin

[@classicminiworkshop]

Good call, yes, my bad.

[@apprentice_pleb]

cool music

[@Matthew-MrBrit]

Hey Keith, maybe chop the front end for wall art and sell it in eBay? Also I appreciate the detailed tips as always.

[@TornadoCAN99]

Good Work Sir! Been following this body work closely to learn more about how they fit together. My car ('88 Saloon) has been previously restored and has the over sills. No signs of damage like on this car. But I want to spray FluidFilm/Cavity Wax etc into the sills and reach the heel/toe board inner areas. Can you recommend how best ot reach these inside cavities? I have a 360 Deg. spray tip on a length of tube for this type of work. Can I get in from the rear subframe fixing bolt holes? Rear side bins? Front air vent or door jamb openings? Cheers.

[@classicminiworkshop]

You should be able to get the rear heel board and most of the sill through the rear door bins depending how long the 360 probe is. You can also get down the door hinge panel/A panel through the check strap hole or interior light switch hole. There should be plenty of places to get inside the cavity.

[@kingrolovtec]

What flooring have you got in your garage?

[@classicminiworkshop]

I dont have the exact ones, but these are very similar www.ecotileflooring.com/product/e5007/

[@paulrobinson3528]

I found fitting the Heritage front end on to my 62 a pain but went on fine in the end. Went on and back off many times though lol. Now, a big question Keith, are you any good at lead loading. Lead loaded my scuttle seams and the wing to front panel seam, was a doddle....ish

[@grahamwoodier5066]

Was this video shot a while ago or did you forget to take the Christmas decorations down before Twelfth Night?

[@classicminiworkshop]

I'm a bit ahead with the videos, this was 30th December I think.

[@robertnehrbass7745]

Hi Keith,great video,that XMAS Bells decoration sure goes crazy when the time lapse speeds up.Keep up with the great videos.Whats up with Marks projects?

[@classicminiworkshop]

Thanks. Mark has been busy on the Mk3 Cooper S getting the new floor ready on a jig so he will be back on that soon. He's also just removed the engine and gearbox from one of his other Minis which is going to be goin in project KITT very soon.

[@1chish]

I bought one of those Italian pattern front panels and it fits really well to my Heritage wings and inner wings even just clamped. You will not like the finish of the welds on the bottom valence though. And on that note I would leave the subframe in place to give you another datum for that front panel to work against. That front panel that came off looked original so were there any body shims? Glad you decided to go front first as I am in the same place or will be this week when the rotisserie is off and subframe is in. Project budget is coming along nicely!

[@classicminiworkshop]

No shims in the front at all. It's definitely the original front panel. I had a nice surprise in the next video, the inner wings are remarkably clean and solid under about 10 coats of underseal! Did they only start using shims on 12" Minis? This would have originally been on 10's

[@1chish]

@@classicminiworkshop The shims came in with the rubber mounted subframe 1976 on. Never seen any fitted but then on older cars subframes come out or front panels changed, shims are dropped and never seen again. I have 4 "just in case"

[@MidasMk1]

Nice vid keith! :)

[@classicminiworkshop]

Cheers Sam

[@petesmith2132]

Oh, that poor windscreen!

[@jimmyk9523]

Yep he will fuck that screen grinding without covering it

[@classicminiworkshop]

I'll have a look next time in in the garage, I don't actually think much of the grinding sparks were directly hitting the screen but ill have a look

[@franktaylor7617]

😎👍

[@deangaryjames]

Nicely done Keith, must of done a few of them now mate?

[@classicminiworkshop]

I think this will only be the 4th one of me

[@jaggass]

Are you putting Bru's front end up on the wall?

[@classicminiworkshop]

Yeah I probably will :)

[@guygreengrass3963]

Hi Kieth, long time watcher , first time comment. Do you think it is possible to remove & replace the front panel without taking the wings off? My mini has the same rot on his front panel but he has had two new wings fitted in recent years and I do not want to chop them off !

[@classicminiworkshop]

Yes, I don't see why not. I would cut a few mm below the seam joint and then drill out the spot welds from below

[@paulrobinson3528]

For the price of a drivers inner wing repair section, i would fit a new one. M-Machine P/N CZH3064 ?

[@classicminiworkshop]

£57.25! Are you feeling OK? LOL

[@paulrobinson3528]

@@classicminiworkshop Is that Mini Spares? £48 on M-Machine. Feeling ok??, well sometimes you have to have a splurge, makes you feel good lol but just look at all the money saved on reconditioned brake hose's 😁 I'm sure someone has a spare knocking around, i do but its the other side pmsl.

[@classicminiworkshop]

@@paulrobinson3528 Ah yes, I forgot about the hoses LOL

[@paulrobinson3528]

@@classicminiworkshop Keith, how could you forget such a cheap fabulous fix 😂

[@jaggass]

I've seen Mini's with removable fibreglass front ends. No rust but might smash to pieces in a crash though.

[@1chish]

My project came with a removable steel front end. Wings and front panel welded together and slid onto the front of the car using pins and clamps! It found the scrap pile very quickly!

[@stevenmoran4060]

Believe me the original front end folded up very easily in a crash. Crashed mine back in 1978 into a wall, the only panel not bent or destroyed was the boot lid!

[@jaggass]

@@stevenmoran4060 I can believe that. There isn't much strength in old Mini's at all.

[@welditjamaica]

Cheer mate new subscriber from Jamaica 🇯🇲....Im selling my racing side draft Weber 40mm Carburetor with genuine manifold to fit the A series engine

[@classicminiworkshop]

Thanks for the sub. I think you are my first Jamaican subscriber!

[@welditjamaica]

@@classicminiworkshop no worries now a Fordman I own both (anglia n escort ) /use to have a clubman shame I chopped it up when I was younger due to lack of title/ knowledge (space) at the time ....still trying to find a good body to build one up this time around but till then it’s mk1 escorts and 105e anglias for me