Grille Conversion

[AlleyCat]

Hey guys,

just after a bit of advice as I have heard conflicting stories.

can someone let me know what needs to be done to convert my later Mk3 front grille to the earlier MK1 'moustache grille?

is it just a case of cutting the lip off the bonnet and fitting the earlier grille? or is there more to it?

thanks for the help.

[vx220]

For the hassle involved you may as well buy a mk1 bonnet

You'll need it sprayed anyway...

[guru_1071]

vx220 said:

For the hassle involved you may as well buy a mk1 bonnet

You'll need it sprayed anyway...

that will be more hassle, the hingers are in a different place on a mk1 bonnet......


just drill the welds out of the lip on your mk3 bonnet, its a ten minute job

[Cooperman]

Quite right. If you are very careful drilling out the spotwelds you won't damage the paint.
Here's one we did earlier, a 1997 MPI:

[AlleyCat]

My Bonnet, actually needs replacing anyway, as its very badly rusted.

so I might just buy a Mk1 bonnet, but how much different are the hinges? and what needs moving/altering.

Thanks for the advice btw.

[Miniholic]

The Mk1 hinges are more central, so would need new hinge mounts welding on. You could buy a Van/Pick up bonnet as they don't have the lip.

http://minispares.com/product/Classic/Body/Bonnet/...

Here's one I made earlier...

Edited by Miniholic on Friday 8th March 19:00

[sprocketman01]

Aftermarket Bonnets have both Mk1 and Mk3 bonnet mounts I believe so that makes that job easier,after that it's just a case of marking up and drilling all the holes for mounting the clips for the 'tache and end trims. Time consuming but not difficult

[unclepockets]

You want a van/pick-up bonnet, they bolt straight on, have the correct hinges for later cars and no lip for a grille, got one on mine.

[Tony2or4]

Cooperman said:

Great car to learn to drive in.

(I learnt in a 1964 Mini, but not a Cooper.)

[Cooperman]

I learnt in an RAF Austin 1-Ton Truck which was a 4 x 4 and had no syncromesh. That set me up to be able to drive the early 850 Mini which had a gearbox where syncromesh was a very temporary arrangement when new and which lasted for 5000 miles if you drove at all hard. Passed my public road driving test in a Ford 100E Anglia.

[ronrob]

Cooperman said:

Quite right. If you are very careful drilling out the spotwelds you won't damage the paint.
Here's one we did earlier, a 1997 MPI:

It's from a long time back but I would dearly like to know the colour codes for the two shades of blue used on this beautiful car. I hope that both are solid colours (not metallic). Also, there are no wheel arch extensions - are the wheels 12" and, if so, can one "get away" without fitting the extensions (I suppose wheel width has got something to do with it). Am I right in thinking that the spot lamps are mounted on the front valance - i.e; not set into holes in the grille? Thanks in advance.

[Lesgrandepotato]

I think it’s green... looks like Connaught green to me. You can run 12” wheels with no arches. Just choose 4.5 rims and 145 tyres.

Alternatively you can get away with a bit of poke. I run 5inch rims and 165 section tyres, these poke out about an inch. Never been a problem.

The spots are mounted on the front panel using spot brackets that are commonly available.

[den97mpi]

Blimey! Thats my old Mini! Was a lovely car after Cooperman and I restored it. I sold it to another guy in the village who has done the London to brighton run in it a few times.

That was on 12" wheels with no wheel-arch extensions. Was the standard 4.5" wheels with 165 tyres.

The colour of that car was a bit of an odd one as was re-sprayed in a Rover green but not the original "BRG" that Rover called it ad had a silver roof.

The spots on the later cars mounted on the front panel, but on my 86 Mayfair (which i have just re-purchased after selling 10 years ago) had made brackets that mount to panel and bumper. Same as we use on our rally cars