On Thursday morning I was driving my '78 van to training, and to cut a long story short, slid off a roundabout and hit a power pole. Due to some previously dodgy repairs, the damage is more extensive than I first thought. While I wasn't going fast enough to smash the headlight, it has managed to push the front subframe back about two inches on the left hand side. The whole front end is basically stuffed.

I took it to A Grade Plus in Heidelberg who quoted me upwards of $7000 to get it repaired, and unable to do it myself, as I don't have the space or the tools.

I'm after some advice as to what I should do. I guess I should just sell it to a wrecker, but they only offered me $500, which seems like a bit of a rip.

Hi Buddy, can u post some pics for us to look at?

some pics would be helpful buddy.

if worst comes to worst, just parts the car? make a bit more that way...

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Here am I sitting in my tin can far above the Moon
Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do...



“A turbo: exhaust gasses go into the turbocharger and spin it, witchcraft happens and you go faster.” - Jeremy Clarkson

if its that bad sorce another shell and swap it all over....
as for a grade panels there too $$$$$$$
try thorton smash repairs witch is near link automotive in mitcham..in thorton cresant.
they just did rust repairs on my baby and it only cost me $1500 that was for two front floors ...both outer sills and the rear beaver panel plus bits here and there.
hes done lots of minis too.....he will be cheap
plus link is just arounr the corner so any parts they need should be easily sorced from them to aid the fix up job...
northern minis also sell every part you will need too so if link dosent have it in stock ...ie body panels northern minis should..
good luck and keep us posted ...

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started a new project...there goes all my free time....

if it's pushed the subframe back, then the crossmember is damaged, and should have creased the passenger floor as well - do you know what other dodgy repairs there were? maybe the whole car is full of bog

I'd be getting another shell

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

It's done that, pushed up into the passenger's footwell. I don't honestly know what condition the rest of the body is in. I recently stripped the roof back to bare metal and resprayed and there was no bog in the roof, so I have hope that the back end of the car is fairly straight. Floors are all rust free. I'm going to take a shot at posting some photos.

Broken away from firewall

what about a new subframe or 2nd hand one?

a front end or even that side part & get some one to weld it back on & you respray it?

big job though.

poor fella nice little van too.

i use to have them mags they are nice.

Just looking at the photo's it is repairable but it's whether it's economically repairable . You would need to get it put on a rack and have the body pulled back into shape and then replace the front panels and most likely the subframe as well . If you decide to transfer the motor etc into a new shell don't dump the remains , put them up in the for sale for someone else to use to make a trailer or similar .

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cut the nose of & put a roundie on it

any insurance?

start with a replacement sub frame and swap everything out into it.

youll probably need an arm of two if you have bent them, then get a quote on the panel work, shouldnt be more than 1000 bux, dont have to get it sprayed if you cant afford it.

But if you bent sub frame, pull the motor out, replace and start from there.

Sub frame should set you back about 150 bux for a decent one. Take about 10-20 hours to swap everything out.

Just need panel work then.

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Aussie Leyland, Aussie Factory, Aussie Mini S.

and whatever you do....get a new steering rack and tie rod ends

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"Show me the Mini!"

i'll give ya $50 for it




get a second opinion, then contact snail74, he has most of the parts you will need.

one thing to do is measure your subframe mounts to check that the car is still "square", this should be done before you start stripping the car.
then that will tell you what needs to be straightened or replaced.

replace the steering rack, and ALL ball joints, as they have all been stressed, and will most likely fail at a later date

Ive repaired worse than that(mini vs ltd tank), just take care, if you dont get it right first time it will never be the same.

mate check this out..

keep an eye out for lots of parts champ.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1974-Leyland-Min ... 3|294%3A50

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/car-for-wrecking ... 5|294%3A50

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/MINI-CLUBMAN-SHE ... 1|294%3A50
goodluck

doesn't look that bad to me - I reckon the crossmember hasn't been moved, the subframe has probably just tilted down at the front, bending the top mounting bolts and pushing the back of it up a bit...

doesn't even look like the motor has moved - have a look at where that left hand side engine steady mounts to the crossmember, is the bracket bent or otherwise damaged?

that bit where the inner guard has pulled away from the firewall is just where that panel has deformed - they're only spot welded

NG is right, ideal candidate for stitching on a roundie front

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?