grille surround removal

[MGs]

Currently in the middle of a full strip down and rebuild. I have already come across a number of bodges

I am removing the front panel (grille surround) due to crash damage (previous owner). the bottom bolts were a bit of
a pain, a mixture of 7/16af 11 and 12mm mixed on the same thread . I have removed the hockey sticks from inside
the wheel arches. My question is, do you have to unbolt the radiator and the panel between the two wings to get the
top chrome strip and presumably the surround off?

[Matt Tomkins]

if you've done the bottom bolts and the hockey sticks, i believe it's just the 2 bolts either side and it'll lift off with the rad in place - disconnect the rad 1st :p

[MarkyB]

beware if you want to remove the chrome strip, the nuts have a tendency to rust solid to the studs.
These will just snap off with very little provocation, I'd soak them in penetrating oil, not WD50, for several days then very judiciously try every trick in the book to get them off.

The inner panel is attached with a couple of sort of half spot welds which will come apart quite easily.

[Neil MG]

Yes you have to remove the panel to wing bolts. It's only four bolts holding the rad so when you have disconnected the hoses it just pulls up out of the car. You also need to disconnect the bonnet relaese. Take it all apart and clean it up and assemble with new fixings protecting the threads with a little grease after assembly. Then next time....

[Declan_Burns]

I did it last weekend while fitting the mini timing chain tensioner and you have to remove the front panel as mentioned above. Start with the hockey sticks then bumper, drain rad, 7 bolts on the bottom of the front panel and 4 on the top. Remove the split pin on the bonnet release. Remove the front panel as a unit. Remove rad-4 bolts. Remove the top chrome. The grille is fixed with 4 self tappers. Remove grill and the you have clear access to the grille surround. As mentioned above the bolts could be rusty and the nuts tend to shear off. Re-spray your grille while you are at it if it needs doing and you may have to touch up the paintwork on the front panel in places.
Regards
Declan

[MGs]

Cheers guys, I'll give it a go over the next few days....wife has got me doing the gardening at the moment

[simmitc]

Are you using a laptop attached to the handles on the lawnmower?

[MGs]

Thanks guys. Got it removed. The panel is off, the grille removed, chrome top strip is off. I have a couple of problems.
firstly the bonnet release (end of the rod from inside the car has a chunk of split pin stuck in it. The hole is tiny, so
not sure how I can get it out.
Second, the surround for the grille (thin chrome strip) is not going to come off). I presume it is held with captive nuts
inside the strip. From the back of the front panel, I have removed three of the nuts, three were not fitted but the remainder
are just turning, as if the captive nuts are rusted away. Is there any way of removing it? if I grind off the nuts and bolts will
I be able to fit new ones? or will it be scrap? Seems a shame as it is the best bit of chrome on the car.

[MarkyB]

Either poke the bits of split pin out with something suitable or drill them out very carefully.
The captive bolts have a tee shape where they fit into the trim, you will need to squeeze with pliers to stop it turning.

[Declan_Burns]

Just grind them off and get a new grille finisher fitting kit from one of the Moggy suppliers. eg
http://www.morris-minor.org/grille-fini ... de96f99858
Clean up the old finisher and refit.
This is what to expect once they are removed.[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]
Regards
Declan

[taupe]

Hi

For your bonnet rod split pin.. file the remains of the pin flush with the rod and then tap lightly on it with a centre punch. You have to leave room for the remains of the pin to come out the other side..This nearly always works!

The other grille fixings can have the nuts ground off and get new fixings as above or if there is space you can use a small nut splitter.

Taupe

[MGs]

With the new fixing kit so cheap I'll do that. Tapping out the split pin is going to be tough. The split pin was only 1/16" or less. Would need a minute punch! Not urgent at the moment, with the front of the car off and plenty of mods to make to the
front panel.

[taupe]

You dont punch it right through, just get it moving and it will fall out

[MGs]

Chrome strip now off. Had to grind the nuts/bolts. Not really any wonder they were spinning, only one of the fixings was the oval shape, the rest were round head allen key bolts Presumably who ever did it, didn't ever intend removing it.

I can't find anything small enough to even get the split pin started

[Declan_Burns]

Try drilling it out with a 2mm bit and fit a new pin on re-assembly.
Regards
Declan