1.0 front grill mod

[christover1]

I got tired of bending over the front of the zook, to get to power steering bits, water pumps, alternators, cam belt, radiator bolts etc. I know an engine change/upgrade is due shortly, so I have converted the grill to come out easily, meaning only need a small lift to get engine out, and not so much half bending, which those with back issues know, is the worse type of bending. Bar removes easily already.

I figured it could all come out somehow anyway, but lots of hard to get at rusted up stuck screws/nuts and too much friggin around. Which is why I never bothered before.
This way its much simpler, only need to undo the horn, the rest of wiring for lights, etc, stays put.

Pix should be self explanitory. If not, then hassle me for info
There was already a cut at the bottom, for fitting of my indicator lamps. So just had to do a cut at the top, leaving the bolted section inside the light wells.
Main point I decided was to mount the support brackets in place before cutting, (removed again after drilling holes, of course) so it would easily go back into correct possy. Lucky I did, as it all sprung madly after cutting

christover

[mugginsmoo]

Chris,
did you tap a thread into the top brackets or are you going to weld the nuts on the back? this will save time later.

i'm assuming that you'll take the brackets right off to remove the motor.

i had a zook where the grill and gards were welded together, it lifted up with the bonnet, kinda backwards flip frontish

Mitch

[christover1]

Chris,
did you tap a thread into the top brackets or are you going to weld the nuts on the back?

neither, I made sure nuts were easy to access, tho welding them on will probably happen in future, maybe when I need to pull it out again.

i'm assuming that you'll take the brackets right off to remove the motor

yep, with headlight surrounds off, nuts are easy to get at, tho welding nuts will be betterer, fer sure..

i had a zook where the grill and gards were welded together, it lifted up with the bonnet, kinda backwards flip frontish
Mitch

back in my Moke Club past, some of those guys had quick release front ends, just pull out 2pins, and whole front came off...on a Moke that was sure a blessing.

christover

[Gwagensteve]

I must confess chris, I don't think I would have done that. The likelyhood of the whole front end getting mighty floppy now is high I think. stress cracks are likely too.

Time will tell!

[christover1]

I must confess chris, I don't think I would have done that. The likelyhood of the whole front end getting mighty floppy now is high I think. stress cracks are likely too.

Time will tell!

yeah, I had that thought, too, but body is close to stuffed anyway, so by the time it cracks up, will be time fer a new body......or a nice soft vit/jimny
Have attempted to allow for twists, wobbles and other stresses, as in cuts keep all the wheel arch braces in place, but as ya say, time will tell.

christover