38 replies to this topic

[Alburglar]

Probably the only problem you will have is making the rear exhaust mounting

Siggy

yeah was thinking about that. My car is fibreglass so was gonna fibre glass in a box section to attach it to. That is aslong as the beam doesn't protrude into the area where it used to attach to the sub frame. Does it?

[Pavel]

It actually turns out cheaper than buying all the stuff for a normal sub frame!

Subframe
Hi Lo's with knuckle joints
2 Rubber Donuts
Spax adjustable shocks
Adjustable camber brackets

Maybe if a lot of u want one, we could ask for a TMF group discount? We could display their sticker or something on the London to nurburgring run perhaps?

[Brawlyrox]

Now that makes sense Pavel, myself Marksmini and ALburglar are interested, so thats 3.

[Alburglar]

I think Mark said he couldn't afford one, wiil have to check with him, but 'do your thing' nick and see what you can do.
Tell em my minus vs your turb (or turd, uet to be decided) at the ring will drum up alot of interest and it would be cool to say that they are both on huddersfield beam axle kits.

[Brawlyrox]

LOL, it makes alot of sense ali, but we discussed this :tongue: we know whos gonna win. We want to contact them about the run anyway so maybe they could do a group buy discount or even just a good discount..

Nick

[Alburglar]

Are you gonna chat em up then Nick?

By the way I am seriously looking forward to "the ring", it's gonna be a awesome.

[AlexF2003]

They are not that much lighter than a std rear subby...

and not that much better as a performance upgrade.

The other thing is... If you put any weight in the back of the car and you run any beam on a std car it will put the shockers through the rear wings!!! They are not designed to take that loading!!!!!

So if you strengthen the back properly it all ends up weighting the same a std setup!

Alex

[bluebottle]

just wondering if you are speaking from experience alex?.....or just what you've heard?

i've known a few road going mini's and a couple of full blown rally minis have these beams fitted with no trouble what so ever, and stage rallying insn't exactly a walk in the park!


one other point to mention, a couple of beams i've fitted have needed the big lump on the bottom of the trailing arm, where the knuckle sits, to be cut off to clear the beam.
this doesn't affect the arm in any way, although it does mean you cant part ex it for a recon one anymore.

[AlexF2003]

Not personal experience... but those of people I know...

It also stands to reason, the rear weight of the mini is desinged to be carried by the boot floor (double-treble skinned) and the end of the sill. The rear wings carry only the damper forces.

Alex

[bluebottle]

hmmm, just because "it stands to reason" it doesnt make it so!

i've built and look after a hillclimb/sprint mini for a mate, and using your criteria it would have fallen to bits long ago!....the car is running AVO coilovers at the back, and yes i know its a lot lighter, but the car has no boot floor at all, no valance, just the inner wheel arch, and the small bit of metal just aft of it, no problems at all!

i think you are underestimating the strenght of the inner wheel arch, another friend of mine used to rally a mini for most of the '80's, running 13" rims and coilovers at the back, no sign of damage what so ever, apart from a bit of tree damage.

[Pavel]

apart from a bit of tree damage.

[AlexF2003]

hmmm, just because "it stands to reason" it doesnt make it so!

true...

but sometimes it does

All I can say is IMO.

I have seen pictures people I know have sent me of failed inner arches... if you look at the metal at the damper mount its single thickness and not exactly thick.

Alex

[bluebottle]

at the top of the damper its three layers thick!

in the wheel arch itself, you have the triangular reinforcing gusset, then you have the wheel arch itself, then inside you have that thick plate where the rubber washers sit.

the onlt time ive heard of inner arch damage was when a lowered car fitted with standard shocks got airborn and landed very heavily. the shocker was very bent, and the area in the wheel arch where it goes through was distorted, but didn't fail structurally.

[AlexF2003]

hmmm thats true... I wasnt thinking st8... damn cold!

I've still seen pictures of a few failures

[siggy]

I have had beams on 3 different Mini's and NEVER had any problems.

I know of 2 stage rally cars and the have NEVER had any problems.

As long as the shell is sound in the first place and the beam is fitted correctly you should not have any problems.

Siggy