11 replies to this topic

[Alburglar]

Hi folks,
I want to do a cheap front engined rwd conversion on my mini minus. Probably using a vauxhall xe lump. What rear axle will fit at the back, keeping the same or similar track? I need to know for defo, as I can only guess at the moment. I was thinking mark 2 escort or something?
Cheers Ali

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[miniboo]

Does that mean that your engine will be up for grabs?

I have heard Dedion axles mentioned? Try the 16v mini forum they will definitely know what you want.

[Jammy]

Morris Minor?? :erm:

[Purple Tom]

I've seen a few funny cars with shortened sierra rear axles - tend to do the job pretty well apparently.

[Guess-Works.com]

The old favourites were Rover V8's and the Fords

[Wil_h]

Off the top of my head I'd say that the chances of finding a rear axle the right width to fit on the rear of a mini is very slim.

Shortening an axle is probably going to be the easiest way.

Wil

[Alburglar]

Does that mean that your engine will be up for grabs?

I have heard Dedion axles mentioned? Try the 16v mini forum they will definitely know what you want.

Perhaps. Got to see a man about a dog. If all works out then I'll whip the 1380 out sometime before next summer.

Thanks for the help folks

[m1n1]

used to have a 1980 mg midget. now thats the same width as a mini i'm sure. but that back axle used leaf springs so u'll have to make some minor adjustments.

[Bluemini]

What about a Talbot Sunbeam? I think Escort axles are to wide.

Just out of interest, how are you going to mount it???

[Alburglar]

Well I think I've figured out the easiest options for a front engined rwd mini.

I was gonna use a 2litre 16valve vauxhall xe engine using rally engine mounts from www.yukspeed.com. There are two gearbox options for this engine.

First would be standard sierra 5 speed from a 2litre car (not V6) you can buy a crank spigot and bell housing adapter from www.yukspeed.com.
Then use cosworth rocket prop (cut and sleeve weld to fit) or standrd sierra split prop (because one half of this prop may be short enough)
prop goes into standard mk2 escort live axle -mounted to modified rear sub, or new space frame rear, with 4 link bars.
This seems a nice cheap option and you can buy new hub plates to widen track at the front so you wouldn't have to use spacers.

2nd option is xe engine to T5 cosworth box with bell housing adapter and crank spigot from www.allspeedengineering.com. I could still use yukspeeds engine mounts on my own modified front subframe or space frame front. allspeed sell the prop shaft, but a rocket prop could be cut to fit to save money. This goes to rear diff from a cosworth sierra 4x4. This would be my favourite option because this diff has independant drive shafts that could be modifed to shorten them or you could buy allspeeds billet ones in order to keep the same track.

However I have not decided to do this as a lot of front bulk head and floor needs to be cut away. This is fine on a metal car because I would simply make a bulkhead box and weld it in. It'd be good as new. To keep structural integrety in a fibreglass car I would need to space frame the whole car and I can't be arsed. Plus it is a rare shell and I wouldn't want to ruin the minus.

It's very interesting though isn't it.

[Pickup76]

Rear axle :sick: you'd be much better using a siera diff and hubs, shortening the drive shafts and using double wishbones ment for a 7 replica. Lots of the sevens use custom wishbones with all the sierra kit as sierras are far to wide. Check out all the 20 odd 7 kits out there as im sure you could adapt something

[Alburglar]

rear diff from a cosworth sierra 4x4. This would be my favourite option because this diff has independant drive shafts that could be modifed to shorten them or you could buy allspeeds billet ones in order to keep the same track.

Err... cheers for that