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RWD Conversion


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#16 eddyg

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Posted 19 December 2005 - 12:10 PM

OH stats the bain of my life. COuln't stand it at a-level!!

car sounds a good project!!

#17 DaveCoxon

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Posted 19 December 2005 - 03:54 PM

Live axle is old hat!
I'd go with the sierra rear diff.


Sierra rear-end has far from ideal geometry, naff-all rear anti-squat, and is bloody heavy...
A four-linked live axle is not the best for a circuit car due to the lack of camber, that's for sure - but it takes a lot of beating in every other aspect - especially straight-liner starts. Don't pass judgements on a live axle based on the handling of a capri or sherpa van!

I've had a potentially easier and better idea however...
Use the rear suspension struts, hubs, calipers, shafts (modded) and bottom arms from a Fiat X/19. This is a good (narrow) setup - and pretty easy to make a subframe around. That way - you can also use the sierra rear diff (consider finding one off an early xr4x4 - these have a lower ratio than the cosworth, but still have the LSD)
Rear disc brakes aswell - always a bonus!

#18 benno75

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Posted 19 December 2005 - 05:58 PM

Ok, so I had a good trawl through the pages concerning the english vs atlas rear axle. And had a quick look at suspension set ups. As far as I can tell for what i want ie straight line speed...that atlas seems to the strongest. There's something called the baby atlas at 48.5inchs, comes off the mk1 capri 3.0 (like those by the way reminds of our big v8 saloon cars back home!). Apparently though they are hard to get a hold of. You can also cut down larger atlas' from mk2 & 3's. As the sd1 I think standard pumps out 150ishbhp and same torque I reckon I don't want to risk going light on on the rear set-up. I think there's a guy from one of these sites that does a recon baby atlas with diff of 3.09 for £1200. Other than that I can trawl scrappy's and ex-race sites for one. Any advice on bracketry for the atlas to subframe situation? oh and diff clearance?
Don't like the sierra rear either dave, just seems like they'd bog down off the line. Not after track set-up really definately straight and hard for me!!!!
I'll have a browse for this fiat idea too, still wondering about the sierra diff though(strong enough) but the weight issue doesn't worry me too much. Need something to balance out the sd1 up front!!

Cheers
Benno

#19 Woody

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Posted 20 December 2005 - 07:17 AM

Try a search on "lowcost IRS" .
you could also use a jaguar rear dif ,some of these have LSD also

#20 DaveCoxon

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Posted 20 December 2005 - 06:53 PM

Well - glad that you've started doing looking into it!



The jag back end - well, you'll never 'burst' one of them for sure! I really like this setup - but it's possibly overkill in this application!

Take a look at the X19 - it's exceedingly well built.
Did you get the stuff i emailled you?

I've got some pics of a Rear-engined mini Vtec using the X19 back-end i can send you if you're interested?
If you decided to stick to a four-linked live axle - there are a few 'rallying' places you can buy complete 4-link kits for escorts and the like; these will save a lot of time!

#21 benno75

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Posted 20 December 2005 - 07:17 PM

G'day mate,
Yeah, thanks for the email! That article really explained the principles behind the set up. Definately going to go with it, and will be tracking down suppliers. Only question I have is the abililty of someone like myself completing the welding needed to mount the 4-link setup. Does the kit you are talking about include the box section's for mounting in the car or just the supsension components.
Still haven't found much on the x19 but will keep looking, also will check out this jag setup. But to be honest I think you could keep coming across options till you went square eye'd!! :cry:
Would love to see the photo's you mentioned! What gearbox does the set-up use? And do you know how hard it would be source parts for the x19?

Finally got the garage cleaned out, looked like the estate its in used it as a local dump! So should have it cleaned and prepped ready to roll the mini in and start ripping it apart soon!
Will post pic's of the build once its started.
Cheers
Benno

sd1 '82-'86 vitesse 190bhp and 220lbs of torque stock :lol:
starting to get excited!!! Just need to get this rear end sorted. Then it'll be on to engine mounts and eng position. flip front it, redesign the bulkhead transmission tunnel etc etc... :cheese:

#22 DaveCoxon

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Posted 20 December 2005 - 07:58 PM

I had a Vitesse for a few years. Loved it to bits.
Make sure what you're buying IS a vitesse lump in good order, and not some landrover / P6 lump with the injection system bolted up to it... Check the numbers and block carefully... :lol:

All said and done - I'm not a huge fan of the Rover V8. I like it - but it's got many shortfalls, and the power output - even when modified - can be dissapointing.
Still - for £500 for a vitesse engine, loom/ECU, tranny, etc you can't go too wrong.

That said - wherever the SD1 V8 will fit, so will the Chevrolet LS1. Now THIS IS an engine! All Alloy V8 - 300+hp out of the box, 6-spd manual or Auto trans mating right up to it - all yours for around $3000-5000 US - depending where you look!
http://cgi.ebay.com/...item=8023274692

Makes spending a heap of money rebuilding a tired Rover engine and a decent transmission to take the power seem pointless doesn't it!

I'll be importing an SD1 vitesse over here in a few years (waiting on the 25-year rule) and it'll be getting an LS1 conversion!

#23 benno75

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Posted 20 December 2005 - 09:06 PM

Don't think that i didn't contemplate selling my soul 4 one of those!!!
LS1 mmmmmm! :cry:
When I first thought of the V8 conversion, 1st thing was weight and straight away the LS1 popped up. But on a shell that only cost me £300 seems a bit over the top to put £3500 worth of donk under the bonnet!!!

This one is going to be done relatively inexpensively just so I can get the set-up right. Not too worried about horses at first, more worried about the front engine rwd balance set-up. The next one will be balls out :cheese: don't you worry!! :wink:

Did someone say fastest mini in the world!!!! :lol:

#24 Alburglar

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Posted 21 December 2005 - 02:16 AM

I've got some pics of a Rear-engined mini Vtec using the X19 back-end i can send you if you're interested?

That sounds interesting. Can I see?

#25 benno75

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Posted 28 December 2005 - 06:07 PM

Ok, so I'm re-igniting this topic as I have spent the christmas break getting the set-up of this beast clear in my head. And what I've found is atlas axles in any form are like gold! But having swung over to some of the mk1 mk2 escort sites they are the dogs ******* in terms of strength and can take the 220-250bhp I am hoping to churn out of the rover lump. So i have sent out feelers in search of an axle, anyone got one lying around?
But on to mini things, I can't find anyone that has 1. converted to rwd atlas axle 2. installed 4-link suspension plus watts linkage on said axle. 3. posted such efforts on the net!! So you ask is there a question in here somewhere? well yes, has anyone on here had such a suspension set up? Oh and any thought on how to mount the rear axle to the mini subframe or do I need to fabricate my own subframe?

Cheers
Benno




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