5 replies to this topic

[Notay]

Hi

I added a new complete assembly floor to my mini and this has been welded in. I braced the shell and made a jig to replicate the rear subframe which was left in place as the floor was removed. The jig was used to align the new floor.

I have measured diagonally from the top front subframe mounts to the rear healboard using plumb bobs and there is only a tiny 2mm difference diagonally - some may argue that there will be at least +/- 0.5mm of error in my measurements. But anyway I am happy that the floor is true to the front of the car.

 

I also repaired the boot floor sides and back with new panels using m machine panels - so new rear subframe boot floor mounting holes. The boot floor side sections were replaced one side at a time and the jig was used to locate the holes. After I repaired the boot floor, I also added complete new rear arches and a similar jig was used to align these to original. Again, one arch done at a time. 

 

Now when I offer my subframe up, the rear boot mountings are out of align by approx. 6mm when compared to the trunions. I have also tried with a new heritage subframe and the same results. I have measured diagonally from the healboard to the boot mountings and again 5-6mm difference.

 

I suspect my jig had got out of align from constant removing and replacing. Again, a diagonal measurement on this shows a similar difference.

 

Will it be ok to just drill in some new holes in the boot floor seen as though the healboard to front of the car is correct? And will this have implications on the position of the wheel to the arch and consequently the damper position to the hub?

 

You can see in the pictures below the difference below the car. I have also mocked up the position of the mounting supports and you can see the distance to the arch.

 

I am really stuck on this. Please help. Many thanks in advance.

 

Notay

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Edited by Notay, 11 February 2014 - 08:52 PM.

[Wise Old Elf]

Maybe the new bushes are thicker than the old ones and this is causing the issues?

[Notay]

Hi thanks for your reply. the original bushes I had were poly and so are the new ones. I checked the thickness before fitment and both were the same size. 

I just don't know what implications there would be if I re-drilled the boot mounts. Really confused.

[Wise Old Elf]

In my opinion as long as the subframe is centered at the front and back I would redrill the holes.

 

I am having the same issues with mine but my old bushes are rubber and much thinner than the new poly ones. I made templates of all mounting holes but I think I will redrill them.

[RedRuby]

It looks as if you have the subframe bolted in on the front mountings, if this is the case fit your radius arms without the brakes and hubs and test fit the dampers and if everything lines up re-drill the rear holes up through the trunnions mounts then bolt In the boot bracket and weld them in place. Weld up the edges of the remaining original holes to the boot brackets so that there is no water traps to rot out in future.

[Notay]

It looks as if you have the subframe bolted in on the front mountings, if this is the case fit your radius arms without the brakes and hubs and test fit the dampers and if everything lines up re-drill the rear holes up through the trunnions mounts then bolt In the boot bracket and weld them in place. Weld up the edges of the remaining original holes to the boot brackets so that there is no water traps to rot out in future.

that is correct, the front of the subframe is bolted to healboard - no problems there. 

I shall give that a go. Hopefully there should be no major issue. 

Thanks