10 replies to this topic

[Steve-O 2014]

Upon starting my boot floor restoration I found the rear subframe was bent and rotten so a new one from MiniSpares was ordered with new bolts and rubbers


I had a feeling if the old subframe was bent then the arch to floor brackets probably wouldn't line up with the mounts of the new subframe and guess what, they didn't..

So would it be best to cut the old ones off, do all the boot floor repairs etc, mount the subframe and drill the new rear mount holes to use as a guide to weld new inner arch to boot floor brackets on?

Thanks 👍

[Steve-O 2014]

 20230805_162908.jpg   34.99K   0 downloads

 20230805_162913.jpg   28.94K   0 downloads

[Steve-O 2014]

I'm guessing this is the correct fitting direction of the mount as shown on MiniSpares?

 Screenshot_20230805_175336_Chrome.jpg   36.46K   3 downloads

[Steve-O 2014]

 Screenshot_20230805_185832_eBay.jpg   39.42K   10 downloads

Maybe the minispares image is the wrong way around? Just saw this one and it's the other way around...

[stuart bowes]

If the brackets don't line up as they are maybe give consideration to the fact the arches might be out of alignment, how far off are we talking. And is that side to side or front to back

If you're cutting the floor out like I did on mine it's fairly inevitable the arches will move out of position a bit and you could use the subframe fixings and a ratchet strap get it back into the right place then weld in some temporary bracing, or my option which was to gradually weld in the new floor as I went along checking positioning as I pull the sides into place

[Steve-O 2014]

If the brackets don't line up as they are maybe give consideration to the fact the arches might be out of alignment, how far off are we talking. And is that side to side or front to back

If you're cutting the floor out like I did on mine it's fairly inevitable the arches will move out of position a bit and you could use the subframe fixings and a ratchet strap get it back into the right place then weld in some temporary bracing, or my option which was to gradually weld in the new floor as I went along checking positioning as I pull the sides into place

Will try them tips👍


Fitted the subframe mounts the other way like In the Image above and they near enough line up, just slightly off by a few mm on the passenger side but not much.

[Homersimpson]

 

If the brackets don't line up as they are maybe give consideration to the fact the arches might be out of alignment, how far off are we talking. And is that side to side or front to back

If you're cutting the floor out like I did on mine it's fairly inevitable the arches will move out of position a bit and you could use the subframe fixings and a ratchet strap get it back into the right place then weld in some temporary bracing, or my option which was to gradually weld in the new floor as I went along checking positioning as I pull the sides into place

Will try them tips


Fitted the subframe mounts the other way like In the Image above and they near enough line up, just slightly off by a few mm on the passenger side but not much.

 

Every mini i've ever done a subframe in (dry or hydrolastic, MK1 to SPI) they have always had to have a little bit of pushing and shoving to get the holes to line up.  I always bolt the front to the heel board and then use an old screwdriver pushed through from underneath to get the subframe in position before dropping one of the bolts in and then removing the screwdriver and doing the other one.

 

All cars of this era need a bit of persuasion to get everything to line up.

[sonikk4]

 

 

If the brackets don't line up as they are maybe give consideration to the fact the arches might be out of alignment, how far off are we talking. And is that side to side or front to back

If you're cutting the floor out like I did on mine it's fairly inevitable the arches will move out of position a bit and you could use the subframe fixings and a ratchet strap get it back into the right place then weld in some temporary bracing, or my option which was to gradually weld in the new floor as I went along checking positioning as I pull the sides into place

Will try them tips


Fitted the subframe mounts the other way like In the Image above and they near enough line up, just slightly off by a few mm on the passenger side but not much.

 

Every mini i've ever done a subframe in (dry or hydrolastic, MK1 to SPI) they have always had to have a little bit of pushing and shoving to get the holes to line up.  I always bolt the front to the heel board and then use an old screwdriver pushed through from underneath to get the subframe in position before dropping one of the bolts in and then removing the screwdriver and doing the other one.

 

All cars of this era need a bit of persuasion to get everything to line up.

 

 

The above sums it up completely. There is always a bit of tweaking pushing shoving to get everything to line up.

 

I built a jig to ensure my boot floor, new wheel arches,subframe mounts and heelboard were as close to spec measurement wise as possible and even then i had issues with the l/h front trunnion lining up when i went to fit my new subbie. Thats mini life.

 

And yes i tried this jig against another car for a comparrison so i knew it was as good as it could be.

[stuart bowes]

absolutely if we're talking about mm's (and old cars in general just as they are) then there's going to be some wiggling and persuasion to get things into place

 

from the original discussion a while back I was originally under the impression that there was a dented subframe and potentially whatever caused that may have also caused a warped boot floor and wheel arch

 

but yes if you're only mm's off, see above 

 

obviously back in those days cars were just slapped together as accurately as possible, we're not talking laser guided alignment by robot arms 

Edited by stuart bowes, 08 August 2023 - 11:23 AM.

[Jarvis_SPI]

I would take a look at https://britishcarbr...9/akd-4935.pdf, starting page 301 and check the dimensions for the rear subframe mounting points relative to a reference plane. 6' spirit levels and plumb bobs come in handly here.....

[Lplus]

Screenshot_20230805_185832_eBay.jpg

Maybe the minispares image is the wrong way around? Just saw this one and it's the other way around...

Mine are fitted as your photograph