28 replies to this topic

[Mini Mad James]

Got these springs from minispares mate, theyre abit on the expensive side but i thought id try them out, theyre for the front and rear subframes but i havnt finished my front subby yet because im having problems with my top arms

I suppose the main advantages are they dont sag over time like the normal rubber cones, and the ride is supposed to be greatly improved but i will let you all know once i have the thing running.. They also look pretty

There are rumours that they can fall out... I have worked out that if you have some decent rubber bump stops/buffers on the front it is impossible for them to fall out, but the rears are abit more awkward and do like to keep falling out every time you raise the radius arm too high you have to come up with some sort of clever mod to stop this i will show you what i have in mind later

[ed4ran]

Shorter damper? or just a strap to limit the dampers length.

[annodomini2]

Maybe I am misunderstanding what you mean, but with the spring under compression, why would it fall out?

Or do you mean when you jack the rear of the car up?

[ed4ran]

Yeah he means when the radius arm drops from jacking the car, the spring falls out.
Like if you got some good air over a small bridge

[M44K TS]

Like if you got some good air over a small bridge

Lets face it, the majority of us have at some point lol

I've been looking at the coil springs but not convinced yet, i mean they aren't very big so that suggests to me that they're gonna be quite stiff.

I'd be interested to hear your verdict on them once the car's on the road.

Edited by M44K TS, 23 July 2007 - 04:30 PM.

[Mini Mad James]

Yeah he means when the radius arm drops from jacking the car, the spring falls out

Yea exactly, they wont stop falling out every time i move the frame and i have no doubt that they can fall out while driving especially if i was ever accidently to get air Clicky

The spring is no longer under compression if one of the rear wheels gets airborne which is quite likely so you really need a way of fixing the spring to the subframe or hi/lo... It might not be much of a problem anyway as my avo shock absorbers are set up for lowered use anyway, I might try drilling some small holes in the subframe and using a couple of jubilee clips or i could also try and fix the spring to the hi/lo's as i noticed that seems to get it to sit properly too

The springs are the same size as a rew rubber donuts but seem just as stiff if not stiffer, they are the red semi-race type you can also get a blue soft version and a green full race rock hard type.

Edited by Mini Mad James, 23 July 2007 - 10:10 PM.

[Mini Mad James]

Right... havnt updated in ages because ive been so busy with work but im now aiming to get the mini on wheels at least by christmas

Ive put the suspension on hold now so i can continue finishing the rest of the restoration

Obviously im not goint to paint it in my mums driveway so after begging my mate Paul to lend me his trailer i got my uncle (another Paul) to tow it to his house for me where there is plenty of space, a big compressor and a welder



After my uncle gave me a quick lesson with the mig welder i got to work welding up all the holes i could find, there turned out to be alot more than i expected... the ones underneath needed the most attention



Once i had done the welding i finished off the underneath, i used underseal over the hammerite which worked well



I decided to paint the inside with hammerite too just to add abit more protection, first i took off the old tar like sound insulation off the floor with a heat gun, scraper and big wire brush, id be adding some better sound insulation later...



Then i got to practice for the first time with the paint gun...
It was fun if im honest was messy though



The week after i got to work with the grinder, and after abit of dent filling, loads of sanding disks and two wire brush attatchments...



Next time i do this ill get some proper paint stripping discs... or better yet get it sandblasted, its alot more work than it looks to do it this way, the discs i used were also far too coarse and left a few marks, im going to need alot of primer

Anyway i rubbed it all down with some wet/dry to try and get it smoother (and to get rid of some rust that had appeared after i had left it bare a little too long) masked up the boot because i want it to remain black, and then i gave it the first layer of primer







Once ive got all the marks out (which could take a while) ill paint the top coat... ill let you guess what colour then after that im going to stick a rebuilt 998cc in until i can get my 1293 turbo finished

All comments welcome let me know what you think, but do bear in mind this is my first ever restoration and im still learning will update soon

Edited by Mini Mad James, 28 November 2007 - 09:41 PM.

[panelbeaterpeter]

Lookin good! I guess, black or silver..

[munnracing]

Lookin good! I guess, black or silver..

i guess pale green

[Mini Mad James]

Lookin good! I guess, black or silver..

i guess pale green

Ha ha keep guessing, im thinking of black go-faster stripes too...

[mini_kel]

Nice project keep up the good work!!

[Mini Mad James]

Hello again, I know i said i would update soon but i've been so busy with work all this time i havnt had much of a chance to work on my mini

If anyone else is planning on stripping their mini to the metal i seriously suggest you get these paint stripper discs i came across from cromwell, theyre great!



After getting another few of layers of primer on the mini and a LOT of rubbing down to get the dents out, my rollcage turned up from minispares. I had to squeeze it together with ratchet straps to get it in and i decided to modify the rear seat buckets to make things easier.



I Welded the spreader plates which the cage bolts on the inside of the mini, this is supposed to be safer.





With the cage in and masked up my uncle painted the first coat on for me, after much thought i decided on Suzuki GSXR Yellow





Let me know what you think, I have some black go-faster stripes to go with it and ill be putting the doors back on soon

[sweetser]

looks very nice mate love the colour

[Down&Out]

you dont see a lot of yellow minis. good one