Ok I am finally getting serious with the project. Here are a couple of questions. by the way I am going to build it ground up starting with the subframes, brakes, etc, than the drivetrain and at last the body as I have very few possibilities for storage.
Here are my questions:
Coil over suspension, what will I remove from the original suspension and what parts will I still need after it is installed.
Metro 4 pot disc brake set up, again what do I need of the original brake set up and will I still need. Are the main (whatsitcalled where you connect the control arms, steering rack, etc too) the same?
What would you recommend to get with the rear and front subframe when buying used.
Front: Steering rack & pinion, the whatsitcalled from the disc brake setup question, the control arms, etc. Or just get it clean
Rear: The rear brakes and suspension, I will be buying coil over.
Sounds like a good project. For building up subframes for coil over suspension you build the frame the same as normal but omit the springs and trumpets (and bump stops sometimes, depends which coil over kit you use). The frame will be harder to manage in this built state than normal, as the suspension will have no support of any kind and will flop about all over the place (dangerous finger traps and stuff). Then you make some minor changes to the top arm to attach the spring/damper unit which is bolted to the body eventually. Same process at the rear, build up with normal trailing arms and stuff but leave out the cones and trumpets. And again it will have no support at all untill fitted to the body.
When buying the subframes buy them complete, and then clean up all the parts yourself. Getting parts reconditioned or doing it yourself is much easier if you already have core to use for exchange or repair, and the easiest way to get all the bits you will need is to buy them complete. Be prepared to have to replace the actual frame if you buy a second hand rear subframe as they don’t generally last long on a Mini.
I don’t know how it works over there, but if you built a car like this in this country (with many parts obtained from many sources, largely second hand or reconditioned) then it would need to be registered on a ‘Q’ plate. This means it is a car of unknown origin or unproven identity. There may be a similar requirement over there.
With regard to your proposed brake setup, As I understand if you have an 8.4" disc setup currently, all you need is the metro 4-pot calipers, and a suitable adapter to run the split hoses into your single brake line. Minispares sell one.
However, the efficiency of such a setup is only a marginal improvement over a standard 2-pot 8.4" setup. You’d be better off buying a decent set of pads and discs.
As for the Q plate thing. We don’t have that overhere. But you did raise a question. Are coil over suspensions even legal overhere. Gotta look into that.
I will not tell anyone that it is build up from different Mini’s. It will just be restored. Loads of Mini’s overhere are build up out of various cars over the years.
Oh yeah and why don’t rear subframes last long on Mini’s? Rust? If so it will be taken care of properly and probably stored inside most of the winter.
Yup, rust combined with poor pressing design. You won’t be able to fix one which has started rusting already as they rust through from the inside out. The pressings have lots of inacessible voids between them on the main lateral ‘legs’ of the frame which trap dirt and moisture and where they are never painted so they just fall apart eventually. BMH ones and later Mini ones might last longer due to the use of pre-galvanised steels, but certainly any fitted up to the early 90’s will rot out eventually. And pattern part subframes rarely fit well. The best thing if you want one which will last is to buy a new BMH one and fill as much of it as you can with Waxoyl.
Oh and for the brakes I think you will need to use Metro drive flanges as well as Metro callipers with ERA bolts as the disc runs in a different place on the Metro so you need the right flange to hold the disc in the right place in the calliper. You need to have the wheel locating lugs ground off of the flanges. You need the ERA bolts as the Metro callipers are metric and the Mini uprights are imperial, so you need a bolt with a Meric shank and an imperial thread.
You would get a much bigger improvement in braking by using all standard Mini running gear and some aftermarket alloy 4 pot callipers from KAD/Minisport/Minispares.
Wow thanks a lot. Well for the moment I am sticking with the not rotten (so far) used subframe which I will build up and will probably be able to be used for another couple of years. When it is going to rot I will eventually buy a new one.
Front subframes a lot better? No hidden places I should look for when buying one? Ok sounds like I better save up an extra buck and go for the aftermarket alloy 4 pot calliper.
I just asked the guy for a price for the front subframe with suspension, steering rack & pinion, disc brake set up, rear subframe with suspension.
All I am really looking for are a non rotten front & rear subframe with a good steering rack. All the bearings and joints can be rotten I don’t care they are easily replaceable.
