|
|
Aug 20, 2015 11:48:56 GMT
|
Hi Everyone!
Its the usual story I suppose, long time lurker, first time getting involved, as my current daily is not retro by any means, I've owned some ropey retro-ish cars in the past but here is my first retro love affair that wont just be used and abused
Photos first:
This was an entirely impulse buy after I saw it on Ebay and had bought it within a couple of hours, love at first sight would be an apt description I think...
Checklist of what I was looking for: Sprite with a good 1275cc engine - Check Good body with no rust - Check (subframe in great condition, full underseal, no visible surface rust) Loud - Double Check (sports exhaust and decat pipe, hurrah) Makes people smile - Check
Unfortunately there was a catch, Clutch bearing between crank and flywheel has gone so the clutch was contaminated with engine oil, but on the bright side I knew a bloke who had a garage and the pulling tool so that's currently where it is, i'm eagerly awaiting its return so I can take it for a good run
Plans are currently to keep the looks as clean as possible for now on the exterior but to start work upgrading the interior, you don't notice what you use every day until it isn't there, radio for example, or even an aerial
I've a couple of questions for the Mini connoisseurs out there that i'm sure will start arguments so i'll post them with a cup of tea and wait for opinions; First question: Cones or springs? Second question: Turns left nice and easy, very heavy to turn right, and yes I've checked the tire pressures Third question: Lows? Last Question: Is there a good sports cat that wont take out the noise/extra couple of horses but still get me through the next MOT?
This little guy wont be used every day and will hopefully soon have some available dry storage for the winter months, quick obligatory pic of the daily, don't judge too harshly;
Progress to follow ...
|
|
|
|
|
steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,565
|
|
Aug 20, 2015 12:26:56 GMT
|
Looks like a nice one. I kept the cones on mine and lowered it slightly. For use on the road they handle so well with decent bushes and shocks you really only loose out by lowering them a lot. I found the ride isn't that bad on half decent roads but they lack suspension travel at standard height, lowering them will make things worse. Fit new or solid front subframe mounts, old rubber ones don't really do anything to help the steering feel and allow the subframe to move about a lot. The steering problem sounds like a geometry problem, how well does it drive in a straight line ? There are lots of greasable joints on Minis so that might be something to check
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 20, 2015 12:53:55 GMT
|
mini suspension is mini suspension - you either like it or don't. I'd just put adjustable cones on it and some decent lowered shocks if you want some stance.
personally, i'd recommend fitting solid top and front mounts and fit poly bush subframe to floorplan one. it takes out some of the vibration whilst keeping the front end rigid. For the back fit uprated rubber bushes (ie not polybushes but upgraded rubber with a higher shore rating from minispares). Handling is better if the rear frame has a little movement.
about the exhaust just put a standard cat back on with a rc40 cat back single box system. rc40 1 3/4" ID system is good for up to 120bhp and is the optimal system for minis.
|
|
|
|
Ryannn
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,421
|
|
Aug 20, 2015 20:24:52 GMT
|
That's a beauty!
I've recently changed all the cones on mine and the ones which came out were awful, people seem to forget that they deteriorate with age as well as mileage.
I'm pretty sure that you can get a carb'd mini through an MOT without a cat. Don't take my word without checking the MOT guidelines but my 1994 car hasn't had a cat in my ownership.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 20, 2015 20:56:42 GMT
|
That Mini looks fantastic!
When I was restoring my Mini I decided to stick with original rubber cones all round but upgraded the suspension with polybushes (where appropriate), hi-lo's, Gaz adjustable shocks. Never regretted it - the Mini's handling is just sublime. Reminds me of a VX220 that I once owned. I believe rubber cones are more comfy than steel springs, so its cones for me.
Hi-Lo's - maybe. I set mine after the new cones had settled and never changed them since, even though the car sits a little high. It can be a real faff trying to set the height accurately though.
Not sure about heaviness turning right but its definitely a fault. Possibly brakes binding on one side? If you've tried all the "obvious" stuff I'd suspect the diff - which is the weak part in the Mini drivetrain.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great project mate. And nice to see a fellow resident of Swinton
|
|
|
|
philsford
Part of things
Posts: 733
Club RR Member Number: 100
|
|
Aug 21, 2015 18:14:19 GMT
|
Mini's have a habit of sitting higher at the back than the front. I would just even it out by dropping the back slightly. The lower you go the more they bounce and the smaller the tyre profile equals the same. I have had 2 low mins on 175/50/13 and although one was lower than the other they were both annoying after the novelty has worn off. Ok if you use them occationally. If using regular as said above I would go 10" wheels and even the height out front to back. Mini's drive best on 10" wheels.
Nice looking example you have. These 90s ones are probably the best at rusting so you have done well to find a tidy one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 21, 2015 23:55:34 GMT
|
Has the body ever been touched? Looks very tidy.
You could also consider new Innocenti rubber cones, these are have an even larger progressive rate than the normal rubbers. Although you'll have to machine the Hi-Los down otherwise you end up with an higher ride than standard.
Looks like you already have the 12x6J alloys.
So add 165/60R12 Yokos, decent shocks, hi-los and the cones and have a very sorted Mini.
But otherwise maybe this one should be kept as 90s time capsule.
|
|
Click picture for more
|
|
|
|
|
I'm glad to see that it's well received, still in the garage at the moment sadly, had to order the crank bushing from somewhere in Cornwall and it seems to be being delivered by horseback its taking that long!
It's had 'light' restoration so its had a new floor pan on the drivers side and then full under seal treatment etc. along with a respray on the offside front quarter, as you can see from the pics they got some on the tyres, why they weren't removed I've no idea, but saves me a job I suppose
General consensus seems to be to stick with cones so I'll be doing just that, its already got 12's and yoko's so cant ask for much more there in terms of the handling, also found that one of the rear brakes was binding, which how now been sorted so should resolve the 'turning right' issue, hopefully
The alloys have screw in air valves that slowly leak air out, all of the time, good job i've got an air compressor!
Just need a time machine now to fast forward to getting it back on the road...
|
|
|
|
BT
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,772
|
|
Aug 22, 2015 10:53:20 GMT
|
Good luck with your newly acquired mini. Once you've had one, that's it! Ten years on I still own two!
There is a very good long term (3000+ mile) review of the springs on TMF. Think they can be had for around £220, but then these have to be paired with hi-lo's which can do you another £100 with knuckles.
I run Gaz coil overs on mine, Tubbed and turreted on the rear, also rear coilovers allow you to run a rear beam as opposed to a rear subframe which can lighten the rear up substantially. Should be able to pick up a set for sub £300. My Gaz ones were bought, never used and sold on to me for £200
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 22, 2015 11:55:39 GMT
|
Springs seem to me to be just something else thats been made to sell , not really any improvement or real reason to fit them . Rubber cones do the job well .
|
|
|
|
BT
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,772
|
|
Aug 22, 2015 13:03:30 GMT
|
It is a reoccurring question on a lot of the mini boards. The general consensus seems to be that a good quality cone will be good enough for most applications.
The only reason I have run coilovers is because both cars are 16v and are regularly used competitively. Coilovers allow me the ability to swap spring rates in respect to engine modifications and setups.
If you do go with cones combine them with hi-lo's. Your current cones will have sagged and compressed as I'm sure I read someone above mention.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 22, 2015 18:05:39 GMT
|
It is a reoccurring question on a lot of the mini boards. The general consensus seems to be that a good quality cone will be good enough for most applications. The only reason I have run coilovers is because both cars are 16v and are regularly used competitively. Coilovers allow me the ability to swap spring rates in respect to engine modifications and setups. If you do go with cones combine them with hi-lo's. Your current cones will have sagged and compressed as I'm sure I read someone above mention. Yes i understand the need for coilovers on some cars . I just seem to think the cone replacement springs seem unnecessary really . Kind of re-inventing the wheel when it does not need re-inventing !
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 6, 2015 15:14:28 GMT
|
He finally returns after 2 and a half weeks of waiting for the parts to arrive, be machined wrong, another part ordered and then actually machined correctly.... managed to get out for a decent run today, 50 mile round trip Couple of pics: New exhaust being ordered this week to replace the peashooter front half of the system, stage 1, air filter and new carb needle to bring it up to the cooper standard 60hp! He goes pretty well anyway, 50hp in such a small shell makes for good fun, that being said I was surprised what a huge difference a new clutch made, power goes down well but there is always room for a little more Tried to jack it up to have a good look at the current exhaust but was confused by where the axle stands would go as the front subframe when it has a jack underneath leaves no room to put the axle stand as the jack is in the way, what is the trick to it other than borrowing some ramps?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 26, 2015 16:49:50 GMT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 26, 2015 17:18:25 GMT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 26, 2015 18:33:45 GMT
|
Like this. Mate had a sprite back in the day and I've a few minis in the past, the last was a '92 cooper. Like the boot floor idea, why did I never think of that?
|
|
|
|
GT4ME
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,729
|
|
Sept 26, 2015 21:43:58 GMT
|
Good work.
|
|
|
|
ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,194
Club RR Member Number: 170
|
|
Sept 27, 2015 11:35:40 GMT
|
Lovely progress there. It reminds me of what I could have done to mine! Great choice of exhaust. I bought an LCB and RC40 system for my Mini but was warned by many to go for a Freeflow manifold to aid torque lower down. How exactly has the driveability improved? . Have fun, and it certainly has me hankering after one again!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 27, 2015 12:53:59 GMT
|
Thanks! Its a Maniflow system with an RC40 backbox, its improved responsiveness all over, engine spins up faster than before and it isn't restricted on the top end, it used to scream its head off from about mid way through the revs with little shove but now its much more even, it'll still potter around all day in 4th at 30, no problems, used to have a lumpy idle too like it just wasn't getting the air, no such issues any more After reading up on David Vizard and watching his videos I took his advice and went for intake and exhaust first, defintely gave me the confidence to go for a longer drive, managed a 80 mile drive this morning
|
|
|
|
|