Matt's Guide to...
The amount of time you can spend doing things to the Mini is infinite and my life span is finite so obviously I cannot do all the things I'd like to and still maintain a social life. But here are my experiences of a few of the things that I think maybe of interest and seem to come up in discussion on the internet and in general discussion.
-
Conversion from Hydrolastic suspension (under construction)
Metro 4 pot disc conversion.
Removing an engine (under construction)
- Installing Bucket Seats
1. Conversion from Hydrolastic to Dry Cone Suspension
 |
 |
The main difference between Hydrolastic and Dry Cone suspension primarily has to do with the amount of space each unit takes up and way the suspension mounting points are designed for each type of unit. The Hydrolastic units take up a bit more space inside the suspension towers at the front and the (near) horizontal mounting points on the rear.
Being slightly wider than a standard dry rubber cone there is a need for some fabrication to ensure that the rubber cone sits properly in the location where the hydrolastic unit once sat. The other possibly solution is to find a wreck of a Mini with dry cone suspension and nick the front end from it. The towers will suit a dry cone and you can just swap them over. I believe there is no difference between the two as far as bolt on points are concerned. Though I have been told that there are difference in the way the front shocks bolt on (this will require more investigation as I unfortunately do not have two different Mini's to compare. I have subsequently found out the answer. Basically a dry cone has different upper and lower control arms.
Note: I picked up mint condition back and front dry cone subframes. Once I get the other ones out I will compare.
Anyway I will pick up a set of subframes for both and we will see...Photos to follow.
