18 replies to this topic

[mk1leg]

so they have come round to the modern way now.........Dam n Blast I drilled holes in my rear valance for an old set I had......

[smev]

Ohh I wondered why mine were different, knew they were old but hadn't seen another set like them, I had a feeling the mystery pole I got with the car was related

[sixtyeight]

I would say minispares HI-LO ripspeed ones but you may need to machine them down if you are using red dot cones. I machined 5mm off mine and the alloy is well.. rather porous... not so sure about them now. Will post some pics up if people are interested.

[mab01uk]

This A3 size Hi-Lo Mk2 advert flyer is from the 1970's but was too big for my A4 scanner so I had to copy it in sections..........this is the Hi-Lo's inventor, the late Tony Chamings version patented in 1970 (also famous for pioneering and building the two 'Gomshall' spaceframe Super Saloon racing Mini's in the 1970's, as seen featured in Triple C magazine at the time. His second spaceframe Mini was featured in Mini Magazine March 2011).
I also have the later Ripspeed Mk3 Hi-Lo flyer which is very similar after Tony Chamings sold the rights and patent to Keith Ripp.









From Keith Calver:
"The Hi-Lo was developed many moons ago, the rights to manufacture originally being purchased by Keith Ripp of 'Ripspeed' fame, where they have remained since. The original design used a long hex key to wind the large threaded bolt into which the knuckle joints were fitted in and out of the cast aluminium cone and had a small hex grub screw in the cone body to 'locate' the adjuster bolt in place once ride height was set. Visually it was quite different from the later models as it was slightly 'lighter' and have four vertical ridges spaced 90 degrees apart (the locating screw was situated in one of these, around half way up it). This was remodelled after a few years, doing away with the locating grub screw - deemed unnecessary since there was no movement of the adjuster bolt once set even without the grub screw - and incorporated a drilled 'drain' hole to allow water collected on top of the cone to drain away instead of corroding the cone and adjuster bolt into uselessness. The advent of the rubber mounted front subframes using the massive tower retaining bolts eventually saw rise of the third incarnation of the Hi-Lo. To aid adjustment without recourse to removing the tower bolts, and indeed having to drill access holes in the rear valance for the long hex key to reach the adjuster in the rear Hi-Los, the new design sported hex-ended adjuster bolts and a locating nut. This now meant ride height could be relatively easily adjusted using a pair of spanners."

"The original design was patented, so the Hi-Lo was the only adjustable spring platform of its type for the Mini for many, many years. Then the patent laws changed. When the original patent ran out, Ripspeed saw no need to renew it on this product. In hindsight, a foolish move as every Tom, Dick and Harry has had a go at producing their own versions. Some good, some appalling. Whatever the actual visual differences, they all incorporate the same adjustable spring platform (cone), using a long distance piece at the rear to connect the knuckle to the cone. Consequently they are all fitted in very much the same manner as the originals."
https://www.calverst...ar-derivatives/

 

(Tony Chamings died in late 2010).

Edited by mab01uk, 15 June 2022 - 07:28 AM.