14 replies to this topic

[meetthespeakers]

Tried digging around, and I couldn't really come up with anything on these forums or else where. I vaguely remember seeing some Mini's at the track with raised subframes to lower the height of the car. I assume I would have similar obstacles as a Sprint car with hood clearance. Possibly raise exhaust/shifter tunnel, remake lower/front mounts, shave off the top mounts. I wanted to try something different and gain ground clearance of gearbox, at ride height it would still have "factory geometry" while getting it lower, really low. Possibly laying the front on the ground. This will be the forth car I have fabricated air suspension from scratch, and I have some ideas kicking around. Anyone have thoughts on this or pics of this mod I am describing?

 

Probably seems daft to most, but the proportions are not where I want them to be on the Estate. I want the arches sat higher on the body, and the wheels tucked up in there. Rear I was going to tub, and then turret to fit the air sleeves. Almost do something along the lines of a rear beam setup.

 

Here is my 61 Morris Minor early in the process...

 

[Ro8bieg]

Cool :) I am of no help but cool moggy

[DugganC17]

could you not change the rubber dohnut with a heavy duty air bags (ive seen some about the right size on a tailboard on one of our lorries) which you could then raise and lower the suspension that way and would be fairly easy as similar to the old hydrolastic setups on ealr minis

 

hope you understand what im babbling on about

[meetthespeakers]

Yes, but I am planning on actually doing something more like a air sleeve/strut on the front. The bag would be ideal because you get more travel, but I was going to do it more a long the lines of how a coil over conversion setup is. I would assume the axle would hit the top of the hole before it gets where I want it to go, maybe I am wrong, plus ball joint angle as well. Maybe I should pull the springs I have now and see how far it can go "stock" wise first. 

[Mini 360]

I can't help you but I cant wait to see what you come up with.  That Moggy is heroic!

[Jayme 1275]

Hi mate 

 

miglia's and similar racers use a technique where the remove the rubber from the sub frame and fit a spacer on the top of the cross member where the bolt goes it to stop it bottoming out on thread. think i heard they get 20mm from this but to me that seems a bit optimistic id say more 10 when you think about the rubber your removing. 

 

regarding air suspension i came across this tonight in a link my brother sent me 

 

 

you can see that when its fully down it looks to be a good 100mm of the floor you would need to tuck the rim which could be a problem , aswell as this its got a complete different design to the mini''s standard suspension. they have fabricated a lower arm from what looks like some 20x20 box section.

 

hope that helps

 

Jayme  

[meetthespeakers]

I spoke with them 2 years ago, and probably again a year ago. Honestly it ain't bad there original and v2 kit... price is a bit out there. I understand low production etc, because I do the same thing. But with that said I bagged my Astro for probably $800 using new components, with stainless tank, dual viair compressors, etc. I have not seen this new A-Arms setup, must be new. But I think it is overkill, and not sure what it solves verses there original kit. With that being said.... I still don't think it would get me low enough. 

 

 

My wagon needs more low.

 

 

Getting there. 

 

 

I was thinking more along the lines of fabricating this.

Edited by meetthespeakers, 05 December 2013 - 10:49 PM.

[Jayme 1275]

I spoke with them 2 years ago, and probably again a year ago. Honestly it ain't bad there original and v2 kit... price is a bit out there. I understand low production etc, because I do the same thing. But with that said I bagged my Astro for probably $800 using new components, with stainless tank, dual viair compressors, etc. I have not seen this new A-Arms setup, must be new. But I think it is overkill, and not sure what it solves verses there original kit. With that being said.... I still don't think it would get me low enough. 

 

 

My wagon needs more low.

 

 

Getting there. 

 

 

I was thinking more along the lines of fabricating this.

 

yea i think its a new method they have of cutting production costs, as i remember their old kit had quite a few billet parts so id say thats why it was so expensive. 

 

$800???? anyone i know that have bagged vw's etc have all paid atleast £1200 for a mix of new and old parts. 

 

be interesting to see what you come up with 

[meetthespeakers]

I watched the video again of the new setup. I like that they are actually trying to do this, but it just doesn't hit the right spot for me. I don't like the placement of the bags, it's hard to tell if it would interfere with lock to lock, kinda looks like depending on tire/wheel combo it may scrub before lock. But I just think there is a easier way to do this. 

 

And yes, $800, granted we are talking 4 bags/cups, 1/2" lines, old skool smc 1/2" valves, dual 480 viair compressors, and a 7 gallon tank, had a 12 gallon that was ridiculous to fill.

 

Anyway, I am gonna go ahead and pick up some air struts if I come across a good deal, almost bought a set of 4 but they sold... $450.... shame.

[Mini 360]

Hi mate 

 

miglia's and similar racers use a technique where the remove the rubber from the sub frame and fit a spacer on the top of the cross member where the bolt goes it to stop it bottoming out on thread. think i heard they get 20mm from this but to me that seems a bit optimistic id say more 10 when you think about the rubber your removing. 

 

regarding air suspension i came across this tonight in a link my brother sent me 

 

 

you can see that when its fully down it looks to be a good 100mm of the floor you would need to tuck the rim which could be a problem , aswell as this its got a complete different design to the mini''s standard suspension. they have fabricated a lower arm from what looks like some 20x20 box section.

 

hope that helps

 

Jayme  

That looks very backyard engineering.  For the price it doesnt look developed enough to me.  You can get a decent setup for any other car from a much more reputable manufacturer for less.  Says it all.  Nic idea but not sure if I could trust it.

[Jayme 1275]

 

Hi mate 

 

miglia's and similar racers use a technique where the remove the rubber from the sub frame and fit a spacer on the top of the cross member where the bolt goes it to stop it bottoming out on thread. think i heard they get 20mm from this but to me that seems a bit optimistic id say more 10 when you think about the rubber your removing. 

 

regarding air suspension i came across this tonight in a link my brother sent me 

 

 

you can see that when its fully down it looks to be a good 100mm of the floor you would need to tuck the rim which could be a problem , aswell as this its got a complete different design to the mini''s standard suspension. they have fabricated a lower arm from what looks like some 20x20 box section.

 

hope that helps

 

Jayme  

That looks very backyard engineering.  For the price it doesnt look developed enough to me.  You can get a decent setup for any other car from a much more reputable manufacturer for less.  Says it all.  Nic idea but not sure if I could trust it.

 

 

thats what i thought, some of the kits on the market atm are insane.

[eeae6000]

I spoke with them 2 years ago, and probably again a year ago. Honestly it ain't bad there original and v2 kit... price is a bit out there. I understand low production etc, because I do the same thing. But with that said I bagged my Astro for probably $800 using new components, with stainless tank, dual viair compressors, etc. I have not seen this new A-Arms setup, must be new. But I think it is overkill, and not sure what it solves verses there original kit. With that being said.... I still don't think it would get me low enough. 

 

 

My wagon needs more low.

 

 

Getting there. 

 

 

I was thinking more along the lines of fabricating this.

are those the 13 x 8 4x4 wheels from ebay on your wagon?

[meetthespeakers]

They are aero race wheels 13x7. They are staggered at backspacing 2" and 4".

[eeae6000]

did you get them off ebay or from them, i take it the 4" are in the back

 

are you running stock front and rear subframes?

[meetthespeakers]

Yes at the moment I am running stock front and rear subframes, however I am thinking about modding both. The Aero Race wheels I actually got from Summit Online. They were rather cheap, I believe $68 at the time, I just painted the centers black.