New to the site. My current project is a mini 1000 the rear sub frame is rotten rotten rotten. I know I can purchase a new one but does anyone have a decent used one?
How about options, I have seen pictures and have heard of people modifying there race car rear sub frames.
What are they placing under these cars?
Can I fab a sub Frame using the existing trailing arms and coil over shocks?
This is not my first kick at the can I have built several VW busses and beetles most recently a 71 Midget!

 

Yep, rear subframes on these cars can get cancer quite quickly. Just last fall I replaced the rear subframe on my '73 with a new one that I had powdercoated. It's a pretty straight forward process ... you shouldn't have any troubles.

As for mods I know some of the serious Mini racers use coil overs. With these cars there is a large amount of products for the VTEC conversions and I know a lot of people swap in different rear ends in place of the stock Mini subframe/trailing arms. I would do some Google searches for classic mini vtec swap rear end parts. IIRC MiniMania sells a lot of that stuff. I personally haven't looked into that so can't offer any other help.

Good luck!

 

What year Mini, they change in 91 and 97. Pre 91 do not have hangers. Also very early ones had a hydorlastic subframe. Also the Automatic has a different subframe as well.

Your best bet is Mini Mania, Mini Spares or MiniSport for new or aftermarket. If your looking for used try ebay or Seven Mini ( http://www.7ent.com/ )

Be careful with coil overs, if they are not set up properly the tend to pop out of place. They are usually used for track because they give a very stiff suspension thus little movement.

 

Sorry I was thinking of the coils that replace the Rubber dampers.
Coil overs will need the shell reinforced in order to handle all the weight being distributed to one point. Also theres an Axelbeam that can be used to replace the subframe. It's much lighter.

http://www.minispares-online.co.uk/?...4&prod_id=2538

 

Classic 71 mini! Sorry for the confusion!

 

Wait a minute in you in Detroit I'm across the bridge in Windsor and am in need of some mini sfuff as well have a ton of other stuff!

 

Just saw the rear axel NICE Any one with measurements I;'m sure I can Fab the axel Myself!

 

Yup in the D. Still looking for shops and parts myself. Found a local one I'm going to check out. I'll have my mini paid off and on the road by April. I know I'll need new tires though and possibly a tune up. We'll have to meet up in the spring or something.

BTW I'm origionally from Trenton Ont.

 

71 was the year they did away with the hydorlastic suspension, so depending on when in 71 it was made you'll have one of the two suspensions. hydorlastic or a standard rubber cone suspension. Since it's a 71 your front suspension will have two tower bolts instead of the big single one, however I believe after 71 all the rear suspensions were the same, so that will help when looking. Bigger selection.

 

Rubber suspention rear and single bolt front Who>'s to say that the ownership is for this car!

 

http://s457.photobucket.com/albums/qq298/randyr02/
Link to my Photo bucket You can see my project pictures here!

 

There are some mis-information posted above about the Mini subframes.

The Mini started in 1959 with the rubber(dry) suspension then went to the hydrolastic(wet) suspension in late 1964. The hydro system continued in production until 1971 in the Cooper Ss while some Minis reverted to the dry system in 1969 and others such as the Pickup, Van and Estate were never fitted with the hydro system. After 1971 all UK made Minis were back to dry suspension.

First, regarding the front subframe, the single bolt-per-side subframe did not appear until the MK IV(1976), so that a front subframe from a 1959-67 would be no different than a front subframe from 1971-76. Also only the front subframes are different between automatic and manual models, the rear subframes are the same.

Now to the rear subframes, while there are slight differences between the hydrolastic(wet) and rubber(dry) rear subframes, a hydrolastic rear subframe could be easily swapped to a dry car. It'll probably be best to go with a new rear subframe since finding a used rear subframe is hard because the rear subframes are prone to rusting. If the rear subframe is really rusted there is a possibility that the mounting points in the boot floor and the heel board are highly corroded. I would recommend lots of soaking of the 8 bolts with PB Blaster, Liquid Wrench or WD40; and careful removal since the nuts in the heel board are captive nuts and you won't want to snap them off.

 

All the mounting points have been rebuilt In fact the car is on the rotisery as we speak and has new floors front and back with the trunk reinforced and patched.
The rear is a dry sub but I an wondering if i purchase a set of coil overs has anyone built there own rear sub frame to acomodater the coilovers!