Hey all I am new here and have a couple of quick questions. I just picked up my new 1979 Austin Mini today and noticed that it leans significantly to the right side. Doesn't seem to affect handling or anything else it just looks bad. I am sure it is just normal wear on the suspension but is there something I can do as a quick fix? Oh and what should I expect as the upper cruising speed out of the little 998cc engine? Thanks in advance for any help.

Eric

 

Ah, yes... the infamous "Mini lean".

It's probably "cone fatigue". Minis are fairly unique in that they use stiff rubber cones as their primary suspension system instead of leaf or coil springs. These cones compress over time and need to be replaced. To correct the lean, I'd suggest a cone replacement, or even better, for about the same price you can replace the cones with actual springs.



You can also get something called "Hi-Los", which are adjustable suspension arms. With Hi-Los, you can raise or lower each individual corner of the car to level it out perfectly. You can also raise or lower the whole car, useful for, say, track day at your local auto-X.

If your car is pretty badly leaning though, the cones are likely very brittle and shot - Mini recommended replacing the cones every 5-7 years but they were so long-lasting that there are many cars out there with their factory-installed cones still in place. Either way, if you use new cones or the springs above, you can very likely expect them to last for the rest of the life of the car.

The place I linked to above, GBCarparts, often has package deals for a set of springs and a set of Hi-Los bundled together, which is, IMHO, the best way to go. Installation is fairly straightforward and the only special tool you need is a spring compression tool, in order to release the rubber cones.

Welcome to the mini community!!!!

 

Hey thanks for the info I will go ahead and check into picking up a set of the springs.

Eric

 

Last time I checked (a year ago?) S Racer had the springs + trumpets for $550 or so.

www.sracer.com I think is his site.

 

I have a 998 motor in mine too My speedometer doesnt work but I had someone pace me once and they said we were doing about 55-60 and it kinda sounded like my mini was about to explode.

 

I think 65mph translated to around 5,000rpm in my 998cc car. It'd do that all day - but when you got up closer to 80 it definitely sounded like the world was going to come apart.

 

The S-racer stuff looks good (thanks for the link), but I can't find any prices listed to comparison shop - hate that.

 

Another quick question. I am ready to pull the plug on this purchase but am torn between the blue or red. I do plan to run a few TT events but I think the car handles pretty damn good with original suspension. The right rear rubs on larger bumps when I have 4 people in the car. The blue springs say original ride quality and red says rally. I am worried that the red will be way to stiff but the blue will not be stiff enough when the car is fully loaded. Anyone out there have any advise?

Thanks, Eric

 

really? thats crazy! i guess im just not pushing mine hard enough :(

 

Imagox - just email 'em. He was pretty good about getting back to me with prices.

Jive - from what I'm told the spring replacements will add a bit of roll to the equation, so I *think* what most people do is add front and rear swaybars at the same time. If you're going to get the all-in-one package I think the springs are fixed to the little aluminum trumpets...but the drop-in springs I believe you could swap out if they weren't what you want. Just e-mail Sracer and ask 'em! The folks I spoke with in San Jose that had his stuff all had very good things to say about him.

Krysstoffurr - you'll hit valve float eventually and it sounds like crap. Do you have a tach in your Mini? The 998 doesn't have a lot of power, but on the freeway I had to get used to running it at 5,000rpm or so. That's where it seemed happy, and that's going up and down hills 'n whatnot. If the hills were really steep I'd have to drop down to 3rd gear (blech!) and 45 was the max for me then.

 

Thanks for the help guys. I ordered the springs, hi/low kit, clutch kit, and a new lower radiator hose. That should get me back on the road just long enough to figure out what to spend another grand on. Speaking of spending more money I have had a few thoughts regarding my mini and figured I would run them by you guys first. Growing up my father was into muscle cars and I remember how important it was to keep everything original, I mean down to the smallest detail. Am I wrong in assuming that most of the people here are not nearly as **** about keeping everything original or going back to the exact original condition. Don't get me wrong I would never suggest cutting up a LE but overall it seems most of you are ok with multiple mods. Yes? Here is what I would like to do, tell me if I am crazy. The biggest alteration I would love to do is to add (don't know the formal name) a roof slide. I have seen several pics of what I have seen in some of the old VW's where it is not really a sunroof or a convertible but an actual sliding roof made from what I assume is a metal frame structure covered in vynil. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Or is this a very BAD idea? My car is a 79 mini 1000cc and is in pretty good overall condition with little rust. With the new clutch and radiator hose it is a great driver. It has fender flairs, 12 inch wheels, front disc, and is green in color (could use a paint job). This brings me to my next big alteration the paint color. I don't mind the green but I love silver and am seriously considering stripping the car and repainting her silver inside and out. I will stay with a white top and stripes. Next big alteration will be the seats. I am thinking of going to a more moder set of front seats. Something sporty that will keep me in position while cornering (any suggestions)? At some point I would also like to swap the 998 for a 1275 but this will be the last upgrade I perform. Years of RR motorcycles has taught me a lot about performance and engine displacement is no match for handling so I plan to equip the car with brakes and suspension components first and then rag the HELL out of the little 998 until I figure out the limits of the car. Ok, with all that said am I going to destroy the overall value of the car by performing one or all of these things? Not that I really give a @#$% considering I will like it all that much better but I don't want to shoot myself in the foot either. Thanks in advance for any help..

Eric

 

Some Minis are rarer than others (the genuine "Cooper S", some of the specialty models), and so, IMHO, it's more important to keep them "all stock". Others, like yours, were much more basic, and (again IMHO) are more appropriate for modding. It's all up to YOU though - if you like "all original" cars then the good news is that most of not all mini parts are still in production, since Mini worked with British Motor Heritage prior to the switchover to the new MINI - they donated all the classic Mini parts dies to them and lots of things are still in production.

As a side note: if you install springs or modern seats in then you've violated this "purity" rule, as all Minis had either rubber cones or (rarely) a wet Hydrolastic suepension. Swapping motors will offend the "purists" as well. For me - I'd not recommend cutting up, say, a 60's era actual Mini Cooper S, but for a later model car like yours, unless it's a Special Edition of some kind... well, it's up to you, but I think it's a better "doner" car.

As for the roof, it's a Webasto sliding sun-roof. they do tend to leak a bit, but careful installation will keep that to a minimum. Look around places like MiniMania etc. and often you can find used ones that people bought at swap meets or online, intending to install and then chickened out when it came time to cut open the roof. MiniMania has a classified ads section that's good for that sort of thing, and also check around places like Moss, 7 Enterprises, GBCarparts and the other US suppliers as they occasionally run across pre-owned parts of this kind and put them up on their web sites.

PS - lots of people like Miata seats in the classic Minis - you need a "seat rail" kit from one of the online guys (stock seats only attach at the front edge), plus the seats, of course (think salvage yards, eBay or Craigslist - there are always a ton listed). Miata seats (they say) wrap around well, are small (obviously) and look okay in the Classic, although I prefer the stock seats for aesthetics reasons. If you plan to add more engine power and performance MODs, I'd invest in a roll bar as well, seeing as how the classic is basically a tin-can with no modern safety devices (air bags, door stiffener bars, etc.) on wheels.