HI all --

I've got a '73 Austin Mini 1000 with a rusted rear subframe. I have a new subframe in my garage, powder coated, and ready to swap in. Please give me any advice that you can before I tackle this project. Seems pretty straight forward but I thought I'd ask before I started unbolting it all.

Any special tools required? Any thing I should replace while I've got everything apart? I'm moving the arms and brakes over to the new subframe.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

Just make sure the things you're attaching the new subframe to aren't rusted too!

Other than that, it's a bolt in deal.

Good luck and some pics along the way would be great!

 

Yep, everything will be in good shape going back on.

This project may take a while. It's only 10am and already over 95 DegF in the garage. Should be a long project if I can only work for a couple hours in the morning before it's too hot. Groan.

Unfortunately I forgot to drill the mounting holes for the electric fuel pump before I powder coated the new subframe. I'm sure there'll be other holes that I need to drill, but it's unfortunate I forgot about the fuel pump :(

I'll take lots of pictures I'll post a link here to my photo gallery so you can see the progress.

Jeff

 

Ok, pictures I take will be here:

http://desertwave.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=14182

First step is to drain and remove the fuel tank so I can remove the rear shocks. Then the exhaust, then the brake lines and emergency brake cables.

Jeff

 

I got the old subframe off this morning. All in all a pretty easy job. I only had to destroy the e-brake cables since I couldn't figure out how to pull them out.

The body doesn't look as bad as I was expecting, which is good. Now I need to pull the trailing arms off and transfer the parts over. Then it's ON with the new!

Oh, and I added a few pictures on my online photo gallery (see previous post with URL). Most of the new pictures are on the second page (have to click NEXT to see them).

Jeff

 

Looks like you've been hard at work, Jeff!

 

I got the trailing arms off of the subframe this morning. All in all, not a horrible job, but I did break 3 of the 8 bolts that hold the camber brackets on to the subframe. There's so much rust in there I can't believe it didn't fall off of the car.

Looks like I made a rookie mistake however. After I got my replacement subframe (about 6 months ago) I mounted some tow eyes on it and then had it powder-coated. Now that I'm looking at the old subframe, I have to drill at least six holes in it - two for the rear exhaust hanger, two for the electric fuel pump, and two for the brake valve. I guess I should have dry fitted it before I had it powder coated. Ahh well, such is life.

Jeff

 

Great pictures. What we wouldn't give to have lifts in our garages. Looks like you get to reassemble and bleed the brakes when done. Are you planning to repaint the underside of the body?

 

Bleeding the brakes is a non-issue. I bought a power bleeder when I was installing my KAD front discs last summer. Nothing more than a formality.

As for the painting, I will make sure all of the unpainted underpanel is properly protected. The floor pans are WAY gone so that is a future project and painting them will take care of that. One of the reasons I pulled the rear subframe is to get a good look at the heel board to determine whether it needs to be replaced when I replace the floors. Looks like I only need to do some minor repair.

Jeff

 

I got the new subframe prepped for installation. Now I just need to coordinate with someone that will give me some help to get the subframe back under the car. I'm looking forward to getting this thing back together.