When installing my helix short shift, it says i need 4 stands could i make it with two? Also What are the best points to put the jack stands.

 

I've spent quite some time considering this issue, and seen Randy Webb jack and stand lots of MINIs. Here's what he (and now I) do: Get a peice of wood about 2"x1"x24" and put it on your racing jack (with wheels.) put it under the car in the middle between the two factory jack points. It can rest on the plastic since there's a vertical joint under the plastic running the length of the car between the jack points. Raise the entire side of the car and put your jack stands *inside* the factory jack points (dont sit them on them or they will slip...ooops ) Then go to the other side and repeat. Reverse to lower the car.

Good luck,

 

In the case of the shifter, you just need to have enough room below the car to get the exhaust system out of the way. If you think you can do that on two jack stands, then you should be fine. However, I think it's cool to get all four tires off the ground. So here's how I do it. The best place to jack up the MINI from is on a couple of "raised sections" of the MINIs frame that run half way down the length of side skirts underneath the car. These are about 6 inches further inboard from the side skirts. Poke your head down there and you can see them. I place the lifting part of my floor jack (yes, you can use one of those cheapie $20.00 ones from the auto store...I did that for 1.5 years until it broke and I got myself a "real" floor jack) on this raised area and lift one side of the car up high enough to place jack stands into the black jack blocks. Yes, I did say in. That is to say be sure to place one side of the Y shaped jack stand post into the MINI's hollow plastic jack block. This will put pressure on the one bolt that holds the block to the underside of the car. I then do the same procedure for the other side. Just be sure to place your jack in a place where when you have the car up, that it doesn't interfer with you placing your jack stand. Also don't choose a jacking point too far to the rear of the car as the MINI is front heavy and will teeter-toter on the jack.

 

When I did my shifter, I drove the front up onto my Rhino ramps, then jacked up the rear and put it on my stands. I have my Classic in the same position right now as I work (slowly) or replacing the rear subframe.

 

I used a ramp up front and 2 jack stands on the rear.

I used the factory jack points. use at your own risk.

 

Can someone post some stand that you guys are able to get "inside" of the jack stand points?

 

I got stands from Harbor Freight - orange and white. They are stepped-U shaped for the part that holds the car, so you can insert them into the factory jack points.

cheers,