Suspension preparation for classic rallying

[MalcolmSp]

Hi,

I've been into Minis for a few years - well, since 1965 to be precise! Currently I have three minis, a 1963 1071 Cooper S and two 1959 minis.

I have rebuilt one of the 1959 minis with the intention of rallying it, but have limited experience of such builds! My son and I took it on Friday to Throckmorton for the HERO one day challenge on Saturday, but managed to break a front suspension cone just doing a "driving test". So I have realised that I need to do a lot more strengthening and suspension preparation to prepare it for the next event.

If there are any esperienced Mini rally drivers out there who could give me some tips on suspension mods, I would be extremely grateful.

(The car itself is underpowered, as I have kept to strict 1959 mini engine mods, so it has just standard mini valves, but produces about 47 BHp using twin H1 SUs on an early Downton manifold and a 731 camshaft)

Thanks for any advice you can give,
Malcolm

[MalcolmSp]

Thanks, Cooperman, just the sort of detailed advice I wanted. I will almost certainly follow your example.
When you say that you increase the ride height by 1/4" are you referring to height at the trumpet or actual car height?
Also, do you use a sump-guard? I haven't fitted one yet, as I'm trying to save weight, as my standard mini is obviously very under-powered. But if you consider it essential, I'll probably fit one.

Thanks,
Malcolm

[MalcolmSp]

Thanks again for the advice - which confirms my suspicions. Reluctantly i will add the extra weight to the car.

Malcolm

[MalcolmSp]

Thanks for the further details, guys, much appreciated!

Sadly when I rebuilt the car, I didn't put the lines inside, naively thinking that these retrospective rallies were a bit gentler than that. So, if I am now going to strenthen both subframes, I might just as well run the lines inside at the same time.

If you think of anything else, do let me know - as I can see that I've got some major work to do on the car! I want to get it right for the next event.

Thanks again,
Malcolm

I've attached an early underbonnet photo. Since then I've sealed the bulkhead and fitted an auxiliary fuel pump & spare coil.

[MalcolmSp]

Thanks again Cooperman - I'm almost getting overwhelmed with advice! If you think I can get away without welding up the front subframe, I would prefer it - I hate taking out engines!

Yes I have got perspex all round except for the windscreen. Also fibreglass bootlid and bonnet and no front bumper - although I realise that is strictly illegal, but the bumper flange had been removed years ago and HERO seem to turn a blind eye to missing bumpers.

I have also fitted an auxilliary SU petrol pump in the engine compartment, next to the wiper motor. It seems to work fine there.

I was fascinated by your accounts of rallying in the 60s. I wonder if you can help - my intention behind using a 59 car was to get into the "50s" decade, so that a standard mini is a bit more competitive than in the 60s. But with your experience of rallying an 850, do you know whether there were any larger valves available in 1959? Checking on other BMC cars using the A-series engine, they all used the same valve size as mini. But surely the works 850s had larger valves? I don't want to cheat, but I know I could get a lot more power out of mine if I can increase valve size.

Thanks,
Malcolm

[MalcolmSp]

Hi Peter,

Yes, I was aware of the frail early cranks (I've got one and I think I've seen 'em described as "a piece of bent wire"!) So I used the later crank and removed excess weight and polished it and con-rods etc which were all balanced to less than a gram. I also managed to find some rare Hepolite raised top race pistons, which I used. I've had cam-bearings fitted and it runs on a 731 camshaft - surprisingly smooth pick-up, though it's only 10:1 compression, so the power is low.

I would certainly like to fit 997 Cooper valves or a 940 head, but I feel sure I would be penalised and end up with the car homologated as 1960s.

I'm sure you are right about the fuel pumps, though my wife has a Morris Minor with high level pump on the scuttle, so I might just change to the MM pump.

Whereabouts are you in Cambridgeshire? I live at Isleham, roughly mid-way between Ely and Newmarket. I'd like to meet. My personal email is [e-mail] I shall however be in India on a research trip for three weeks from Monday evening!

Again, many thanks for the advice.
Malcolm