Coil overs, perspex and other mods?
Discussion
Thinking of stripping my car and doing a complete rebuild, continuing on the road legal / hillclimb theme. Maybe i'll try and find a mk3 tax exempt shell to get away from emissions, side repeaters and fog light. Possibly go fo a steel flip front and lose the inner wings. Any opinions on ditching the rear sub frame and going for coil overs? I'd also prefer to go for perspex windows, grp bonnet and boot but am slightly put off by the security issues as it may sometimes be parked on the street, althought theres no stereo, tools etc kept in it, anyone else gone this route?
Perspex windows are a real winner. Polycarbonate is slightly more expensive, but stronger. In either case, not only are you removing weight, but you are lowering the c of g as well. The weight saving is fantastic.
I'm never sure about flip fronts of steel or GRP. Since the Mini shell is a true monocoque you don't really know where the dynamic loads go, so how can you be sure you've put back in the inherent strength you've taken out by cutting off the wings and front panel. The weight saving is negligible and, personally, I don't know that the alleged improved accessibility happens either.
For weight saving removal of the rear sub-frame is a solution, but what happens to the strength added by the rear frame in terms of resistance to a rear-end shunt, or if you go off backwards into a concrete post? The rear sub-frame provides good anti-concertina' strength at the rear. Without that maybe the impact loads go into the petrol tank (joking here, a bit, but think about it).
For myself I would never 'dick-about' with the basic shell structure to try to save weight, nor would I remove the rear sub-frame. The front sub-frame could probably be lightened quite a bit without loss of structural integrity as it is well over-engineered.
GPR bonnet and boot lid are both excellent for weight saving, even better if you could get carbon-fiber ones. GPR doors I am less enthusiastic about as I once saw a co-driver in a works Volvo killed on a rally when the GRP door allowed intrusion which may have been prevented by a steel door.
Those are just my views, feel free to tell me I'm being over-cautious or too prudent.
But in the end (at both ends and both sides) SAFETY MATTERS.
I'm never sure about flip fronts of steel or GRP. Since the Mini shell is a true monocoque you don't really know where the dynamic loads go, so how can you be sure you've put back in the inherent strength you've taken out by cutting off the wings and front panel. The weight saving is negligible and, personally, I don't know that the alleged improved accessibility happens either.
For weight saving removal of the rear sub-frame is a solution, but what happens to the strength added by the rear frame in terms of resistance to a rear-end shunt, or if you go off backwards into a concrete post? The rear sub-frame provides good anti-concertina' strength at the rear. Without that maybe the impact loads go into the petrol tank (joking here, a bit, but think about it).
For myself I would never 'dick-about' with the basic shell structure to try to save weight, nor would I remove the rear sub-frame. The front sub-frame could probably be lightened quite a bit without loss of structural integrity as it is well over-engineered.
GPR bonnet and boot lid are both excellent for weight saving, even better if you could get carbon-fiber ones. GPR doors I am less enthusiastic about as I once saw a co-driver in a works Volvo killed on a rally when the GRP door allowed intrusion which may have been prevented by a steel door.
Those are just my views, feel free to tell me I'm being over-cautious or too prudent.
But in the end (at both ends and both sides) SAFETY MATTERS.
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