Most liked posts in thread: Rally Mini Cooper

Mini Mini Mini! Now I'm back in MA I spent of the time gathering more stuff for the next trip back to CR. This weekend I was so lucky to call a breakers yard near Boston about the 8 spoke rims, they had 1 (I needed 2) rim, so to my surprise they found another when I got there! They cost $70 each for CAAAAAAAAAAASH. Now I will have 4 rims with street tyres and 6 with rally tyres. Job done. While I was getting the rims I called into Boston airport to pick my TSA rejected rear STI struts....my babies are back with Daddy! LOL

I got the engine mount bracket and will make the fender/arm bracket when i get down there. I'm also waiting for the 5th gear the replace the chipped one I found when I rebuilt the gearbox.

The rally technical test is on April 25th which means we had to buy all the FIA safety clothing(5 year shelf life) and HANS device .....a big $$$$$ ouch!

Plus I'm about to buy a Triumph motor bike! all fun stuff.

 

Yes the 5 year rule is a killer, I bought all my stuff in 2009 so it's time to renew. Helmets will be due in Dec too! The seats are due in 2016....ouch. I hope to get a 2007 Triumph America.

 

We did the tech test on Saturday and finally got the Mini weighed! A little heavier than I expected but the corners are pretty even. The Mini was weighed with a nearly full tank, a heavy tool kit, both helmets, suits and Hans devices etc Moving the battery to the rear helped level up the front. The only issue in the Tech was the kill switch didn't stop the engine which I need to check as it did before. other than that the Mini was about the best turned out car after I viewed all the others in my class. The Sentra's weigh in at 2474 and the C2 2384 so the Mini is the porky! LOL

 

Mmmm I was thinking this thread would run dry now I have everything working well! Nope! after the last rally I noticed yesterday that both bottom damper bolts are bent by about 3/4" which is going to be a pain in the bottom to remove. I'm driving with them like that but I need to fix that issue before the next rally.

So either they got bent by being hit by a rocks or the dampers bottomed out slowly bending the bolts or the stiffer springs. Now I'm thinking to build a steel craddle to support the bolt using the R56 trailing arm currently fitted or go back to the R50 trailing arm and weld up some brackets.

I like the R56 trailing arm due to the less weight so I'll play with that first.

 

That's a very good question as I pulled them off the Suzuki. I think I got them from Adavnce auto store. When I get back the MA I'll go look. They are high amp, enough to run my cooling fan.

 

like this. I think they change the design.

Autocraft Electrical Switches - Toggle-Lever Chrome with Screw Terminals -35 Amp (420 watts) 85904: Purchase the best Switch at Advance Auto Parts

 

I'm using one to run the reverse light which is very low amps

 

I'm always jumping with energy!! I hooked up the axles and poured in some oil last night to find it still leaking so I took it to be welded again today with the oil and axles so he can see where the oil is leaking from, I know the standard of welding is not the best but what can I do? A new casing is $800! So hopefully I'll be putting in the box tonight.

 

So the week went like this, got the box back for more welding, went to pick it up to find the welder and machines in the shop blew the breaker box in fine style. You can just imagine what the wiring is like..LOL So Wednesday I went back and still the box was untouched due to a back up of work....the guy then welded it while I waited with what looked like better aluminium. BINGO! no leaks! But to be sure I put some metal weld over the welding. Tomorrow is Mothers day here so a day off which should give me plenty of time to install the box.

Going forward I'm really thinking of building another box with the Quaife straight cut gear set and LSD. The cost is about the same as the 6 speed conversion but I get a low final drive, split second no clutch gear changes and super strong racing gears. Also the 6 speed weighs in a 125LBS with the Midlands being 74LBS which I can lift.

That's for 2015.

 

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_1jO64tuQA"]Pfitzner Performance Gearbox - How to drive a dog box - YouTube[/ame]

 

Mini Sport make one! Quaife 6-speed dog engagement Quaife gearkit - Cooper S 6 Speed Getrag | QKE34Z at www.minisport2.com cough cough at the cost!