MARSHSEIS "Classic Mini Challenge" Creating a Time Machine.

Objective-1 Establishing the Ride Height.

As we've already mentioned the handling and suspension geometry on the classic mini simply can not be improved upon and our first and single most important objective is to retain that geometry come what may. So before we can even start to think about installing the engine and transmission we need to establish exactly how the car will sit and make everything adjustable so final vehicle weight can be compensated for and adjusted accordingly.

With this in mind, then its back to assembling and installing the original rear sub frame with all the suspension components installed and getting the shell back onto its rear wheels so that a ride height can be established and then working forward from there. Some might call it forward and reverse engineering and essentially that is what it is.

Initial inspection of our rear subframe quickly revealed that this was not the first sub frame this mini had ever had although the many and varied coats of paint was a sure indicator it had been off and on the car no end of times but essentially it was still sound and with a bit of beefing up on the welds would suit our objectives well for now.

It's certainly back to classic heritage engineering to overhaul the rear radius arms with renewing the bushings for the needle roller bearings requiring the manufacture of some pretty special pressing tools and jigs not to mention the acquisition of an adjustable bushing reamer (not easy to find these days). A pleasing result none the less and with the radius arms mounted using original rubber cone suspension units with hi-low adjustable push rods and SPAX Krypton on-car adjustable gas shocks we're almost ready for wheels.....well rear ones anyway.

And "BOOM" there it is looking mean and low which will only add to the already superb handling qualities of the best twentieth century motoring icon that was ever produced....well in our opinion anyway and at the end of the day that's what counts. :-)

That's about all for this blog....All the best and take care and be sure to keep an eye out for our next blogs where you'll find out exactly how we got on with "Creating a Time Machine".