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#71
Daves Garage / Re: Mini ST Hotrod
Last post by MiniDave - August 24, 2026, 12:43:58 PMSo, there's been a bit of a delay......I've spent most of the last three months flat on my back in bed with back problems. Two different trips to the ER (which are basically a waste of time as all they can do is give you heavy drugs to try and blunt the pain) and finally got in to a "pain doc, who gave me an epidural - which to my surprise (I had one in 2019 for similar issues, and it worked) had little to no effect. After a week I called and they said it could take up to two full weeks for it to give any relief!
Right at the end of the two week period it began to get better, but I got another appt and they doubled down. This one seems to have done the trick tho they cautioned me "no lifting over 10lb" and "take it real easy for the next two more weeks. If this doesn't do it I can't have another till Mid Nov, and I may wind up being a candidate for surgery anyway.
So needless to say all I've been doing all summer is watching TV....
Today I went back to the shop and tore down a friend's Mini gearbox so he can order parts. This is a very nice looking car but I think the maintenance has been sorely neglected. There was a surprising amount of sludge in the bottom of the gearbox, and 1st and 2nd gear synchros were wiped out, and teeth broken off of the gears too.
So he's got a list in to Spares and when those arrive we'll put it back together.
The hot rod is back on the rack and ready for more welding. My friend Zac acquired a nice set of 13X7 wheels and we tried one on and it fits perfectly, I traded him my rear swaybar for a pair so I now have my rear wheels sorted. Fronts will be matching 13X6. So it looks like the Sport Pak flares will work.
I also did some more trading, the WRX seats I ran for a while will not fit with the door beams in place, so rather than remake those I sold the seats. The leather seats that Dan gave me are very comfy and will fit, so that's one choice still available.
Right at the end of the two week period it began to get better, but I got another appt and they doubled down. This one seems to have done the trick tho they cautioned me "no lifting over 10lb" and "take it real easy for the next two more weeks. If this doesn't do it I can't have another till Mid Nov, and I may wind up being a candidate for surgery anyway.
So needless to say all I've been doing all summer is watching TV....
Today I went back to the shop and tore down a friend's Mini gearbox so he can order parts. This is a very nice looking car but I think the maintenance has been sorely neglected. There was a surprising amount of sludge in the bottom of the gearbox, and 1st and 2nd gear synchros were wiped out, and teeth broken off of the gears too.
So he's got a list in to Spares and when those arrive we'll put it back together.
The hot rod is back on the rack and ready for more welding. My friend Zac acquired a nice set of 13X7 wheels and we tried one on and it fits perfectly, I traded him my rear swaybar for a pair so I now have my rear wheels sorted. Fronts will be matching 13X6. So it looks like the Sport Pak flares will work.
I also did some more trading, the WRX seats I ran for a while will not fit with the door beams in place, so rather than remake those I sold the seats. The leather seats that Dan gave me are very comfy and will fit, so that's one choice still available.
#72
Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Latest maintenance on Miss...
Last post by Dan Moffet - August 22, 2026, 09:54:19 AMQuote from: 94touring on August 22, 2026, 09:46:03 AM.... I've flat towed minis so many miles it's crazy. Last time flat towing was the bus pulling the mini, but it pushes the the bus around too much for personal comfort in certain situations, so won't do that again.
You apparently live an "interesting" life. Are you one of those guys who says "Hold mt beer..."?
#73
Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Latest maintenance on Miss...
Last post by Dan Moffet - August 22, 2026, 09:50:49 AMThe spacers between the front panel and subframe affect the shape of the wheel arches. It can affect the tire clearance especially if ride height is on the low side, like when the rubber cones have collapsed or getting there. Too much shim and the edge of the wheel arch gets drawn inward and the tire rubs. Been there, done that..
#74
Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Latest maintenance on Miss...
Last post by 94touring - August 22, 2026, 09:46:03 AMA lot of force gets applied from the car being flat towed. I learned this fabbing up the flat tow bar on my bus. It surprised me a little bit. I'm about to embark on a 4k mile flat tow trip with it and mildly anxious even though I did all the testing ahead of time. Minis are a lot easier but as you've found you can have catastrophic failures if all precautions aren't taken. I've flat towed minis so many miles it's crazy. Last time flat towing was the bus pulling the mini, but it pushes the the bus around too much for personal comfort in certain situations, so won't do that again.
#75
Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Latest maintenance on Miss...
Last post by MPlayle - August 22, 2026, 08:44:05 AMI know about the bolts bending. Years ago, I used 8" long 1/2" grade 8 bolts and pipe spacers without a crossmember to space the mounts clear of the bumper. They proved too long and allowed too much flex. I had a catastrophic failure - one bolt bent, the other sheared. Fortunately, I was at very slow speed in a parking lot when the failure happened. Things had felt squirrley and I had pulled off to check when the failure occurred.
Since then, I learned about using the crossmember and keeping the bolts just long enough for the crossmember to clear the the curve of the front panel.
I imagine you can go without a crossmember if you go with bolts and spacers just long enough to put the individual brackets basically flush with the front panel and let the tow bar knuckle movement accomodate the slight angle from the front panel curvarture.
Since then, I learned about using the crossmember and keeping the bolts just long enough for the crossmember to clear the the curve of the front panel.
I imagine you can go without a crossmember if you go with bolts and spacers just long enough to put the individual brackets basically flush with the front panel and let the tow bar knuckle movement accomodate the slight angle from the front panel curvarture.
#76
Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Latest maintenance on Miss...
Last post by 94touring - August 22, 2026, 08:22:14 AMIf you have the rubber subframe to front panel mounts, you can remove and add a steel piece to make it solid. The cross bar on later model front license brackets can slide behind them. A 2 inch piece of angle iron just needs a notched area in the center for clearance. That's how I used to make them anyways. It just helps spread the load out if things get squirrely. 1/2" bolts are recommended and like I said overlapping the spacers to make a solid sleeve helps prevent bending action on the bolts that end up with a bit of length where the spacers are. If things get loose somewhere the bolts will bend. I've been there done that.
#77
Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Latest maintenance on Miss...
Last post by MiniDave - August 22, 2026, 07:50:01 AMI don't feel like it puts any real stress on the front subframe when you use the welded cross bar like that. I know Willy B just has the u-shaped brackets bolted to the subframe mounts on his and it tows fine, but I like the idea of the cross bar for extra strength.
I also drilled out the holes in the subframe and used 1/2" grade 8 bolts instead of 3/8"....Ace hardware carries the bolts, nuts and washers I used
I also drilled out the holes in the subframe and used 1/2" grade 8 bolts instead of 3/8"....Ace hardware carries the bolts, nuts and washers I used
#78
Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Latest maintenance on Miss...
Last post by MPlayle - August 21, 2026, 03:15:59 PMI will have some time before the next steps to installing the tow bar.
I have been strongly considering getting a second Mini again and want the option of flat towing it as well. As such, I tried contacting Harbor Freight's support to see about a second set of the tow bar mounts. It turns out they don't do spare parts for the tow bar units.
I really have no need to get a whole second tow bar unit, so I dropped by a local metal fab shop I have used before (They even remembered me!) and left one of the mounting brackets with them to make me another pair. It will be about 3 weeks due to their current work load.
Meanwhile, I will start work on the desired interior trim panels I want to put on the rear doors and 'C' pillars beside the rear doors.
I have been strongly considering getting a second Mini again and want the option of flat towing it as well. As such, I tried contacting Harbor Freight's support to see about a second set of the tow bar mounts. It turns out they don't do spare parts for the tow bar units.
I really have no need to get a whole second tow bar unit, so I dropped by a local metal fab shop I have used before (They even remembered me!) and left one of the mounting brackets with them to make me another pair. It will be about 3 weeks due to their current work load.
Meanwhile, I will start work on the desired interior trim panels I want to put on the rear doors and 'C' pillars beside the rear doors.
#79
Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Tyres in California
Last post by cstudep - August 20, 2026, 07:38:15 PMChoosing.......Something that seems pretty reasonable to me. Lol
#80
Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Latest maintenance on Miss...
Last post by MPlayle - August 20, 2026, 03:00:05 PMQuote from: Dan Moffet on August 20, 2026, 02:16:17 PMDoes your van have solid or flexible subframe mounts? The subframe front bolts/tow ring are bolted to the subframe, with the front clip supported by them (flexible or rigid). The licence plate brackets are welded to the front valance (chin) and are not really structural. ...
... I'd go around the brackets or cut them off.
I have not yet determined whether mine has the solid or flexible piece at the subframe to front-panel connections.
The comments about inducing metal fatigue along with concerns about how the backets would make the crossmember align with the subframe bolt holes are moving me more to just removing the front plate brackets. (The Van came from the Netherlands without plates and Texas only issues a rear plate for Antique plates, so no front plate anyway.)