watons brackets/springs

i saw someone post about using watsons springs and brackets for their conversion, instead of paying for the entire frame, they got the bits for £50.
Now ive just spoken to them and they said the springs and bits would cost £100, they wouldnt sell me any brackets as they need to be jigged whilst being welded to the subframe.
Basically im looking at buying a part built conversion, however the suspension part isnt that good at the moment, so i was considering doing it this way.
What is it that actually gets done with the watsons bits someone posted, i think it was darren?

Thanks

[mAce]

Oh, bugger...

I was lead to believe that they did supply the brackets?

this post is where i read it
http://www.16vminiclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4024&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=%A350+watsons&start=0

http://www.16vminiclub.com/gallery/albums/userpics/DSC00273.JPG

i want them lol.

[MattG]

dont look to hard to make....

Matt

true enough, i wonder if a very kind gedi fancies measuring them ;)
i could then draw them up in CAD and we could get a job lot laser cut to do a load of people on here?

[tenfootterror]

Very easy to make, simply cut, bent and drilled. a lot less hassle to buy them though :D

The four triangular brackets with holes are welded to the brackets to hold the damper.

watons also sell a top hat to weld onto the turret to retain the spring (you can just make them out under the springs in the pic. above) :D

You would need to make the mounts from frame to heelboard yourself as these are welded to the frame on watsons modifed frame :D

ive already got the heel board mounts, its just the actualy sprung suspension part i really need to sort out on mine.

[nightflier]

EddyP, I reckon they (Watsons) just make up prices as they go, 'cos I was quoted £120+ for the same parts, but was told the same story with regards the brackets on their own...

[alex]

i had no problem getting mine last year i didnt have to jig anything on mine the two large plates bolt on the subby and bolt to the origonal holes where the top damper mounts use to be then you have two ring type tops which get wielded to the top to for the springs and the other four plates are for the new damper top mounts.

[FatKev]

Watsons wouldn't even give me ANY details about any of these bits... Getting the feeling ol' Geoff might not want people to be buying these cheepy bits and making their own subframes to mount big engines :lol: Why would he when he could be making much much much more from full subframe kits? (just joking before you Watsons loving gits jump all over me...)

Frame needs jigged up.... my arse - that's gotta be utter balls surely? Got a Metro subby, a Mini shell and the plates - surely thats enough in terms of refrence points and so on?! What good is a jig gonna do for that? Please someon enlighten me.

Kevin

so does anyone fancy sending me some good photos and maybe dimensions so i could draw them up and get a quote for doing a big batch of them for the club? ;)

[evolotion]

that would be theft of IP .. doubt anyone would support you in it. as matt says sont look that hard to make your own. so get measuring a std metro and its frame alignment and mock up brackets that hold it at this angle in teh mini. job done.

[GEDI]

bit of a bugger he doesnt sell the brackets on there own anymore, saved me alot of measuring/ fabrication

the brackets with damper mounts were £50

the springs and adjustable trumpets were £120

the spring tops were £20 all ex vat

could take a photo with a ruler beside if you want? doubt it would helpyou make em though :(

[FatKev]

Hell if I was Geoff I'd be making these bits by the bucket load... cheap, easy, and surely a decent return :shock: Jigged up... still don't believe it!

Kevin

[FatKev]

Who has infact bought these bits? How often have you phoned up Geoff? I think most sensible people wanting to buy these bits would understand apart from some initial guides - you're on your own. Hence you bought the plates and not the kit...
Issues with liability? So you're telling me every piece of metal work (and work for that sake) you get from an engineering firm is garunteed? And that you could sue them (successfully) if it breaks? Yeah I (and many others) wish that was the bloody case... Hell look at all the aftermarket car bits - use it at your own risk seems to be the mantra :(
If business is on a low, and no one is willing to purchase kits or have Minis built, why just sit about doing nothing when you could at least provide this even lower level of "kit"?
Maybe in an off chance, if (big if and really clutching at straws here) Geoff is selling enough of these plates and springs, he could buy the springs in, in larger numbers, getting a better deal? Who knows?
I have opened my eyes up to some (I suppose little) business sense Darren - might be doing an IT course, but its strongly backed by a number of business modules within the course. Mind you, of course I'm no accountant (not being cheeky), and have NO worthy experience in the real world. I'm just suggesting a few reasons to sell these bits.
End of the day, Geoff had his reasons for selling them same as he had his reasons for stopping.

Kevin

[nightflier]

I agree, I can see what Darren means, but if Watsons don't sell the plates (and therefore the hydro-replacement suspension to go with them) then people like me and Kev (and probably others) will go off and do our own thang... and thats not good business sense either, is it?
Better to make £50 on plates and extra £140 on suspension than nowt, right?

[BigAndy]

could you guys make up your own brackets, then use coilovers instead of these springs? Like you've all said they look easy to make up so the only problem i can really see is the suspension

from what ive been told coilovers dont work too well, this method of using springs in place of the hydros is very effective, i think geehawk can confirm this as i beleive hes tried both.

[clanman]

I made my own plates up and fitted coil overs, it was quite simple and the coil overs work well.

[rick1962uk]

hi have any of you got a link for the watsons web page i have looked for links but cant find any

[duck]

Watsons details are in the sticky at the top of the Honda section

[rally k16]

Hey Clanman, which (brand) coilovers did u use, and what's the spring poundage? Are they coilovers for mini use, or specially made up?

thanx, Louis