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Watsons frame in a standard length front, they said it was impossible ...
Build Thread - standard length round nose B series with Watsons frame, it is possible -
I think the Custom-Minis frame is dead in the water now as it isn't compatible with my wheels. I will proceed with the original Watsons frame.
I had tried previously to try and get it all under a standard front using the Watsons frame but it required a lot of body mods to get the subframe about 20mm further back and also meant issues with the plenum hitting the bulkhead. It probably meant I'd be able to get away with about a 20mm extended front but after a lot of thought it's not worth the hassle for 20mm.
Next step is get a new front cross member made up like JoBu did with his
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This will allow me to move the front lower valance out to the bumper lip like this to clear it. that should pretty much get me where I want to be with it
tap001.jpgLast edited by Oz; 21-05-2020, 02:53 PM.Watsons frame in a standard length front, they said it was impossible ...
Build Thread - standard length round nose B series with Watsons frame, it is possibleComment
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Spent the afternoon at the garage getting my engine and frame out so I can get the front crossmember replaced.
I'd been looking a video of the old Special Tuning 4wd Rallycross Mini on FB
https://m.facebook.com/video_redirec...18&__tn__=FH-R
and I couldn't help putting my CRV rear diff in my rear subframe and dreaming lol
IMG_20200523_1909299.jpg
IMG_20200523_1909482.jpgWatsons frame in a standard length front, they said it was impossible ...
Build Thread - standard length round nose B series with Watsons frame, it is possibleComment
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image_9982.jpg I was actually messing around with a set of Metro trailing arms and wanted to see how they compared to the Watsons spacers. They are within about 5mm of each other
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I tried my wheels for clearance, all good
IMG_20200523_1614109.jpgLast edited by Oz; 24-05-2020, 03:22 PM.Watsons frame in a standard length front, they said it was impossible ...
Build Thread - standard length round nose B series with Watsons frame, it is possibleComment
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What do people do about mounting shocks/coil overs with the metro trailing arms?Comment
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usually custom stub axles or brackets bolted through the 3 backplate boltsOriginally posted by geachy87 View PostWatsons frame in a standard length front, they said it was impossible ...
Build Thread - standard length round nose B series with Watsons frame, it is possibleComment
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You got me thinking more on this and I reckon you might be able to use Mini stub axles in the Metro arms then machine and tap a thick tube that screws on to the damper mount thread and winds back to seat and tighten against the back of the trailing arm then you could mount the lower damper hole through a bolt into the other end of the tube - does that make sense ?Originally posted by geachy87 View Post
I think provided you aren't using coilovers which take the weight of the car then this would probably be ok taking the resistance of the dampers provided you don't adjust them really stiffLast edited by Oz; 26-05-2020, 11:07 AM.Watsons frame in a standard length front, they said it was impossible ...
Build Thread - standard length round nose B series with Watsons frame, it is possibleComment
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That makes sense. I’ve never seen a metro arm, would you be able to use cones and hi los with them?Comment
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yes but they are not a direct fit. The knuckle joint appears to be totally different, the arm needs grinding down as it fouls the subframe in various places and the pivot shaft is much shorter than the Mini one so you have to make up a new outer bracket for the subframe to hold the pivot shaft and tighten the pivot shaft nut against. Also the pivot shaft is thicker than a Mini one so you need to drill out the inner hole in the subframe. You then need to work out how to adjust toe and camber.... it's not impossible but it's a lot of workWatsons frame in a standard length front, they said it was impossible ...
Build Thread - standard length round nose B series with Watsons frame, it is possibleComment
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Oh and also the Metro arm has no provision for the Mini handbrake cable quadrant so you need to adapt a different system, ideally transplant over the whole Metro handbrake lever and cables and fit it to the MiniWatsons frame in a standard length front, they said it was impossible ...
Build Thread - standard length round nose B series with Watsons frame, it is possibleComment
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What about the Mk.1 Metro rear arms, Oz?
Ever had a look at them?
They look to be somewhere between the Mini and Rover Metro designs perhapsComment
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TBH I've never looked at them, I just happened to have a set of K series Metro arms in the back of my garage so I thought I'd do a back to back comparison for my own curiosity using a bare rear subframe I had lying around.Watsons frame in a standard length front, they said it was impossible ...
Build Thread - standard length round nose B series with Watsons frame, it is possibleComment
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My front subframe has been with the fabricators to remake the front crossmember for 2 weeks now .... he said it'd be a few days.
Just reflecting back on the last 3 years or so since I took an angle grinder to the front and started on this endeavor I have pretty much ended up back where I started with the original Watsons bolted up to it's original position after many blind alleys and bad choices.
With the benefit of hindsight I would have had the car back on the road in a matter of months as in effect all I have achieved in 3 years is reducing my extended front from 110mm to 40mm (and chopping up my shell unnecessarily).
Ever wished you'd just kept the A-series up front .....Last edited by Oz; 16-07-2020, 06:49 PM.Watsons frame in a standard length front, they said it was impossible ...
Build Thread - standard length round nose B series with Watsons frame, it is possibleComment
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Subframe is back from fabricator
IMG_20200613_1409153.jpg
Modified the gearbox side mount for a bit more rad clearance
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Also started modifying the subframe to clear the gearbox
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little bash with hammer and we have clearance
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Just need to weld in the little fillet pieces I've madeLast edited by Oz; 16-06-2020, 07:36 AM.Watsons frame in a standard length front, they said it was impossible ...
Build Thread - standard length round nose B series with Watsons frame, it is possibleComment
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