Wanting to no if any one has done it put fluid suspension on a van

I was all set to to do it, but the Clubby van project was my wife's, and she sold it last week before I got a round tuit..
It was getting hydro comp rear bumpstops fitted so it could carry `a little' load in the back.
Hydrovan has been done before- there is one in Brissy I think, also Mike Byron out west is doing one.

The rear subby needs its back channel moved forward so the hydro connections can clear the fuel tank. I was going to use copper pipes for the hydro connection front/rear.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Got a estate and was thinking about putting it on that.

Good idea. I was hoping it might then ride like a Morris 1100 = civilized. Instead of like a tip dray.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I will just have to work out about the fuel tank etc

PM Mike Byron for dimensions, I modded his subframe to suit. I will find a pic...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31275265@N05/10134997373/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31275265@N05/10134868285/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31275265@N05/10134946156/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31275265@N05/10134868205/

I used 3mm thick folded C channel from work but you could use RHS tube instead, which Alpine Moke did on the frame he modded.

The standard hose needs to come out through the sides, where I used the holesaw. Otherwise it won't reach.

Enjoy...

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Thanks

I read an interesting article the other day about the aborted attempt to build a factory Morris 1100 van. Here's a quote.



Tim

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1951 Morris Commercial J Type Van
1955 BSA C11G
1961 Morris Mini Traveller
1969 Triumph TR6R
1977 Leyland Moke Californian

Yep I have heard that info before.
Hydro Mini competition rear bumpstops are a progressive Aeon spring, I'm sure they will work fine for carrying minimal loads in the back of a van or traveller. But if I was going to load a van with lots of weight I'd keep the rubber cones.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I agree there will only be me or my wife driving it so weight won't be a problem

Its probably only a problem if you are a car manufacturer who is trying to sell a van as having a rated payload. The mini vans were sold as 1/4 ton vans, so they needed to carry a 250kg load in the back, which is a fair load really. Something like 3 decent sized adults. Stick a couple more in the front and its well loaded.

Tim

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1951 Morris Commercial J Type Van
1955 BSA C11G
1961 Morris Mini Traveller
1969 Triumph TR6R
1977 Leyland Moke Californian

There was discussion about 1100 Vans on another site years ago, it was said that BMC looked at using the self levelling mechanism from the Austin 3 litre. But it was deemed too expensive.

The 1800 utes used larger rear displacers than the sedan, maybe that also gives a clue as to what was needed.

It points to DrMini being on the money with the comp bump rubbers. How to increase the rear spring rate without spending much money!

Our woody wagon is on Hydro

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

We'll that settles it I'm going hydro on my van:)

My 1800 ute used to sit up at the front if anything weighty was in the back making the steering quite light and losing grip on slippery surfaces. It carried anything and everything though and always did the job.

Not sure converting a Mini Van is worth the effort. A Traveller that's more a cruiser maybe for the nicer ride quality, but one of the great things about a Van is the way it handles with its long wheel base. Unless you use Cooper S or comp displacers I don't think hydro could match the rubber cones with a good set of shockers, not standard Mini Deluxe type displacers anyway. I had hydro on my Mk 2 S with front Selby shockers and ST bump stops all round, but the Van could outhandle that anyday.

Guess it depends on what you want - nice ride with good handling, or go cart ride with sensational handling. And how often you drive the thing...

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Slide
1965 Mini Van (1360)
1970 Mk2 Cooper S (1310)
1978 Rover SD1 V8 (4.6)
1996 Land Rover Discovery V8 (4.0)