Hi guys,

I've done a few searches and not been able to find the info I'm after.

I have a 72 clubman with stuffed hydro suspension. I aquired a 68 deluxe shell with dry suspension which is sitting in the garage awaiting restoration.

What I want to know is if I can change the subframes over in order to have the dry subframes on my clubman so that it can be driven with some form of suspension? Or alternatively, if I was to rip the cones and ect out of the deluxe, what exactly is involved in retrofitting dry to the hydro subframe.

Obviously I'm trying to use what I've already got to minimise the cost, as the budget is a bit stretched at the moment with a new bub recently. Otherwise I'd just go buy all the bits for the wet to dry conversion from minisport or some place like that.

Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated,

Cheers, Ray.

you're best off swapping the subframes over

it's possible to hack the hydro subframes about to fit the dry parts, but only if you didn't have the other subframes already.

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Ray, it would be easier to keep the hydro suspension and just replace the blown hydro bag. I have a complete pair of hydro frames with good displacers, if you need. Let me know.

Glad you haven't left the mini scene, even if it has taken you a while
http://118.127.11.148/~ausmini/forums/viewtopic.php?t=37269&highlight=

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Too many cars, and too little time.

oh! - if it's only a blown bag, just replace that... easy

keep the hydro, it rides nicer

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Yeh about those hydro bags, I think it is more than one thats gone. They are pretty much all stuffed. a few moreso than others.

I've heard some stuff about rubber mounts and solid mounts on the subframes, and some people believe you can change the rear subframes but not the fronts between hydro and dry? Am i likely to encounter any probs just swapping the subframes over directly? (I like this option, cause I don't have to play with the suspension much).

awdmoke, funny that it appears i was considering the same thing a while ago, under my alter ego Candy. Got locked out of that account one day and couldn;t get a reply from the mods to get back in. Still on the mini scene, have been very quiet lately but hope to have the time to get back into it a bit more. good to hear from u!

The stuff about rubber mounts and solid mounts refers to the later UK Rover style subframes - they have rubber between the subframes and the body. There is no problem swapping normal Aussie hydro frames for dry frames.

If one displacer has let go, then the other one on that side will lose pressure too. Have you found where it is actually leaking? Darren at Minicentral can pump them up for you.

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Too many cars, and too little time.

Ive always thought so too...untill I had a run in the Rover.....the dry suspension on it is sweet.....do not feel as "hoppy" as the old dry suspension...

Sorry to jump in candy2 / Ray but I felt this is on the same topic. Does anyone have an image of what a displacer looks like when cut in half? i would really like to know what is inside these mystery bags. Maybe you could cut one open Ray.

Brian

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"Investing my Super in a Cooper" &
"Re-living my Surfing Past in a Woody"

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Too many cars, and too little time.

i cant see it

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"Investing my Super in a Cooper" &
"Re-living my Surfing Past in a Woody"

Just to put my bit in, if the car's for street use, stick with the hyrdo, it really is so much nicer. I really cannot see how a hyrdo system would be so totally 'stuffed' that it would be easier to change over to dry (not that it's difficult, but repairing the wet would be easier). It will only be 1 point that the system has leaked from. It would be also worth checking the knuckle joints (as you would also have to in a dry set up anyway!) before you re-presurise that system.

If you are hell bent on going dry, I'd be interested in yr 'stuffed' wet set up

you know you can do the sawp in two stages...

i had it done as money back then was tight as a fishes ass...
i had a new dry subrame built up....and when it was time to pop it in they removed the hydro rear one...and cut the pipes...and weldd them shut....then fitted the new rear sub frame.... and then pumped up the front hydro again....
i ran the car like this for over 4 months till i could aford to get the front done to dry..

just an idear if money is tight..

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started a new project...there goes all my free time....

On the off chance, is there anyone in the perth area (SOR) that happens to have a homemade hydro pump lying around that i could borrow for a day. I need to get the mini back on the road and the only thing holding it up is the fact that since I put 165's on it the rear right wheel is touching the guard. I'm on holidays in two weeks, then i can muck around changing subframes and all, but for now i just need to give the suspension a quick lift.

pm sent.