After having a mini cooper lookalike back in the 80's I'm back in the game and I've decided to build a Mini clubman tarmac rally weapon (track days, superkhanas and Targa West etc).

I've picked up a rust free car and my first job will be to do a full restrip to fit a roll cage and then a complete nut and bolt bottom up rebuild.

Two questions:

1. What is the optimum wheel size for a Mini. I've seen everything from 10"to 13" being talked about. I take it 13"is out (only for street cruzers?) but 10-12"seem commonly used.

2. What is the best running gear to fit front and rear - I mean tell me everything I should fit. See www.kad-uk.com for the sort of thing I am thinking about.

This will be a long term project so first jobs are:

1. Roll cage
2. Soda blast
3. Repaint
4. Fit running gear
5. The rest to follow - goodby bank account

The best bit I like is the carbon fibre stuff that wasn't about when I was a tad younger!

Look forward to advice.

Mike

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Regards,

Mike
"He who dies with the most toys wins."

Rust free mini? We'll see about that!
You need to have a bit of a look at what category you will be entered under.
It may pay to make another "cooper lookalike" as then you can fit into a Historic category and not have to outpace hondas, etc.
To this end, I'd go for a 10" setup. I run 13x7s - good for road, looks and track, not for khanas.

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Too many cars, and too little time.

someone on here has one already set up for racing but will need running gear. Look through a few posts and you'll find it.

Mike,,, if money is no object then do & buy whatever you want, what ever you can make adjustable make adjustable so you can "play" with the handling & set it up nice & balanced, whatever makes it faster just do it, whatever makes it stop quicker just do it

I like 10" wheels/tyres personally,,, it`s hard to beat the "Nimble-ness" of the little wheel-ed minis, but if you end up with great big gobs of grunt/torque/power then you may find a little friend called traction if you went to 13x8" wheels/tyres,,, but there`s always a down-side to any up-side ,,,& by going to 13" would mean a slight sacrifice in the quality of that wonderful handling nimble-ness that a 10" wheeled mini gives you,,, but then there`s always an up-side to any down-side & by going to 13s would mean you have more room inside the rim & could fit bigger brakes,,,, but then there`s always a down-side to any up-side in that by going bigger brakes makes for a much heavier wheel assy, which in turn reduces the suspension responsivness & also places more stresses on the components,,, but then there`s allways an up-side to any down-side in that if money is no object then you can spend awsome amounts of cash on sooper-dooper lightweight suspension components to take all that load off,,, but then there`s always a down-side in any up-side in that after spending all those great big gobs of cash , well then the missus cracks the sh!ts at you & starts nagging & nagging & nagging about all that money you`ve thrown away on that useless piece of sh!t mini,,, but then there`s always an upside to any down-side in that with all that cash thrown at the mini making it go so fast it would be much louder & of course you wouldn`t be able to hear all that nagging ,,, but then there`s always a down-side to any up-side in that....

oh ,,, you get the picture right???

build it the best you can with whatever money you can throw at it,,,Then let me drive it for you,,, now that`s an up-side in my books yeah???

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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.

As you can see TheMiniMan is our resident philosopher and life coach.

well said matt,oops gotta go wife just read the thread...

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First you get the money,then you get the power,then you get the Mini.

In my opinion, do the soda blast first and then the roll cage. The soda blast might reveal things you weren't expecting.

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Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

Good call: soda blast first then roll cage...it'll let me get anything cut-out that needs to be replaced.

Been doing some research since original post. It looks like if I want to fit good brakes (8.4") I need to run 12" wheels.

Minisport has a good set of Minilites+Yokohamas that might just do the trick.

KAD UK also has lightweight rear arms, rear disk, from slotted disks etc...

Wife is used to my philandering. Next to the Clubman sits an immaculate 1988 Porsche Carrera CS - that's my mistress. The Clubman will be the littl' dirty street hooker...

Better submit this before she looks over my shoulder

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Regards,

Mike
"He who dies with the most toys wins."

Any updates on this build?