Hi,

I am attempting to fit new rubber cross unis to the Shitbox Rally Van.

I popped off the top balljoint to get them into position, but I'm struggling to get the u-bolts slid home.

Any tips from someone who has done this job recently?

Thanks,

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

probably need to bend the u-bolts "in" a bit

they often spread while in use

Oh!!! & don`t over tighten them

& also i`d be setting the car up with the axles in their "in-use" height,,, so rest the car onto it`s wheels before you try to tighten the u-bolt nuts

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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.

good advice matt

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

+1 for Matty's advice,

Also... new or old bolts? I've found some new bolts seriously wrong (far too wide)... so in went the old bolts with the new nuts

Oh... and... DON'T OVERTIGHTEN THEM!

sorry, just had to emphasise that point

cheers,

Jacob

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'72 Clubman Van - 1022cc, 295 head, 731 cam - Daily Driver
'69 Morris 1100 S - Dinged by a bus, in shed under repair
'64 Morris 1100 - Early 1100, long term project

Just squeeze them up in a vice till they fit neatly/easily, check them in the yoke before trying to fit the joint.

Brian

A viable alternative to the rubber joints is the QL5000 conversion, which uses a conventional Triumph TR6 Hardy Spicer joint with needle bearings, fitted with 4 nylon cups.
However I have it on good authority from a local distributor this week that Quinton Hazell in the UK (who supplied them) have recently gone broke and are in receivership.

If this is correct it will be a pity, they made & supplied quite a lot of Mini replacement parts.

[edit] see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-nort ... s-21360719

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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 guys, will give them a squeeze. Like a lot of things on this car, the original u-bolts were missing, so we are working with the new ones in the kit.

I have a set of the QL5000 conversion parts, but they are reserved for my Traveller. Watto and I agree they are not necessary for the Shitbox.

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

Those QL5000 joints are heading towards Rocking Horse Poo material. I tried recently to find two new ones world wide with no luck. I got given one second hand and brought the a new joint with second hand cups. which wasn't cheap.

I my have to convert the next box I do to a hardie spicer set up as i have a couple of sets but only if I can find some side covers.

The original New old stock U bolts are still avail From Mini King

_________________
" A Hundred Years From Now It will not Matter what my Bank Acount Was,
The Sort Of House I Lived in, Or The Kind Of Car I drove ... But The World May Be A Better Place
Because I was Once Important In The Life Of A Child"

John, do you have those plastic posts that go between the van tank and the body?

We need some of them quite urgently!

Thanks,

_________________
Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

Yes I have both types in stock , Send Me a PM if You Like
Regards
John

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" A Hundred Years From Now It will not Matter what my Bank Acount Was,
The Sort Of House I Lived in, Or The Kind Of Car I drove ... But The World May Be A Better Place
Because I was Once Important In The Life Of A Child"

PM sent John.

Cheers,
Brett.

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

Problem solved the easy way.

Watto fitted the Unis today while I was at work!

_________________
Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

PM sent.

I can modify `meaty' Oz std sidecovers into Cooper S ones. I did some last year for Mini King.

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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.

yes there are 2 castings for these,,, some are thicker around the seal & bush area & those are the ones that can be machined out to fit the bigger bush & seal into

ya cant really miss them when you have a look,,, we have quite a few thick ones here Doc , if you ever need some more,,, both the early type & the roddy type

_________________
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.