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DavidE
PostPosted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 10:15 am 
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Location: Holt ACT
robbyasti wrote:
I have always had dry when in England. I transfered to Italy a few ago and bought another dry mini. A lovely 1991 carbed cooper. I just hated driving it on the Italian roads, it was very hard and uncomfortable. I replaced the shocks, spring and cones but it made little difference. I had no choice but to sell the cooper.
Life can be very boring without a mini in the garage to repair. I decided to look for an early Innocenti Mini with hydrolastic suspension. I found one locally, with the suspension totally collapsed, rusty hydro pipes etc. I obviously had to have it.
I didn't know much about hydrolastic suspension but it was very easy to replace the pipes. I only needed to replace one of the units, which was also very easy. I then pumped it up with a modified grease gun and bingo! The same height all round without any problems.
The real surprise was when I drove the car, it was much more comfortable than a dry mini. Even on the farm roads it was a pleasure to drive.
It is only a bog standard 850, so I can't really say how it handles at high speed but for my needs and due to the demanding Italian roads, it is a joy to drive. I would never change to wet. It is not that complicated to repair and parts are still available on eBay.


Hear hear!!
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winabbey
PostPosted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 10:40 am 
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robbyasti wrote:
I would never change to wet.

I assume you mean "... change to dry" ?

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deluxe67
PostPosted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 10:48 am 
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Location: Bentleigh, Melbourne
My '67 Deluxe was changed from wet to dry by the previous owner. Wonder why he did that? Was that a common modification? Seems to handle perfectly well so won't be changing it back...

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67 Deluxe
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1293cc, 11:1 comp, RE 282 camshaft, 45 Weber, extractors etc
4 synchro close ratio gbox
Cooper S brakes, no booster
Stealth box, as Doc says "goes harder and idles!"
RH tank cos I needed it crossing the Nullarbor etc..
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drmini in aust
PostPosted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 12:01 pm 
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People change to dry because most all race Minis are dry, folklore has it that they handle better. Maybe they do on a billiard table, but not on what passes for roads here in Oz.
The other thing is, cones now are aftermarket, there are bad ones and better ones, I dunno if any are as good for service life as originals were.
Sure, you can't buy new hydro bags, but you can re-hose old ones. If they leak elsewhere fit another s/h one. I probably have around 6 or 8 spares.
Cooper S bags are rocking horse manure, but I'd rather fit Deluxe or K bags if needed rather than change one to dry.

Lillee has K bags in his car, I have GT fronts. With front shocks and comp rear bumpstops fitted both handle the same.

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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. :mrgreen:
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bluewhitecoopers1968
PostPosted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 2:07 pm 
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Forget the cones, just go for Springs. I'm very happy with them.
Attachment:
20150829_161232.jpg


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TheMiniMan
PostPosted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 2:35 pm 
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Location: Brisbane
The coil spring conversions are wonderfull these days, we fit quite a lot of them,
we also do our own design hi-los & rubber donut conversion for those people who like the feel of Hydro without the harshness of "the usual" dry set-up,,, these still handle really well but are lovely & soft like a hydro car,,, heaps n heaps of people who have driven our "soft/dry" converted cars comment on how lovely the hydro suspension is,,, then i tell them it`s dry the look on their face is perfect :-)

i think most people changefrom hydro to dry for 2 reasons--> (one) to pitching/diving/&ride height thing
& (two) the reliability of dry compared to the unreliability of old stuffed hydro bags with worn-out valving (hence adding shocks) & blowing bags & hoses more frequently these days.

just my 2-cents worth :-)

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robbyasti
PostPosted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 4:34 pm 
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Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2013 3:39 am
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Location: Asti, Italy
winabbey wrote:
robbyasti wrote:
I would never change to wet.

I assume you mean "... change to dry" ?

Yes, I meant to say dry. Sorry!
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slide
PostPosted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 5:37 pm 
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I think the rubber spring base is different between the wet and dry frames which can cause problems if someone uses the back seat. If you look closely the dry frame, unlike the hydro, has a metal cone shape on the spring base that acts as a variable spring platform - progressively increasing the spring rate as more load is applied. Carrying more load in the back will have the tyres bashing the wheel arches if you're not careful.

I personally prefer dry. The Cooper S hydro units are stiffer than normal Minis IIRR and if you add shockers at the front and comp bump stops all round the set up becomes nearly as inflexible and hard riding as dry suspended Minis IME.

Hydro units, especially S ones are very hard and expensive to get now. If you have a hydro pump and fluid of your own working on a hydro car might be ok, but if you don't it can be a real pain, and costly to get it pumped up everytime.

I also had a situation once where the battery cable rubbed against a hydro pipe (MK 1 Cooper S no cable cover underneath) which caused the fluid to leak which then ignited. Lucky to catch it in time.

Hydro is also a bit heavier than dry suspension, one reason the racers prefer th latter.

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Slide
1965 Mini Van (1360)
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Jenk
PostPosted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 6:10 pm 
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Location: Kellyville, NSW
bluewhitecoopers1968 wrote:
Forget the cones, just go for Springs. I'm very happy with them.
Attachment:
20150829_161232.jpg


Thanks bluewhitecoopers1968 I like this set up can you give me more details, which springs you went with, did you buy as a kit? where from? I've heard stuff about springs dislodging? what subframe did you start with wet or dry? if wet did you have to modify it or does it just bolt straight on?

Cheers.

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Phil 850
PostPosted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 8:41 pm 
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Location: Western Sydney
I just fitted the Moulton Smooth A Ride kit.
Much better than the original old cones and worn shocks.
Ride is more than acceptable.

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Tim I
PostPosted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 10:25 pm 
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TheMiniMan wrote:
The coil spring conversions are wonderfull these days, we fit quite a lot of them,

Any particular kit or supplier?

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TK
PostPosted: Thu Dec 24, 2015 11:52 am 
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A few opinions of my own wrong or right;
Hydro has a much nicer ride,
Flooring a Hydro car gives lift at the front,
Hydro car is heavier than a dry car,
Standard unmodified, dry will out handle wet.
To get wet to handle as well as dry you have to add more weight.

Merry Christmas to all.

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bluewhitecoopers1968
PostPosted: Thu Dec 24, 2015 12:02 pm 
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Tim I wrote:
TheMiniMan wrote:
The coil spring conversions are wonderfull these days, we fit quite a lot of them,

Any particular kit or supplier?

Minitastic.co.uk
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Jenk
PostPosted: Thu Dec 24, 2015 2:09 pm 
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Location: Kellyville, NSW
bluewhitecoopers1968 wrote:
Tim I wrote:
TheMiniMan wrote:
The coil spring conversions are wonderfull these days, we fit quite a lot of them,

Any particular kit or supplier?

Minitastic.co.uk


Which set up did you go with Town ride, Fast road or racing? I want the stance of my car to be low If I went with fast road can you get the car sitting low? I do like the race set up springs how low it sits.

Also did you fit to dry or wet sub frame, is it easy to do?

cheers.

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TK
PostPosted: Thu Dec 24, 2015 5:06 pm 
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Location: Brisbane
use HiLows to adjust the height. Race springs will be very hard, like rubber cones I imagine.

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The bitterness of poor quality (or Crappy Workmanship) remains LONG AFTER the Sweet Taste of Low Price is forgotten.
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