C-AJJ4004 New road-use front anti-roll bar

This bar has been developed to complement those road cars fitted with post 1990 rubber springs. Being the softest compound yet used on the Mini in an attempt to improve comfort, they allow more body-roll. This bar will not only reduce body-roll, but also slightly reduce dive under braking and squat under acceleration. The bar is aimed at the general daily driver. For more progressive drivers it is highly recommended that its used in conjunction with rear anti-roll bar kit C-AJJ4009. By testing various settings its possible to attain a very well balanced fast road car with improved steering response to compliment the other advantages of these bars. It is made to only fit the standard diameter/dimensioned tie-rods.

Lubrication - Oil, what it does and how

It's criminal. Folk spend fortunes putting together super-sonic motors, only to skimp on the oil they use. Why? Oil's oil right? Wrong. Even if it's a standard engine, it deserves TLC considering it's extremely hostile working environment.

Oil is literally the engine's life-blood. The opening few sentences are astonishingly true. Oil isn't there just to prevent all metal components within an engine fusing together in the first few seconds of running, creating a total melt down of Chernobyl proportions. It's an intricate blending of chemicals to protect the engine as a whole.

The most commonly uttered statement about engine wear is most wear occurs within the first 10 minutes from start up when cold. True if cheap chip fat oil is used.In performance and race engines, a considerable amount of wear is created by heat, load, speed, and pressure. Again, cheapy oil won't give protection here.

Lubrication - Temperature critical

The correct running temperature of the oil is perhaps even more important than the water/coolant temperatures - so let us consider how to control them.

Mainly because it seems to be the most misunderstood of the whole process, and oil cooler fitment almost a reflex when over-heating occurs where a tuned engine of any type is concerned. And in many cases on standard production road cars for that matter.

Almost since the appearance of the immortal Cooper S, fitting an oil cooler has been the essential thing to do to any tuned Mini without any comprehension why. The original fitment was necessary because oil and bearing technology wasn't too advanced. Asking an oil of yester-year to cope with lubricating an engine at racing speeds, and a gearbox pushed their performance to the edge of their all too narrow capability, so extreme control over their working environment was essential for reliability. Hence oil cooler fitment.

C-AJJ4004 FRONT ANTI-ROLL BAR FITTING INSTRUCTIONS

FOR USE WITH STANDARD TIE BARS ONLY

This bar has been developed to complement those road cars fitted with post 1990 rubber springs. Being the softest compou

C-AJJ4006 ADJUSTABLE FRONT RACE ANTI-ROLL BAR

Instruction Sheet (Please read in full before installing anti-roll bar)

The mounting blocks are to be fixed at each end of the bar under the front of the subframe where there is a double thickness of metal close to the forward tie-bar brackets. Loosely assemble the blocks to the bar, one positioned between the locating rings - offer the bar up to the lower front edge of the front subframe.

MINI ENGINE STABILISER MSSK1000

1. This is an auxiliary steady bar kit and should not be used to replace any other standard fitment parts that have broken.

2. Remove the radiator support bracket from the radiator and the thermostat housing.

3. Slacken the nut retaining the exhaust manifold at the radiator end of the engine.

4. Remove the three bolts securing the bulkhead blanking plate as shown in the diagram. If the car has a heater pipe as indicated on the diagram then this should be disconnected at the engine.

MINI ENGINE STABILISER MSSK1300

1. This is an auxiliary steady bar kit and should not be used to replace any other standard fitment parts that have broken.

2. Remove the radiator support bracket from the radiator and the thermostat housing.

3. Slacken the nut retaining the exhaust manifold at the radiator end of the engine. Remove the exhaust manifold stud by tighterning another nut against the original manifold nut and then screwing the nut out of the cylinder head.

4. Remove the three bolts securing the bulkhead blanking plate as shown in the diagram. If the car has a heater pipe as indicated on the diagram then this should be disconnected at the engine.

MS73 - ADJUSTABLE REAR TRACK AND CAMBER BRACKETS FITTING INSTRUCTIONS.

To facilitate full experimentation in this area, the MS73 kit has been developed to allow accurate adjustment of rear wheel camber AND track. Adjustment of rear track can greatly influence the handling characteristics of the Mini. For reference, toe in gives straight-line performance/stability with more rear end grip (under-steer). Toe-out gives over-steer in corners, and less stability in a straight line - particularly under part/closed throttle conditions. Simple and effective caster/camber and tracking gauges are available from Mini Spares (Tool10 caster/camber gauge, TOOL11 tracking gauge) to facilitate DIY setting of geometry.

Bill Sollis Races in the Mini Miglias at Spa-Francorchamps

Spa-Francorchamps the best race track in the world?

Well there are many Formula 1 driver who would agree and in my humble opinion, it is certainly true. Brands Hatch GP circuit, Suzuka in Japan and Dijon in France come close for me...

Mighty Mini's 2008 Round 1 at Silverstone

After the seemingly endless winter break, Silverstone welcomed the return of the Super Mighty Minis Championship and the start of the 2008 season. With the sun beaming down on an clear April spring day, everyone seemed bright eyed and bushy-tailed for what many have predicted to be the toughest, most competitive ...

Body shell has arrived for Mini Build at IMM in August.

The new bodyshell for the Mini build has arrived in the warehouse today. We will be building a "Better than New" Mini during the 3 days of the IMM meet in Kent from 1st to the 3rd of August.

Historical Article - April 1994 - 8-Port Project Min

Mini Spares - 8-Port Project Min If you refer back to the October 1993 edition of Mini Tech News, we were about to embark on modifying the suspension. As luck would or would not have it, we had the advantage of setting up and sorting out the Monte Carlo Mini, which would help us in some directions. After checking the ride height of the car, it was higher on the left hand side by 1 Vs' at the front and W' at the back.

Thank you IMM 2014

THANK YOU-IMM 2014—BEST International Mini Meet ever WITH A REBUILD FOR CHARITY

The mini spares team arrived on the Thursday 31st July at the Kent show ground and people were clambering over the posh marquee before all the superb displays and stock could properly be set up.

Also on display was Keith Dodd’s cut down Bronze Yellow Cooper S Mk3 Sprint