Rear Beam alternative

[Alan D.]

I've been working on this project for a number of years, I get it wrong, leave the project and then come back to it. I've made about four of these beams so far, three of them scrapped for various reasons! I think I'm about there now. This one is fitted to a Mini, but the Midas Mk1 & 2 is just a shortened version of this beam. I also have a beam for the Mk 3 & 4 Midas, if you want coil overs. This beam will materialise, when I've finished the Mk 1 & 2 beam. Remember when looking at the photos this is just a prototype and is being refined all of the time, it's also in bare metal and will be much more attractive in paint. The idea was my original concept, then I got Aitchi involved and he did the CAD drawings and got the laser cutting done. We refined my original concept together. I did all of the construction work, there is an enormous amount of work, as it all starts out as laser cut flat plate and straight lengths of CDS tube. I've had to make and acquire machines to fold plate and bend tube.

































I've made the beam so it has adjustment for camber and toe, something which has never happened on a Midas before. I can also accommodate two types of radius arm, the standard Mini radius arm or alternatively a metro radius arm. The advantage of the Metro arm is that it would increase the track on the rear of a Mk1 or 2 Midas, it is also mechanically better as it has two needle bearings. You would need wheel arch extensions, but that's for another day. I must add it feels incredibly strong and is also light.

Alan

[Jin]

Looks fantastic, can't wait to see the version for the Mk4 Midas
How do the coilovers attach?

[Alan D.]

Looks fantastic, can't wait to see the version for the Mk4 Midas
How do the coilovers attach?

Hi Jin,

This was the old solution


But I have a new solution in the offing.
Alan

[Jin]

Ahh, I see, do the rear arches need to be turreted?

[Alan D.]

Ahh, I see, do the rear arches need to be turreted?

Another idea for you is; if you turret the front wings young can fit an MG TF sub frame, which is a bit more sophisticated the Metro sub frame, with bigger brakes etc..I have seen a Mk 4, here in the NE with MGF or TF 15" wheels fitted, it did look rather tasty!

Alan

[Jin]

Looks very nice mate, I did consider a tf front subframe which should enable me to use springs, but from what I can tell, all my front bodywork is in the way inc the inner wings,
As for the rear I can see no practical way to fit coilovers vertically?
My initial plan was to make brackets that bolt onto the hydragas mounts that would take coilovers.
How would you do a rover metro rear subframe?

[manifold]

Nice to see the beam in the photos. Looks great Alan. Will be interesting to see what you do with the arms.

[b1zbaz]

Question 1 do you use a mini as a roof box on your suzuki swift question 2 is that a brm rover and question 3 how the hell do you do such an awesome job of your ideas that's really impressive well done

[Alan D.]

Question 1 do you use a mini as a roof box on your suzuki swift question 2 is that a brm rover and question 3 how the hell do you do such an awesome job of your ideas that's really impressive well done

Question 1
The Mini is a scrap body shell I use for sub-frame jigs, both front and rear.

Question 2,
Yes, that's a BRM Rover. I bought it in 2010 as an engine donor for a Mk 3 Midas, but it was too good to scrap. I put it on the road every now and then and use it as a spare car. I now have an MGF as a donor!

Question 3
I'm just a sad old man who keeps dreaming up schemes, trouble is I will have to live until I'm 150 years old to finish them all! Normal people go to the pub or the football match.

Unasked question.
What's the Suzuki Swift GTI doing there? Its a donor for a Mk1 or 2 Midas.
I'm retired now so jobs are getting done, the Suzuki will be stripped in the next few weeks, the body shell and the Mini body will be cut up and disposed off. The only problem is I have a little feral kitten that has taken up residence in the Mini. I feel as though I'm evicting it! I feed it every day.

Good luck with the sale of the Minus, I would have liked to have bought it but I have no room.

Thank you for your interest.

Alan D.

[b1zbaz]

Well that straightens things up but your not a sad old man