Morris Minor Owners Club

Has anybody here fitted coil over dampers to their cars? Either the kit from JLH or others? For somebody that has had their Mig for a whopping 2 days is it something that is practical to try and fit themselves or would it be advisable to get somebody with more experience to do the work?

I have seen it done - it looks like quite abit of work - whats the point ?? The torsion bars are an excellent design !

I agree with bmcecosse, the torsion bars are fine. If you want a harder ride then you can fit thicker torsion bars (available from most Minor specialists). The coil overs are only really useful if you are going to be racing and can benifit from them.

I intend on fitting a K series engine (or having one fitted) so I assumed that i would need SERIOUSLY uprated suspension to take the extra power so that i don't kill myself at the first corner.

Well....... it all depends on your budget I guess. For me, coil-overs were not considered as the torsion bars (uprated) did a fine job of the springing. Uprated dampers were a must though.

To be honest, unless you are going to race, I doubt you'd really appreciate the difference between torsion bars and coil springs.... Don't write the torsion bars off! Some modern cars still use them! It's just a different way of achieving springing.

Thanks for the advice Cam, sounds like some nice shiny new torsion bars will be winging their way into my car then atleast to see what they behave like then maby upgrading to coil overs if i find myself ending up in too many trees I already have mini dampers on the front so replacing then with a SPAX set is easy. I still need to do something with the rear suspension though. The kits i have seen for upgrading the rear dampers end up with them sitting at an odd angle. Do i have to do anything to the "cart springs" to get them to mate properly with an escort axle?

You'll need new spring hangers, axle perches and U bolts.

Well, my front suspension (uprated torsion bars) feels more like a Mini than a Minor!

The best bet for the rear suspension is the turret system that myself and turbominor have fitted. JLH do the kit and it's really good quality thick stuff. You could make your own though as it's only 3mm steel plate made into towers and reinforcing spreader plates. But the JLH stuff is ready made and anodised too.





For mounting the Escort axle, grind off the existing mountings and cut some small box sections with a hole in the top and the bottom side removed in an arc (to fit the axle tube), then weld them on. I'm sure JLH can supply these and/or weld them onto the axle in the correct place for you too.

They/he does indeed

Looks like i need to have a conversation with Jonathon. I'll send him an email now.

Bit concerned that some of you are disregarding the coil over kit so easily.
I don't remember either Cam or Bm eccosse having a test drive in any of our coil over equiped cars, so how can you possibly pass judgement. Our kit is a replacement for the torsion bar set up not like the kit supplied by MMC Bath whish is an assister kit. which really cannot work as the spring rate is less than a standard torsion bar, so in effect you are only using the damper to improve your handling. I had thought that comments on this forum should be considered and made in a position of Knowledge not ignorance. Advise to anyone concidering any mod ask those who produce it first, then test drive the product ans then make up your OWN minds.
On the point of handling and coil-overs we have about a dozen standard cars fitted with this kit and have had nothing but positive feedback. The system is a much improved compliant for of suspension which is at home on the road as well as the track.

Out of interest Terry, are you planning to do all the body mods yourself?

Nikki

Although i have just got myself a Mig welder i havent used it yet so i dont trust myself to weld something that (if it failed) could kill someone. I would like to do the work myself but i dont think its practical.

Jonathon, YET AGAIN I am not having a go at YOU!!! Please stop taking these comments personally, and insulting me (and others) by using the words 'ignorance' with reference to our comments. It's not being helpful. Neither is the continual use of this forum as a spring-board for your products. This behaviour is inappropriate and must cease if the smooth running of this messageboard is to continue.

I was simply stating that the standard set-up is perfectly fine unless you need a more modern set-up if you are racing. I have driven LOTS of different types of cars with different suspension setups and although I'm not a suspension expert I can tell what they feel like. The torsion bars should not be disregarded so easily either as in uprated form they can produce good results. Maybe not as good as the coil-overs, but I personally don't think the advantages gained with the coil overs outweigh the extra cost UNLESS you are wanting every last ounce of handling out of the car by hurtling it round a racetrack!

I consider that when Jonathon 'uses the forum as a springboard for his products' he is merely enlightening us all to the 'researched improvements' he has developed for us all. The same applies to anyone who is able to pass on their expertise - because why re invent the wheel. It is for people to make up their own mind if they want to spend their hard earned with Jonathon or anyone else, but he may well just have the part/modification someone needs, and if they realise this through this forum, so much the better.
I've never tried the coil over kit myself, and consider assisted torsion bars ok, but can appreciate the improvements a coil over can make, especially if you want ultimate handling. In much the same way drum brakes are ok, but discs are better.

Cheers

Pete

Absolutely! But we were all aware that he supplies the coil-overs. However, calling someone ignorant when suggesting a cheaper alternative is NOT being helpful. I was trying to give Terry some more options (and possible save him some cash) and not saying that he HAS to have coil-overs. Surely giving people as much information as possible about what has been done etc is the point of this forum as the members can gain from other people's experience.

I appreciate information from all sides (espicially when it involves saving a few quid) I only want the car for road use (and occasionally burning off the odd GTI driver). Sorry if i have started world war 3.
If uprated tortion bars are OK for road use then in the interest of saving money i would go down that route and see how driveable the car is. If it is not up to the job then coilovers would be the way to go. I have never uprated a car before so i need all the help i can get.

Cam wrote: Neither is the continual use of this forum as a spring-board for your products.

Sorry Cam, but this is a bit harsh. Its wasn't Jonathan that mentioned the Coilovers, in fact I think it was YOU than first mentioned JLH in this thread.

All he did was defend his position as any self respecting businessman and engineer would.

The fact that *everyone* knows he makes them is irrelevant as the original poster obviously didin't know - so makes that statement a falacy!

I for one am glad that he's on here and can bring his knowledge of genuine, real-world improvements that he has developed. Its not like he's posting a price list FFS.

Sorry for the rant, but this kind of thing really annoys me on forums like this. The Rover P5 one I also post too has a far better attitude and allows sensible posting of offers of parts and assistance.

DOWN WITH THE FORUM PEDANTS - LOL

Over and out.......... ;)

iambiggles,

If someone insults me personally, I react. I'm glad Jonathon brings advice to the forum, but be aware that allowing traders on this forum is really not allowed and we are bending the rules by allowing Jonathon on here to give his advice and experience. The reason that we allow this particular trader is obvious, and that is that he has a lot to offer the members on here. BUT it was on the understanding that fair and impartial comments were made. Clearly this is not the case here.

This is an ongoing problem that has been with us for many a while.

The fact that *everyone* knows he makes them is irrelevant as the original poster obviously didin't know - so makes that statement a falacy!

Terry's first line in the post:

Has anybody here fitted coil over dampers to their cars? Either the kit from JLH or others?

I think he knew!