C-AJJ3385 – Twin Cross-pin diff assembly.

This differential unit incorporates a twin cross-pin assembly and four planet gears. The kit is made to accept standard production crown wheels and standard differential output shafts of your choice

Gearbox - Up-rating diffs and FDs

There’s a good selection of straight-cut final FDs available. Examine the FD table, and using information from

'Gearbox - Final dives, standard' and 'Gearbox - Formulae for car speed, etc.'

you can assess which would best suit your usage. Bear in mind that they’re noisy, make sure you select one that’ll fit your diff unit, and also consider that using drop gears will allow fine-tuning of the ratio where necessary. See

'Gearbox - Up-rating drop gears'

Gearbox - Up-rating diffs, FDs and ancillaries.

part numbers: C-BTA166, C-BTA167, DAM6624, BTA101, 2A7062, DAM5071, DAM6027, RPS1418, C-AJJ3385, C-22A1731, ...Read more

Brakes. Pad Types and Choices

I know I keep dragging this one out for an airing but it’s continually ignored by far too many folk - the only way to get the best from what you have is to be totally honest with yourself about your Min’s main usage. Delusions of grandeur cause severe disappointment, and tears before bedtime. Fitting a set of pads to your road Mini because you think you drive like Michael Schumacher, and your Mini’s built around a ‘race’ theme, with ‘race-spec’ brakes is going to get you into severe bother. Nine

Despite a particular pad type having a high ‘Mu’ designate doesn’t mean to say it’ll give you the best braking potential. They’re generally made in a harder compound so may also give unacceptable levels of disc wear, noise output (squeal), or judder. A pad that gives excellent performance at lower temperatures may have unacceptable pad wear, and create excessive corrosive dust.

So what you need is a pad tha...

Rocker gear - General compendium

Whether you’re building a solid road performer or fire-breathing monster, the main goal is to improve air/fuel flow into the engine. The more you can get in, the more power you can get out. Cheapest chunk of power improvement comes from sorting the asthmatic manifolding and exhaust by applying a stage one kit. Then what? Considering the ‘get more in to get more out’ theme, the main restriction - all else being equal - is the valves and their behavior. How big they are, how efficient they are and how long they’re open for determines how much gets in with each gulp each bore/piston makes. Modified cylinder heads are popularly next, although it has to be said that although a well modified cylinder head will improve performance, the gain against cost is nowhere near that given by the ‘stage one’ kit application. A good stage one kit’s improvement verses cost is around £12.50 per 1 hp, a decent modified head typically £30 per 1hp - dependent on application. Hmm.

Engine - Identification Data Updated

If you have the engine tag still attached to the engine - just in front/below the thermostat housing - or perhaps the original engine number in the log book then the following should help you determine which engine you have. For Metro units, see 'Engine - Metro identification data'. Original engine identification numbers 850cc 8A Austin up to 25000 8MB Morris up to 25000 8AM Austin & Morris 25000 onwards 8AH Austin & Morris Automatic 8AJ Austin & Morris closed circuit breathing 8AK Austin & Morris automatic with closed circuit breathing 8WR Wolseley Hornet & Riley Elf 8AC Moke 85H/101 All variants 1969 onwards Note: third suffix letter denotes compression type, L = Low, H = High, e.g. 8AM/U/H101 denotes high compression. 998cc 9WR Wolseley Hornet & Riley Elf Mk2, pre closed circuit breathing 9AD Austin, Wolseley Hornet & Riley Elf Mk2 with remote type gearbox and closed

GEARBOX - Limited Slip Diffs, what's available.

‘Salisbury’ is the word banded about by most un-enlightened folk when discussing LSDs for Minis, mistakenly believing the word covers all Mini orientated LSDs. This is grossly incorrect. Terminology - LSD - Limited Slip Differential The ‘Salisbury’ was designed in the ‘50s at a time when racecars were a good deal less sophisticated than today. Tyres were usually cross-ply with severely limited grip due to poor compounds developed ostensibly for rear-wheel-drive cars; the front wheel drive of the Mini being a rarity. And tracks were more than a little ‘bumpy’. Agriculturally built cars needed an LSD designed along similar lines; enter the Salisbury - effectively developed from a tractor diff. High static pre-loads were more than common to help compensate for severe short-falls in chassis, suspension, and tyre design. To all intents and purposes the diff was practically locked up, making the car a real beast to drive.

Engine - Identification data

If you have the engine tag still attached to the engine - just in front/below the thermostat housing - or perhaps the original engine number in the log book then the following should help you determine which engine you have. For Metro units, see 'Engine - Metro identification data'. Original engine identification numbers 850cc 8A Austin up to 25000 8MB Morris up to 25000 8AM Austin & Morris 25000 onwards 8AH Austin & Morris Automatic 8AJ Austin & Morris closed circuit breathing 8AK Austin & Morris automatic with closed circuit breathing 8WR Wolseley Hornet & Riley Elf 8AC Moke 85H/101 All variants 1969 onwards Note: third suffix letter denotes compression type, L = Low, H = High, e.g. 8AM/U/H101 denotes high compression.

Engine transplants - Clutch and flywheel assemblies

To go in to all the possible permutations would take a few chapters on it’s own. Suffice to say that the Metro had a few weirdo fitments such as cable operation, an in-line ‘damper’ (some got fitted to Minis too - eek),

Terminology -
BBU - Big Bore Units
SBU - Small Bore Units

NOTE: This information is largely concerned with transplanting a large-bore engine into a small-bore engined Mini. For further information on clutch and flywheel assemblies in particular, refer to relevant separate article.

To go in to all the possible permutations would take a few chapters on it’s own. Suffice to say that the Metro had a few weirdo fitments such as cable operation, an in-line ‘damper’ (some got fitted to Minis too - eek), and ‘top-hat’ plunger and rod bearing operation.

Engine transplants - Clutch and flywheel assemblies

To go in to all the possible permutations would take a few chapters on it’s own. Suffice to say that the Metro had a few weirdo fitments such as cable operation, an in-line ‘damper’ (some got fitted to Minis too - eek),

Terminology -
BBU - Big Bore Units
SBU - Small Bore Units

NOTE: This information is largely concerned with transplanting a large-bore engine into a small-bore engined Mini. For further information on clutch and flywheel assemblies in particular, refer to relevant separate article.

To go in to all the possible permutations would take a few chapters on it’s own. Suffice to say that the Metro had a few weirdo fitments such as cable operation, an in-line ‘damper’ (some got fitted to Minis too - eek), and ‘top-hat’ plunger and rod bearing operation.

Wheels & tyres - Bigger wheel fitment consideration

Predominantly 13-inchers, but 12s as well, the main thrust of the questions being 'what do I need to do?'

This subject is a regular visitor to the message board and 'Knowledge' section of Mini Magazine for whom I write - fitting bigger wheels. Predominantly 13-inchers, but 12s as well, the main thrust of the questions being 'what do I need to do?' along with 'which wheel arch extensions will I need?' The answer has always been somewhat 'clipped' purely because of the space availability issues both in the magazine and on the message board, so something a little more detailed was required. Although the Mini suspension was designed around the use of 10-inch wheels with cross-ply tyres, a quick dash through history reveals that fitment of these bigger wheel sizes isn't a recent, 'modern' application.

MINISPARES HISTORIC RALLY TEAM - 2005 SEASON - PART1

After a major engine rebuild carried out by MED in Leicester designed to give a stronger bottom end with a fully specified crankshaft and their special high torque camshaft (STR 930) to make the car more driveable.

The S rods were smoothed, polished and whole assembly balanced giving a very usable power band from 3000 to 7000, but capable of revving to 8000 safely.

C-BTA166 COMPETITION DIFF PIN

Every effort has been made in the production of this pin to ensure its maximum specification with regard to material, heat treatment, and finish ground size.

The planet wheels to be used should be checked on the pin prior to assembly to ensure a reasonable tolerance. If excessive play is evident, select different planet wheels.

Due to excessive manufacturing tolerances, it should not be assumed that new planet wheels will be okay. Selection by trial and fit should be employed. If intended for arduous use Minispares recommend using the Molybdenum coated pin C-BTA164.

Use of high detergent content engine oil will drastically...

Evo

1950s design with 1990s engineering and technology - originally done by the inimitable Davc Hirons at Trannex, now under the EVO banner at Mini Spares Centre (www.minispares.com) following their buy-out of all the Mini/Sprite Trannex products some years back now. The only real similarity to the old Salisbury is the 'plate type' design - purely because it gives maximum frictional area, therefore most effective performance.

Snetterton 2015 Mini Se7en Race Report

Snetterton Mini Se7en Race Report The season is certainly in full flow, having got past the first weekend of the season at Castle Combe; A time for reflection and preparation. All eyes were on the weather forecast ahead of the Norfolk trip – rain or sunshine, which would it be. Plenty of fellow racers wish away the rain but I was certainly looking forward to a spot of wet weather dancing, after all what do they say about those who do well in the wet?

Mini Spares Evolution Helical Close Ratio Gear Set

Over the last few years we have developed this gear kit to be the ultimate for the rod change gearbox! Although there are many advantages to using a straight cut gears, often their disadvantages outweigh the advantages....

Development of the Mini

Development

During 1985 which was nearly 25 years after the original four star wheel mini concept, the idea was applied to rear wheel drive applications when David Hiron was approached by British trial car champion Julian Fack to solve the problem of persistent diff.

Development of the Mini

Development

During 1985 which was nearly 25 years after the original four star wheel mini concept, the idea was applied to rear wheel drive applications when David Hiron was approached by British trial car champion Julian Fack to solve the problem of persistent diff.

Historical Article - Nov 1991 - A Series EVO L.S.D

When most folk talk about limited slip differentials for the Mini, minds immediately turn to the name "Salisbury". Indeed many think that word covers any LSD for the Mini. This, of course, is not so. The Salisbury diff was designed in the 50's at a time when race cars were not sophisticated, tyres were usually cross-ply with limiting grip due to poor compounds, and tracks were more than "a little bumpy".

Historical Article - Nov 1991 - A Series EVO L.S.D

When most folk talk about limited slip differentials for the Mini, minds immediately turn to the name "Salisbury". Indeed many think that word covers any LSD for the Mini. This, of course, is not so. The Salisbury diff was designed in the 50's at a time when race cars were not sophisticated, tyres were usually cross-ply with limiting grip due to poor compounds, and tracks were more than "a little bumpy".

Historical Article - Nov 1991 - A Series EVO L.S.D

When most folk talk about limited slip differentials for the Mini, minds immediately turn to the name "Salisbury". Indeed many think that word covers any LSD for the Mini. This, of course, is not so. The Salisbury diff was designed in the 50's at a time when race cars were not sophisticated, tyres were usually cross-ply with limiting grip due to poor compounds, and tracks were more than "a little bumpy".